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Khaleej Times
30-07-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
Long commute, small homes: Meet UAE parents rebuilding life around schools
As rents climb and communities evolve across Dubai, a growing number of families are restructuring their lives around one non-negotiable priority — access to quality education. From trading larger homes for smaller ones to relocating across the city despite rising property prices, parents are increasingly putting schooling at the heart of every life decision. 'Raising a family starts with school' 'We've been living in Springs since 2012,' said long-time resident Arijit Nandi, recalling how the community evolved alongside his growing family. 'First in Springs 7, we paid around Dh100,000 for a type 4M. However, those rents have now gone up to a minimum of Dh160,000 for the same type, depending on how much a villa has been upgraded.' 'Our son was born in that house, and then he started going to the Raffles Nursery in the Springs Souk, which came up later,' he added. 'It was literally built in front of our eyes.' With the nursery just a short walk away and all amenities within reach, the family found Springs to be a convenient place to raise a young child. As their son grew older, the educational options in and around Springs became even more appealing. 'We learnt that Springs has several good schools in the neighbourhood, like Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills (DIA EH), Dubai British School, and Emirates International School–Meadows,' Arijit explained. 'That's when we became keen on buying a property.' 'Then covid happened.' Arijit shared that while many were hesitant, they saw the pandemic dip in property prices as the right time to invest. 'My wife suggested we explore newer communities, but I was quite keen on continuing in Springs. It's an older community, but that's exactly what makes it so liveable… it's green, quiet, and well-connected to the major roads like Sheikh Zayed and Al Khail.' More importantly, the decision aligned with their son's schooling needs. 'Our son had just started at DIA EH, which is five minutes away from where we currently live, and it is one of the best IB schools in the city.' 'When you're raising a family, school becomes the centre of everything.' Arijit emphasised that their housing decisions were made around access to good education. 'We didn't want long commutes, and we didn't want to compromise on education.' Arijit highlighted that in hindsight, it's been a worthwhile investment. 'Education is the anchor around which we've rebuilt our lives, and we're happy to make other trade-offs to give our child stability and access to one of the best curriculums and schools in this vicinity.' 'We've downsized, but school comes first' British expat Sally Maddison has also reshaped her family's life around her children's schooling — and housing costs have forced more than one move in recent years. 'I'm now moving to Arabian Ranches 2 from Serena in Dubailand, after having lived in Sustainable City for years,' says Sally. 'Originally, I left Sustainable City and moved to Serena because the rent was significantly lower — but my kids' school, Fairgreen International, is in Sustainable City, where we had lived for years. That place really felt like home.' Sally's family was forced to leave when their landlord sold the villa to another investor. 'We were paying Dh170,000, but the new landlord listed it for Dh310,000. We had no choice but to move. We found another villa in Sustainable City, but the rent shot up to Dh250,000.' Eventually, that too became unsustainable. Now, Sally is relocating to Arabian Ranches 2, where they'll be paying Dh210,000 for a villa — still a sharp increase from previous years. 'Two to three years ago, villas in Ranches were going for Dh130,000 to Dh150,000,' she says. 'We've downsized so much, but at least this new location is close to my children's school and their friends.' While exploring other communities like Town Square and Emaar South, she found challenges ranging from traffic congestion to shrinking home sizes. 'The villas keep getting smaller — Arabian Ranches 3 is half the size of Ranches 1. Everything they're building now is more compact.' But despite the compromises, Sally is clear about one thing… proximity to school remains non-negotiable. 'For us, school comes first.' 'We moved for affordability, but not at the cost of school' For French expat Christine Quartier La Tente, rising rents left her with little choice but to move house. After years of living in the Springs, she shifted to Damac Hills 2 two years ago to manage costs more effectively. 'In 2023, we were paying Dh165,000 for a Type 1M villa in Springs — a large, three-bedroom home with a study that was nearly the size of a fourth bedroom. It was a very spacious house, but it just wasn't financially sustainable for us anymore,' said Christine. 'Now, we pay Dh105,000 in Damac Hills 2. For the past two years, we had been paying Dh95,000, which made a significant difference to our finances.' However, while the family made compromises on their location, there was one non-negotiable — their daughter's school. 'I had promised my daughter Daria that no matter what, we wouldn't change her school because she loves her school. So, we've kept that promise,' Christine added. 'She's been at Raffles World Academy since her early years, and it's the one constant in our lives amid all the change.' Christine shared that they never seriously considered shifting Daria to a nearby school in Damac Hills 2, also for another reason. 'She's always studied in an IB curriculum school, and most of the schools closer to us now follow the British curriculum. That made it easier to stick with her current school.' The decision does come with a significant daily commute. 'My husband drops her to school in Umm Suqeim 3 every morning — it takes about 35 minutes. I pick her up in the afternoon, and it can take up to 50 minutes depending on traffic,' she explained. 'I take Sheikh Zayed Road, then Expo Road and E77, usually driving between 120–140 km/hr.' Even when they lived in Springs, the school commute was never short. 'It used to take Daria about 45 minutes to an hour to get home by bus. To be honest, I have started liking Damac Hills now,' added Christine.
