Abu Dhabi Police have activated an integrated back-to-school safety plan covering road traffic, cybercrime awareness and drug prevention as the 2026–2027 academic year gets under way across the emirate.
The UAE’s new school year began on 31 August, according to Gulf News, with Abu Dhabi Police deploying officers, running awareness sessions and distributing gifts to pupils on the first days back.
Traffic controls and peak-hour patrols
The back-to-school safety plan addresses the surge in road congestion that accompanies school drop-off and pick-up periods each day. Abu Dhabi Police said student safety is a shared responsibility requiring action from families, schools, drivers and the wider community.
The Traffic and Security Patrols Directorate has increased its field presence to regulate movement around schools, according to Gulf News. Officers are positioned at intersections and on internal and external roads near schools to facilitate school bus movement and improve traffic flow during busy morning and afternoon periods.
On the first day of the school year, traffic controllers were deployed at key points to monitor pedestrian crossings and secure student movement from vehicles and buses to school gates.
Awareness lectures and programmes have been arranged for drivers, school transport operators, students, parents, school administrations and bus supervisors. The goal, Abu Dhabi Police said, is to create a safe traffic environment during the commute to and from school.
Cybercrime, drugs and community awareness
Beyond road safety, the plan’s second major strand covers social and digital risks. The Criminal Security Sector of Abu Dhabi Police has prepared a comprehensive awareness programme for students, teaching staff, administrative staff and parents.
The programme includes lectures and workshops on drug dangers and their effects on individuals and society, prevention of cybercrimes including online bullying and cyber extortion, and the promotion of positive citizenship and sound values.
Proactive security awareness sessions for students form part of the curriculum-aligned activities, Abu Dhabi Police said. The force described the programme as running in cooperation with strategic partners, with all sessions designed to reach school communities at the start of the academic year rather than reactively.
The dual focus on physical road safety and online threats reflects a pattern Abu Dhabi Police have followed in recent back-to-school cycles, combining high-visibility patrols with classroom-based engagement on digital risks that affect younger age groups in particular.
Abu Dhabi Police said the plan will continue throughout the opening weeks of the 2026–2027 school year, with patrols and awareness activities sustained beyond the first day as traffic patterns stabilise.
