Dubai private school fees fall by as much as 15 per cent

A significant proportion of schools in Dubai have slashed fees, with some reducing rates by as much as 15 per cent, according to a new survey on financial trends in education.

The report by Middle East education analysts Edarabia reveals Nad Al Sheba, Jumeirah Village Circle, and Al Sufouh are the top three areas where school fees are most expensive, with average annual fees of up to Dh65,152 for all year groups.

The lowest school fees were in Deira, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah and Al Karama, averaging Dh12,761 per year. Compared with Edarabia’s findings last year, the new report indicates that 8 out of 10 schools have reduced their fees this school year, by up to 10 to 15 per cent in some cases.

There are 185 private schools in Dubai with 273,599 pupils. Of these, 32,103 are Emirati students and 15,099 are students with special education needs and disabilities (Send).

Most schools with a UK curriculum were found to have outstanding or very good ratings, while at the other end of the spectrum with more weak rated schools were those offering the Indian curriculum.

The report shows that a majority of private schools now operate a level of provision for pupils with Send at 61 per cent, which suggests that schools are a good place for uniting the community.

In February, it was reported that Dubai’s private schools were either reducing rates or freezing fees in an attempt to stand out in an ultra-competitive market and retain the best students.

Companies revising the education packages they offer to expatriate workers may also be starting to have an effect,

driving down school fees. This year, Fiona McKenzie, director of Dubai education consultancy Gabbitas Middle East, said the changes would help to re-calibrate the market.

“I think the expat salary packages have changed and for a lot of them school fees are now included in their salary, so parents are making the decision for themselves,” she said.

However, the report also pointed out that rents are falling across the areas where the fees are most expensive.

“The average rent for a four-bedroom villa in Nad Al Sheba fell by 15.7 per cent, and in JVC, the cost of a three-bed villa fell by 20.7 per cent. In some areas where school fees are the lowest, such as Karama, rents remained stable. For example, the average cost of a twobed apartment in Al Karama remained at Dh95,101,” it said.

According to HSBC bank, Dubai lies second on a global list of expensive school fees, lagging behind only Hong Kong.

Figures from the bank’s Value of Education series published in July show total school fees for children from primary to university in the emirate cost US$99,378 (Dh365,000), compared with $132,161 in Hong Kong.

HSBC research has found that school fees in Dubai are second only to those in Hong Kong as the world’s highest