The UAE treats the back-to-school season almost like a festival. Shops go heavy on discounts, bakeries churn out cakes with cartoonish toppers, and parents suddenly remember what 6:30 a.m. alarms sound like. But this year, Dubai added a curveball. Forget sharpened pencils and new shoes, kids hopping on the metro were met with free ice cream. And not just any ice cream. These were popsicles shaped like the Dubai Metro itself. Yes, trains on a stick.
Dubai Metro Turned Into Ice Cream For Back-To-School Season
بالتعاون مع “إيغلو” (IGLOO)، قامت #هيئة_الطرق_و_المواصلات بتوزيع مثلجات محدودة الإصدار على شكل #مترو_دبي في محطات مترو الغبيبة وسوق التأمين، لنشر البهجة بين الركاب بالتزامن مع موسم العودة إلى المدارس. pic.twitter.com/7sSISfKpml
— RTA (@rta_dubai) August 29, 2025
Parents were snapping photos, kids were half-biting, half-posing with their icy metro bars, and let’s be honest, some commuters were probably just relieved to start the school run with sugar instead of stress. It happened at two stations, Al Ghubaiba and Insurance Market, courtesy of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). Clever move. A little PR, a lot of smiles.
Edible Metro, Selfie Material
Here’s the funny thing: Dubai already has a habit of dishing out free ice cream during summer or on anniversaries. But this one stood out. The popsicles were coloured in metro blue and white, instantly recognisable. You’d almost hesitate before taking the first bite; they looked that photo-worthy.
In practice, though, most people didn’t hesitate. Out came the phones, click-click, Insta story, and then crunch. That’s Dubai for you: turning something as mundane as the first day back at school into a mini social media spectacle. On the flip side, some grown-ups grumbled (playfully, of course) that this sort of perk should be rolled out for office workers too. Picture it: a metro-shaped ice cream waiting at the platform after a 9-hour shift.
Truth is, the whole thing worked because it felt unexpected. Kids were already buzzing with first-day nerves. Parents were juggling bags, timetables, and their own office deadlines. Then someone hands you a frozen souvenir shaped like public transport. It broke the morning rush, gave everyone a laugh, and actually made the commute feel lighter.
Also Read: Back-To-School: Students Can Get Discount On Public Transport In The UAE; Here’s How
A School Run With A Twist
Of course, this wasn’t only about ice cream. The UAE takes the back-to-school rush seriously. Every year, there’s a big push on safety, from police standing outside schools to “accident-free day” campaigns. The whole community joins in, reminding drivers to slow down and making sure kids get to class safely.
Cover Image Courtesy: Dubai RTA/X
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