ABU DHABI // School minibuses are to be phased out in Abu Dhabi.
No minibus or microbus can be registered as a school transport vehicle after this school term.
Minibuses “lack safety and security standards and violate school transport requirements and regulations”, the School Transport Committee Abu Dhabi said.
It called on schools to adhere to transport requirements and regulations, and to refrain from using minibuses “for the students’ safety.”
“The committee also urges the concerned parties to take all the necessary measures against violators of these instructions.”
It did not say if transport providers would be given time to phase the vehicles out.
Minibus use for schools was banned in Dubai this year, and transport providers were given 18 months to phase them out.
“Minibuses are being banned for many reasons,” said Khaled Al Mansouri, acting chief executive of the Emirates Driving Company, which is part of the school transport committee. “A number of people have died in accidents involving minibuses.”
The vehicles’ relatively high centre of gravity meant it was easy for drivers to lose control, and the limited space inside the vehicle was also a safety hazard, he said. “If an accident occurs, there is not a lot of space for passengers to move out. This applies to 15-seater buses as well as nine-seater buses.
“The bus can easily overturn on a curve when speeding. The design of the seats puts passengers too close for comfort and there are no emergency exits as in regular buses.”
Emirates Transport, which provides more than 4,000 buses for public schools, is also a member of the committee.
“Emirates Transport is fully committed to implementing all laws and regulations related to school transport and fully supports all measures that are taken with the view of improving school transport safety,” said Abdullah Al Ghafli, executive director of the school transport section.
The other committee members are the Department of Transport, Ministry of Interior, Abu Dhabi Police, Abu Dhabi Education Council, Abu Dhabi Municipality and Al Ain Municipality.
Thomas Edelmann, founder of Road Safety UAE, welcomed the ban.
“We must secure the utmost safety for our kids being transported to and from school,” he said. “The current upgrade away from minibuses is seen to improve the ‘proper vehicles’ criteria of school bus safety.
“However, to ensure the safety of our kids, other criteria such as proper operation and safety standards as well as proper control and management systems in school transport should also be met.”
The transport department announced new school transport regulations in April last year.
Among them were fitting buses with GPS devices and CCTV networks, providing attendants for pupils aged 11 and under, and setting an 80kph speed limit. School buses must not be older than 10 years, and operators should coordinate with schools to ensure a one-way journey for any school bus does not exceed 75 minutes.
The regulations were developed in coordination with Adec and Abu Dhabi Police.
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Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
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AI traffic lights to ease congestion at seven points to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Street
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Shakhbout bin Sultan Street
Dhafeer Street
Hadbat Al Ghubainah Street (outbound)
Salama bint Butti Street
Al Dhafra Street
Rabdan Street
Umm Yifina Street exit (inbound)