Khaleej Times
31-03-2025
- Khaleej Times
UAE: Some residents embrace outdoor fun, family time during Eid Al Fitr as pleasant weather continues
As the UAE celebrates the second day of Eid Al Fitr, residents are embracing the outdoors, taking full advantage of the pleasant weather, particularly in the early mornings and evenings. Families are reuniting, enjoying the long holiday break filled with staycations, and relishing the mild temperatures before the summer heat arrives. For those returning from travels abroad, today marks a continuation of the festive spirit as they gather with loved ones to enjoy the open air. 'We got back from our holiday, late yesterday evening and went straight home, but today, I'm off to a supermarket to pick up some groceries, including lamb, to finally celebrate Eid," shared Dubai resident Madina Mergenova. The Kazakh national had planned her holiday in advance. She and her family spent a week in the Maldives during the spring break, which coincided with the Eid holidays. They left on March 24 and returned on March 30. 'On Sunday, the airport was surprisingly quiet when we arrived back, almost as if everyone was out of the country. It was a wonderful trip — we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves," she shared. She added that her family did lots of activities during the break. "We did plenty of snorkeling, swimming, and sunbathing. My children, who are 15 and 11, enjoyed snorkeling most of the time, and they also tried kayaking. We even indulged in a relaxing spa experience, as the Maldives is famous for its spas.' Staycations with family For others, like Arijit Nandi, who is hosting his parents from Kolkata, India, the Eid holiday meant a staycation with family. 'We spent our Eid holidays at Mina Al Arab, Anantara Ras Al Khaimah. It was truly a wonderful experience. Even though the hotel was packed, the facilities and services were impressive, as is the case with most of the good UAE hotels," shared the Indian expat. He added, 'Eid is one of the longest holidays of the year, and with my parents visiting, we made the most of it, enjoying some quality downtime with the whole family — my parents, son, and wife. My son had a blast in the expansive infinity pool. The resort is the perfect place for a family retreat.' Many UAE residents choose such staycations for the world-class amenities, like relaxing Thai and Arabian spa treatments and a wide variety of dining options. 'The beachfront views were breathtaking, and the resort offered something for everyone — whether it was my parents enjoying the sunset by the sea with a cup of tea, or us indulging in watersports and fine dining. It was truly a memorable Eid weekend," Nandi added. Kids enjoy the open air For other families, like Karina Shashkova's, the open air offered plenty of opportunities for fun. Shashkova, a Dubai resident who recently returned from a five-day staycation in Umm Al Quwain, said, 'We're having a barbecue at home today, making the most of the pleasant weather." Her family stayed at a resort in Umm Al Quwain for five days as part of their goal to explore every emirate. 'Since we had never been to Umm Al Quwain before, it was an exciting experience. The bungalows of the resort are right on the beach, just 20 metres from the shore, giving off a Maldivian vibe," she shared. 'The kids really explored the UAE outdoors to the maximum possible extent. They had some fantastic seafood restaurants in the area. The children had a great time playing foosball, football, and swimming.'
