School break in UAE: Some parents spend up to Dh1,500 per week on spring camps
Parents in UAE have voiced their grievances about the sky-high prices some spring break camps charge, with some programs, lasting only a few hours a day, costing as much as Dh1,500 per week!
Most international schools take spring break from March 24 to April 14, 2025, giving students a break of three weeks while most Indian schools are shut down for the winter break. For Indian students, this also allows for Eid Al-Fitr festivities which runs from March 29 to April 1.
“In an effort to engage my daughter, I’m putting her in an Eco Arts and Crafts camp for Dh850. She’ll be learning skills such as gardening, fireless cooking, group reading as well as self-sustainable exploration,” said Bhavya Rao who is a mother of two. Rao further believes it will be a productive way for her daughter to spend her time instead of passively watching television.
Rao's almost four year old will also be staying active by attending a dance camp from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM for Dh900. “I think this is a fantastic approach we can take for the children during this period of break," Rao elaborated.
"Since we (my husband and I) work until the evening, we have to arrange transport which costs an extra Dh500 to Dh600. That brings the total to approximately Dh2,500, which is a pretty big figure.
"At least they will not be wasting their time idly sitting at home. Otherwise, it is very difficult to physically active during the holiday term without a camp structure, said Rao.
Even with the cost though, a lot of parents see the abundance of camp choices in Dubai as especially good. There is a lot of appreciation for the fact that these camps are divided by age and skill and are conducted by professionals.
Expat from Moldova, Ion Rusu, shared his joy saying, “My wife and I work together so we are usually out until about 6 to 6.30 pm These camps serve as a great solution for my two sons, aged 7 and 11, who need to engage in something constructive.”
"Since they were interested in coding, we were looking at specific AI and technology camps, with one that is close to us holding a design and hybrid mobile app development camp for Dh1,200 a child, for two hours in the morning,” he said. “Even though it is expensive, considering it costs Dh2,400 for the both of them, we will be registering them for it because it is constructive and they both want to do it. So we are all good with it.”
Some of the parents not spending for camps includes those with fasting children during Ramadan.
“Like every spring, I fixed holidays for my children, but this year, when my elder one started fasting, I did not. For these reasons, I also think that these camps are too overpriced and do not provide adequate value,” says Palestinian Expat Mariam Kahlil.
She explained that during this time, the extra work required to get kids around to other classes was another reason for not sending them. “I will focus on filling fun DIY kits and craft supplies for my six-year-old daughter to keep her busy. For my eleven-year-old, I will go for downloadable worksheets that require more skill.”
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