DUBAI, UAE and SCHENECTADY, N.Y. — Transfinder Corp. is partnering with Dubai Technologies, an information and communications technology solutions company in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to serve new clients as it expands in the Middle East and North Africa region.

The agreement, reached on Monday, marks Transfinder’s first international agreement with a regional player in Dubai. The two companies bring a combined 50 years of experience to the school transportation industry in the region, including in Turkey.

The partnership comes as transportation providers are looking for safer, effective, and efficient ways to operate within the new regulations adopted in the UAE that forbid students from being on school buses more than 60 minutes each way, according to the companies. The new regulations also require larger buses to replace 14-seat buses, which were deemed unsafe.

“We need local representation in Dubai and the surrounding region,” said Antonio Civitella, Transfinder’s president and CEO. “Dubai Technologies is the right partner, with their time-tested and proven exposure, both in hardware and software applications, to integrate well with Transfinder’s logistics and routing solutions. Now, with Dubai Technologies, we have a strong representation."

Until recently, student location information was difficult to access, said Ali Moidu, chief operating officer of Dubai Technologies. However, he added, with schools implementing GPS-based attendance systems, such information is easily accessible to all, including parents.

“It is crucial for transportation providers to get each aspect of the routing, planning, and scheduling process right, as larger buses are costlier to purchase and operate,” Moidu said. “That is where a technology that can utilize the information precisely and effectively help keep costs under control could be very beneficial.”