A Dubai-based content creator has offered a glimpse into the cost of schooling in the UAE, revealing that her daughter's education at an International school costs around AED 55,000 (approximately ₹14.34 lakh) a year in tuition alone. She also listed several additional expenses, including the school bus, assessment fee, uniform and food.
Veronika, who describes herself as a "mom of two living in Dubai", regularly shares videos about her family's everyday life in the city. In a recent Instagram video, she answered a question she says she frequently gets: "How much school in Dubai actually costs."
In the clip, Veronika shared that her daughter recently joined GEMS International School in Dubai. According to her, parents must pay an assessment fee of AED 525 (approximately ₹13,000) before their child's assessment. The tuition fee for her daughter's school is then around AED 55,000 (approximately ₹14.34 lah) per year, which can be paid in instalments.
The school bus comes at an additional cost of AED 12,000 (around ₹3.12 lakh) per year, with the service picking children up from home and dropping them back after school. She also said the school uniform is charged separately and costs approximately AED 1,000 (around ₹26,000).
Veronika shared that one expense that surprised her was food. "Food is not included in the tuition fee," she said, adding that she has to prepare her daughter's lunch every morning and send her to school with a lunchbox.
{{/usCountry}}Veronika shared that one expense that surprised her was food. "Food is not included in the tuition fee," she said, adding that she has to prepare her daughter's lunch every morning and send her to school with a lunchbox.
{{/usCountry}}(Also Read: Woman stunned by spotless public washroom in Dubai: ‘Cleaner than many homes’)
Social media reactions
The video prompted a discussion among social media users about the cost of education in Dubai and the UAE.
"Crazy, it's cheaper to study in the USA, it's even free sometimes," one user commented.
"That's a lot of money for just a kid, it's like you are paying for university tuition," another wrote.
"Education is very expensive in gulf countries, that's why everyone is going to Europe and USA to educate their children," a third user said.
Another commenter pointed out that cheaper options are available, writing, "There are cheaper schools for 8000 and 6000 dhs, but this school is the most expensive one in UAE, and of course for Emirates ppl there are free schools [that] give excellent education too."