As concerns over child safety rise, many parents in the UAE are turning to GPS-enabled tracking devices to monitor their children’s whereabouts, especially during school commutes and extracurricular activities. Fatima Saleh, a mother of two and resident of Abu Dhabi, shares her experience of balancing her job and her children’s safety. “Once, my seven-year-old went to a friend’s house without informing me. When I couldn’t find him, I panicked,” she recalls. This incident led Saleh to purchase eight tracking devices, placing them in her children’s shoes and bags. “Now I can track where they are, which gives me peace of mind,” she adds.
Saleh’s concern mirrors that of many parents in the UAE, who are increasingly worried about risks such as bus delays, traffic congestion, and incidents of children being left behind in school buses. GPS trackers, embedded in school bags, shoes, or even worn as accessories, are becoming a common solution for keeping children safe. The trend has been driven by parents seeking to monitor their children’s real-time locations to avoid potential dangers during daily commutes.
Tariq Ahmed, a resident of Al Taawun in Sharjah and father of three, faced a similar situation. His nine-year-old daughter was once caught in traffic after a birthday party, and with reports of children being left on buses, Ahmed grew anxious as he was unable to reach his daughter or her friend’s parents immediately. “I was frantically calling, feeling helpless,” he recalls. This experience prompted him to invest in a GPS tracker to ensure his daughter’s safety during her commutes. “It’s not about invading her privacy; it’s about peace of mind,” he says.
The rising demand for such devices has not gone unnoticed by electronics retailers. Moideen Mustafa, manager at Phone Line in Deira, Dubai, reported that over 500 GPS trackers were sold this year, as parents inquire about factors such as battery life, accuracy, and durability. “Most parents prefer lightweight and durable devices, with longer battery life, and we offer options from clip-on trackers to GPS shoe inserts,” says Mustafa.
Ahmed Fardeen, from Majestic Electronics in Al Nahda, Sharjah, adds that many customers are seeking trackers that send real-time updates to their smartphones. This surge in demand highlights the growing need among working parents to ensure their children’s safety when they are away from home. The trend reflects a larger shift toward technology-driven solutions to address the modern challenges of parenting in an urban environment.
