Limit to what Dubai school can charge for tuition deposit

We have just moved to Dubai and my daughter will be starting her new school when the next term starts in January. Her place was agreed last week and the school has asked for the fees for the next two terms in full as a condition of her being accepted. This is quite a large sum and we will not get the money to cover this from my husband's employer until January 1. I'd like to know if the school is allowed to insist on fees being paid at this time, as they are suggesting that if we do not pay in full right now for the rest of the academic year the place will be withdrawn. MH, Dubai

The body governing what schools can and can’t do in Dubai is the Knowledge & Human Development Authority (KHDA) and on its website it clearly states that “a school may charge up to 30 per cent of the school’s tuition fees as an admission fee to confirm that selected students will opt to take up the offered places”. This is quite clear so you do not have to pay the full amount until the start of the new term, and this will be the balance as the deposit fee “should be deducted from the total tuition fees for the academic year in which the admission is being sought”. You may wish to remind the school of the KHDA guidelines in this case.

Keren Bobker is an independent financial adviser with Holborn Assets in Dubai. Contact her at keren@holbornassets.com