With more the one million children across the country going back to school this week, families are bracing themselves for one of the most expensive times of the year.
Parents say the financial burden of uniforms, supplies, devices and activities has climbed steadily, forcing them to balance the joy of new beginnings with the impact on household budgets.
For Muna Alsumaiti, a 44-year-old mother of four children aged 14, 12, 11 and 7, the back-to-school routine begins weeks before classes resume.
Bedtimes are adjusted, screen time is reduced, and shopping lists are drawn up. She makes sure her children are part of the process, from choosing uniforms and supplies to planning lunch box menus.
"Back-to-school is always exciting but also stressful for parents," she told The National. "We want to give our children the best, but the costs keep rising every year."
Her family’s expenses average up to Dh2,000 per child on uniforms, shoes, bags, stationery and lunch boxes. When technology is required – laptops or iPads with specific features – the bills climb even higher.
"Every year it feels more expensive," she said. "Even basic items cost much more than before. With multiple children, the difference really adds up."
Uniforms, shoes and the hidden costs
Uniforms and shoes top the list of concerns for many parents. While they are often unavoidable purchases, families say prices have risen while quality has sometimes declined.
Katy Holmes, chief executive of the British Chamber of Commerce Dubai and mother of two teenage daughters, said she finds herself buying new school bags and pencil cases every year despite the cost.
"I remember all too well the nerves of going through the school gates at the start of term," she said. "I do see that a new bag can act like a shield and a prop to gain some extra confidence at the start of term."
However, she complained that sometimes quality is lacking in school uniform and items often need replacing regularly, but these costs are "unavoidable".
One mother told The National that she had spent Dh1,500 on six pairs of shorts and three T-shirts alone this year.
"My main expenses are most definitely the school uniforms, school fees and the transport fees," mother-of-one Sumit Augustine said.
"You’d have to get extra pairs of them lot – regular uniforms, sports uniforms, activity uniforms – you name it. Because they would be using these every day so you would have to send them with clean uniforms to school every day."
School fees and transport remain among the largest expenses for families. Ms Augustine recalls how much cheaper education was two decades ago.
"When I was in school, my fees were around Dh1,000 a month," she said. "Now, not only have tuition fees increased, but parents also need to budget for smart devices and app subscriptions."
Technology: A growing expense
Beyond the basics, the increasing role of technology in classrooms has introduced new costs.
"Bring Your Own Device" policies are now common, requiring parents to invest in tablets, laptops or iPads, as well as accessories and apps.
For 38-year-old mother Sarrah Khilawala, this year means buying an iPad for her son entering Year 1. "It’s a big expense for us," she said. "Every year, the costs increase – uniforms, bags, school trips, project supplies. Now with devices, the budget stretches even further."
Dr Aseel Takshe, acting dean at Canadian University Dubai and mother of an 11-year-old, agreed. "Even basics like T-shirts and uniforms are pricier, and then you add devices or headphones on top. The costs really do creep up."
Strategies to cope
While rising costs are unavoidable, parents are finding ways to reduce the impact. Shopping early and taking advantage of sales is a common strategy. Ms Augustine buys shoes and stationery in late July, when discounts are available, rather than in August when prices peak.
Ms Alsumaiti also shops early and reuses items where possible. "I reuse water bottles or lunch boxes if they’re still in good condition," she said. "It doesn’t solve everything, but every little bit helps."
Dr Takshe spreads her purchases throughout the summer to avoid a single financial hit. She also embraces hand-me-downs and second-hand shops. "Not every single thing needs to be brand new at the start of term," she said. "Sometimes last year’s backpack or shoes can get us through a bit longer."
Others use back-to-school season as a teaching opportunity. "I involve my son in budgeting and shopping decisions," said Dr Takshe. "Most importantly to me is to educate my son about needs vs wants."
Teaching financial responsibility
Some parents are taking creative approaches to teach financial literacy. Muna Mustafa, co-founder of SupperClub Middle East and mother of four, has turned her kitchen wall into a learning hub, covered with calendars, charts and rewards systems.
Her children earn stars by helping with chores or practicing piano, which they can trade in for snacks, activities, or even cash. "If they want a toy that costs Dh100, I ask them how they plan to earn it," she explained. "It takes time, but they learn that nothing comes for free."
She also believes in teaching delayed gratification. "We give the kids one to two weeks’ notice before a fun outing," she said. "The anticipation builds their happiness and teaches them patience – lessons that apply to other parts of life."
Finding balance
Despite the financial pressures, parents agree that back-to-school season remains a special milestone. It is a time for children to grow, gain independence and start new chapters, and for families to establish fresh routines.
Ms Holmes said that beyond financial preparation, she prioritises emotional readiness for her daughters. "We make sure they see friends before school starts, get proper sleep, and feel confident walking back through the school gates."
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More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
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THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Job: CEO JCDecaux Middle East
In the role: Since January 2015
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
- Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
- Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
- Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
- Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
- Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
- The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
- Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269
*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year
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