Indian woman living in Dubai shares daughter’s nearly Rs 18 lakh school and bus fees equal to a big SUV in India

A woman living in Dubai has sparked an online discussion after sharing the cost of sending her daughter to an international school, saying the expenses come to AED 17,525, or approximately Rs 17.8 lakh, even before extracurricular activities, when various school-related charges are taken into account.

Veronika, a mother of two who shares snippets of her family life on social media, detailed the expenses in a recent Instagram video.

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School costs add up to nearly Rs 18 lakh

According to Veronika's post, the annual tuition is around AED 55,000, or approximately Rs 14.34 lakh, and can be paid in instalments.

Parents are also required to pay an assessment fee of AED 525, or around Rs 13,000, before their child is assessed.

School transport costs another AED 12,000, or approximately Rs 3.12 lakh, a year. Veronika said the bus service collects children from home and drops them back after school.

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A post shared by Veronika | Dubai 🇦🇪 (@nika.indubai)

Uniforms cost about AED 1,000, or around Rs 26,000, and are charged separately.

Adding these expenses, the school-related cost comes to around AED 17,525, or approximately Rs 17.8 lakh, as per Veronika's post, before accounting for extracurricular activities and other additional charges. She compared the amount to the price of a Hyundai Creta.

Registration, re-enrolment and extracurricular activities can further increase the overall bill.

Meals are not included in tuition

Veronika said one expense that particularly surprised her was food. Meals are not covered by the tuition fee, so she prepares her daughter's lunch at home and sends her to school with a lunchbox.

Her account prompted users to debate the cost of international schooling in Dubai and compare it with education expenses elsewhere.

One user called the amount excessive, saying it was "a lot of money for just a kid" and comparing it to university tuition.

Another commented, "No tax but school fee will cover ur tax".

A third user said the school had introduced an annual meal plan this year costing AED 17 per day.

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Users compare school fees across countries

One commenter said schooling was free in Europe, while another noted that AED 55,000 is comparable to tuition charged by Abu Dhabi University.

Some users also pointed out that cheaper schools are available in the UAE.

One user said schools charging AED 6,000 to AED 8,000 are available, while describing the school mentioned by Veronika as the most expensive in the UAE. The commenter also said Emirati citizens have access to free schools offering good education.