The Dubai Transport Authority (RTA) has confirmed that the cost of renting school buses through its Dubai Taxi Corporation is among the best and lowest in the market.

This came in response to a question about its responsibility for the high cost of transporting school buses in Dubai, in the light of complaints by students, to «Emirates Today», the exploitation of schools need to transport their children through school buses, and raise their fees to levels close to the school tuition, under the pretext of high The cost of renting the bus from the establishment.

Dr. Yousef Al Ali, Executive Director of Dubai Taxi Corporation, said that the company operates in its system like any commercial investment company, but is under the supervision and management of the Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai. The entire bus is for school.

He stressed that the cost set by the Corporation among the lowest prices among bus operators, where the Authority conducted a study before determining, based on the figures and costs traded in the market, to show that the prices are very high, some of them up to 30 thousand dirhams annually.

He added that the prices of «Dubai Taxi» in the seat system is lower than market prices by about 30%, and the system of bus rental is lower by between 15% and 20% according to the quality of the bus.

Al Ali stressed that the price set by the school, fees due to parents of students after renting the bus from the institution, is due to the management of the school itself, and nothing to the institution, pointing out that the determination is based on the details of the agreement and contract between the school and the families of students.

He explained that «the institution leases the bus to the school with the maintenance service and the driver, and therefore the maintenance costs are also covered, which makes it easier for schools to impose reasonable fees commensurate with the potential of parents of students».

He pointed out that «the number of educational establishments contracted with the institution is 21 schools and universities, including six schools by leasing in the seat, and 15 schools by leasing by bus», pointing out that «prices to provide service for the seat system ranges between 3500 dirhams and 8600 dirhams, according to the classification of schools».

He added that «prices vary, within this rate, depending on the regions, according to the distance between the school and the location of student accommodation».

Regarding the reasons that prevent Dubai Taxi from receiving students in the seat system, Al-Ali said that it is related to the lack of enough students to operate a bus in a certain area, adding: «In this case can benefit from the service (safe hands), which has a driver "This service is relatively economical, taking into consideration saving time and effort on the student and his parents, especially as it will be transported by vehicle and not by bus."

Al Ali said that «the highest proportion of contracts Dubai Taxi concluded with schools by bus system, not the seat, because schools prefer this type of service, as for the prices of renting the entire bus for the school varies according to the type of bus and capacity, as the institution has five types of buses, ranging It has between 21 and 60 seats. ”

Smart buses

Dubai Taxi has 436 smart school buses that operate with technical systems that ensure the safety and security of students, such as the system to ensure that the bus is free of passengers, self-extinguishing fires, and surveillance cameras.

There are 415 drivers and 142 supervisors, who are trained in first aid and civil defense. School transportation contracts cover schools in Dubai, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah, in addition to one university, Jumeirah University.