A new back-to-school cost calculator has revealed that UAE parents may need to spend an additional Dh2,000 to Dh10,000 per child on school-related expenses, excluding tuition fees. The estimate comes as families prepare for the 2026-27 academic year and face rising costs for uniforms, books, transport and digital learning tools.
The calculator shows that tuition is only one part of the education bill. Parents must also account for uniforms, stationery, technology, school transport, meals and extracurricular activities. These expenses can significantly increase the overall cost of education, especially for families with more than one child.
According to Mike Coady, CEO and private wealth partner of Skybound Wealth Management, one of the most important steps parents need to take is to do education planning. This will help ensure that they are not scrambling for money at the last minute.
Coady further explained, “Parents should create an education cash-flow calendar containing every known payment: registration, tuition, transport, uniforms, books, devices, activities and trips. They should subtract any confirmed employer allowance, divide the remaining cost by the number of salaries before payment is due, and transfer that amount automatically into a separate education account on payday.”
School uniforms remain one of the biggest upfront expenses. Depending on the school and the number of clothing sets required, parents may spend between Dh600 and Dh2,000 on uniforms alone.
The calculator points out that several mandatory expenses fall outside annual tuition fees. School bus services, meal packages, programs after school and additional activities may demand individual payment during the course of the year. This situation is likely to place financial strain for many families even when the tuition fees are stable in some emirates.
Financial advisers recommend that parents prepare a dedicated back-to-school budget well before the new term starts. They also suggest spreading purchases over several weeks to avoid a large one-time expense.
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