Hi Dubai
06-02-2025
- Business
- Hi Dubai
UAE: Private Tutoring Work Permit Enhances Affordability of At-Home Learning for Parents
Since the legalization of private tutoring in the UAE in December 2023, parents are increasingly turning to licensed tutors for personalized learning support, creating a more competitive and affordable market for tuition services. The new laws allow tutors to offer lessons outside of educational institutions, providing more flexibility for parents. Licensed tutors can now include registered teachers, unemployed individuals, and even university students aged 15 to 18, broadening the pool of available educators. Dubai resident Arijit Nandi shared his experience with his son's Arabic tutor, based in Abu Dhabi. "Private tutoring is much easier now, as we found a highly recommended online tutor, saving on the logistics and extra costs of in-person lessons," he explained. Nandi noted that with more qualified tutors entering the market, rates are becoming more affordable, with some starting at as low as Dh60 an hour. For American expat Natalia Miranda, cost remains a concern, as she sought private tutoring for her son in English and Math. "The cost at tutoring centres was too high, so I opted for a more affordable in-person option in JLT,' she said. Miranda appreciates the availability of licensed tutors but expressed concerns about the lack of transparency in pricing and the varying quality of tutoring services. Veteran educator Sajida Al Bashir welcomed the licensing but called for clearer regulations. "While the law has created a larger pool of tutors, it's essential to ensure consistency in pricing and quality," she stated, highlighting the need for better oversight in the sector. Overall, parents are finding private tutoring more accessible, but the call for greater transparency in fees and tutor qualifications persists. News Source: Khaleej Times
Khaleej Times
06-02-2025
- Business
- Khaleej Times
UAE work permit for private tuitions makes at-home studies more affordable for parents
Parents in the UAE are highlighting how licensed tutors in the UAE are increasingly assisting parents with personalised leaning support. This has not only expanded access to teachers, allowing parents to choose from a larger pool of tutors, but also made tuition rates more competitive. In December 2023, private tutoring was legalised in the UAE, with authorities introducing a new permit to allow lessons outside of educational institutions. The permit is available to registered teachers, current employees, unemployed individuals, students aged 15 to 18, and university students. Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels. Value for money Dubai resident Arijit Nandi whose son learns Arabic from a tutor based in Abu Dhabi said: 'My son has been getting extra help in Arabic from a private tutor because his school grades weren't good and I didn't want him to struggle. But with his plate already full of extracurricular activities, the idea of adding in-person tutoring along with the hassle of pick-up, drop-off, and extra transport costs just wasn't practical. So, my wife found a highly recommended online Arabic tutor in the capital instead, which makes things much easier for both parties.' He added: 'Ever since private tutoring has been legalised in the UAE, more qualified tutors have entered the market, offering lessons at affordable rates like Dh60 an hour, which I pay, because they know otherwise parents can always opt for others. Some people pay even lesser. Also, as tutors are now licensed, I feel much more confident knowing my son is learning from a credible and approved teacher.' 'Makes this service more accessible' American expat Natalia Miranda's eight-year-old son also takes private lessons for English and Math. Miranda said, 'When I inquired about private tutoring for both the subjects, a centre quoted Dh200 per hour per subject, but that only covered a 45-minute session. With at least two sessions per week, the cost was too high for me. So, I decided to enrol him in in-person classes at a centre in JLT, paying for a term-based package at Dh100 per class. 'Much as I appreciate the move, I am a bit sceptical about the metrics these private tutors might be using and what their benchmarks are, but I'll rely on recommendations. For older kids, I think it's a good approach since they already have a foundation in subjects like English and Math. They'll mainly work on strengthening what they already know. This makes the service more accessible, allowing more people to participate. We can even share resources among ourselves – like having someone come to the house, with his friend also attending, so we could potentially get a discount for a larger group of students.' Seeking transparency Jordanian-Palestinian educator Sajida Al Bashir, who has dedicated 30 years to the field, appreciated the country's decision to open licences for private tutors. However, she pointed out certain discrepancies in the practice. 'The laws and fees should be a little more transparent. You can't have one tutor charging Dh500 per hour while another charges Dh100; it often depends on a family's financial situation. At least that is what I have seen.' Bashir, who now works as a supervisor for Quality and Assessment at the Ras Al Khaimah Department of Knowledge, added, 'While tutoring creates a pool of available teachers, clear policies, regulations, and security checks are essential. Personally, I believe that if a child pays attention in class and does not have learning difficulties, additional support may not be necessary.' ALSO READ:
