The Ministry of Interior announced the deployment of 870 security and traffic patrols to coincide with the opening of the 2026-2027 academic year, according to a statement issued by the ministry. The force comprises 520 patrols from the Security Directorates Affairs Sector, 200 from the General Traffic Department and 150 from the General Emergency Police Department, the statement added. These units will focus on areas surrounding schools and vital roads to strengthen security and ease the flow of traffic as students make their way to classes. The patrols form part of a wider plan to protect students and regulate movement during the critical back-to-school period.
The General Traffic Department will manage traffic signals and maintain oversight from its control room using 338 surveillance cameras to detect and alleviate congestion, the ministry reported. Flashing-light systems have been switched on at key intersections to support smoother vehicle movement during peak times. The Emergency Police component stands prepared to deliver rapid response to any calls made to the 112 emergency line. Such coordinated actions build upon the security framework established for previous academic cycles.
A year-long “Prevention and Safety” campaign has been initiated by the ministry to run alongside the academic calendar. The initiative encompasses programs aimed at students, families, schools and the community, the ministry explained. It addresses six priority topics ranging from traffic safety and juvenile protection to drug prevention, cybersecurity, countering extremist ideologies and environmental awareness. The campaign employs various media and educational activities to foster better awareness and behavioral standards.
The new school year welcomed first-grade students on September 13, with other primary, intermediate and secondary pupils scheduled to begin classes the following day and kindergartens opening on September 16, according to the Ministry of Education. Official data from the ministry places the total enrollment at 481,511 students across government, private and religious schools. This includes 391,604 pupils in public institutions, 86,762 in private Arabic schools and 3,145 in religious education programs. The large return to classrooms highlights the scale of logistical demands placed on the transport system at the start of term.
In preparation for the increased activity, the General Traffic Department has stepped up monitoring of violations including double parking that often leads to bottlenecks outside schools, a department assessment found. Lieutenant Colonel Abdullah Bu Hassan from the Traffic Awareness Department has coordinated with the Ministry of Education and media outlets to deliver safety messages urging compliance with drop-off procedures and road rules. The integrated efforts across security sectors aim to reduce incidents and maintain orderly movement throughout the initial weeks of the term. This includes warnings against crossing between parked vehicles or using mobile phones while crossing roads near schools.
