Back-To-School In Dubai: Yango Maps Survey Reveals Parents' Navigation Needs

Yango Maps, a navigation app, recently conducted a survey among parents in Dubai to understand their needs during the back-to-school season. The survey aimed to identify how parents manage this period and what features they seek in a navigation app to ease their daily commutes.

The survey highlighted that 72% of parents find preparing for the new school year time-consuming, with 67% starting preparations one to three months in advance. Additionally, 73% of respondents have children attending schools in different neighbourhoods, necessitating daily commutes for drop-offs and pickups. Most children are transported either by school buses (63%) or by car (40%).

Parents also drive their children to after-school activities two to four days a week, with 67% handling these trips themselves. For 60% of respondents, the average travel time from home to school or activities ranges between 20 and 60 minutes. Consequently, when the school season begins, 72% of parents report spending more time driving, making efficient navigation crucial for their comfort.

Challenges Faced by Parents

The survey revealed that road traffic is a significant challenge for 62% of parents, while finding parking spaces troubles 59%. Nearly half of the respondents (49%) wish for reduced travel times, and 42% stress the importance of accurate arrival time predictions.

Parents prioritise several features for commuting: accurate arrival times and traffic updates are essential for over half (54%), with real-time traffic updates being crucial for 49%. These features help ensure timely drop-offs and pickups during peak hours. Yango Maps addresses this need by providing real-time traffic updates in both English and Arabic.

Additional Desired Features

Convenient parking options are highly valued by 50% of respondents. Yango Maps displays nearby parking spots before users start driving, allowing them to plan routes directly to parking spots or drop-off points. Other important features include detailed city maps (44%), speed limit information (43%), voice notifications, and adaptive views of driving routes (30%).

Yango Maps offers a detailed depiction of Dubai, mapping over 3,000 km of roads with high detail, including lane markings and multi-level interchanges. The app provides turn-by-turn directions and notifies drivers about speed limits and closures along their route.

Enhanced Navigation Experience

A notable 93% of parents express interest in a navigation service offering tailored 'city guide' recommendations for family-friendly spots along their route or within the city. This feature enhances the navigation experience by informing parents about various places to explore nearby. Popular destinations include sports centres, entertainment activities, shopping malls, educational programs, and arts and crafts studios.

Alexander Baksheev, CEO of Yango Maps commented: "As Dubai's back-to-school season kicks off, parents need to efficiently navigate traffic, find convenient parking, and manage their time along their daily commutes. Our survey reveals a strong demand for advanced navigation features, including real-time traffic updates, accurate ETAs, and direct routes to parking spots. At Yango Maps, we offer a comprehensive solution with all these features and more."