Several private schools in Dubai say they are open to reviewing their start and finish times as a way to ease traffic congestion and shorten family commutes, according to a report published on October 8, 2026. The Knowledge and Human Development Authority has clarified that schools cannot adjust their hours unilaterally, and any change must protect students' wellbeing and instructional time.
Seema Umar, principal of Dewvale School, said even a 15 to 30 minute shift in start and finish times could help spread out peak-hour traffic and cut commute times for families. Bloom World Academy, led by executive principal John Bell, already starts its school day at 9am, which the school says gives students more flexibility in the morning and helps them arrive "rested, prepared and ready to learn." Neetha Shetty, principal of Al Diyafah High School, was also cited among the educators weighing in on the discussion.
The authority, however, has stressed it does not intend to impose a single uniform timing across Dubai's schools, given the sheer diversity of the private education sector. Some educators have raised concerns about the broader impact of staggered timings, including the effect on staff whose own children attend different schools with different schedules, as well as the possible need for longer lunch breaks to accommodate revised hours.
Morning traffic around Dubai's schools has long been a source of frustration for families, and this latest discussion suggests education authorities and school leaders are exploring practical, incremental solutions to the problem without compromising the quality of instruction.