UAE Authorities Call for Total Ban on Minibuses By 2023

With a high involvement of minibuses in the road fatalities, a proposal to ban them has been submitted to the Ministry of Interior (MOI). Once it gets approved, it will be implemented in three years, according to a source.

Around 50 thousands minibuses are currently in operation with a large number of passengers on board; the issue has become more serious as these vehicles are being used to transport thousands of children daily.

Minibuses lack basic safety features that most cars have, and they usually carry some 14 passengers seated too close to each other. The risk of more victims increases if they get involved in accidents.

In Dubai, authorities have prohibited these buses from transporting students, as a ban was implemented by the Roads and Transport Authority in 2016.