As schools across the UAE begin their long summer break, working parents are once again grappling with a familiar challenge — how to keep their children productively engaged without burning a hole in their pockets.
The frustration isn’t new, but with inflation and summer camp costs climbing each year, many are feeling the squeeze.
Many parents face the pressure of juggling work commitments, family travel, and childcare, often turning to camps as a solution to keep their children occupied. However, many point out that these camps are becoming increasingly unaffordable for households.
While some camps start at around Dh300 a week (roughly Dh1,200 a month), those offering a richer mix of activities — from creative workshops to tech and adventure experiences — tend to charge far more. These premium camps can have a starting price of Dh770 per week or over Dh3,000 per month, making it a costly decision for families with more than one child.
Even as parents strive to strike a balance between quality and cost, they often seek camps that offer meaningful experiences without a hefty price tag.
Sai Bhagwat, a working mother, shared her concern with Khaleej Times.
She said, “My younger son, who is 8, will be attending an indoor football camp that costs around Dh750. As a parent, you sometimes feel like you need two jobs to cover all these expenses. I can’t take two months off work, and I don’t want my kids glued to screens while I’m away. Transportation is an additional cost that adds up to the expenses — include that, and you’re looking at nearly Dh1,000 per week.”
“My elder son is 13 now, so he’s more independent. We live in a great community, so he’ll be participating in group study sessions, playing board games, or enjoying table tennis with friends. But I’m also planning to enrol him in some short-specialised camps — things like podcast development or STEM workshops.
“This cost just as much, if not more, since he’s now in middle school. When you tally it all up, it’s over Dh6,000 for one child, considering we might travel in between for a week or two during the summer holidays. For parents with two children, you’re looking at Dh10,000 or more for two months easily — just for summer camps and transportation. It’s a major expense, and honestly, not all camps feel like they deliver value for money.”
Over the years, for many families across the country, summer camps have become an extension of their child’s academic and personal development journey. While some families view these camps as worthwhile investments in their children’s development, others are calling for more accessible, affordable options across communities.
However, as children grow older, parents point out that their children’s interests tend to gravitate toward more niche and specialised activities — which often come at a premium.
Dubai-based American expat Natalia Miranda said, “My son will be doing Kumon this summer — one day online and one day at the centre, focusing on English and Math. Each class runs for an hour. Additionally, he’s enrolled in Logiscool, which is ideal for tech-savvy kids. They teach coding, video game design, podcasting, and even how to create and manage a YouTube channel. One week, they’re working on Minecraft, and the next, they’re learning video production; it’s super engaging.”
Her child’s camp is located in Oasis Mall, further adding to the expenditure, as Miranda is a resident of Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT).
“For fitness, I’m planning to send my son to boxing too. As you can imagine, the costs add up. Kumon alone is around Dh1,500 a month, and Logiscool is Dh3,000 for six weeks. I haven’t signed him up for boxing yet, but I’m hoping to find a deal. Since I can’t manage the pickups myself, I’ll also need to arrange a driver. As children get older, camps become more specialised and niche — and my son is really into tech, so I look for programmes that match his interests.
“Honestly, some of these camps do offer good value, especially when compared to the time kids might otherwise spend on iPads doing something unproductive. At least this way, he’s learning something meaningful. Logiscool runs from 9am to 1pm, which is a decent block of time. When I do our family budgeting, I factor these summer camps into our yearly education expenses — they’re almost on par with school fees,” she added.
For other families, especially those with younger children or multiple children, affordability remains a key concern — and many parents are turning to home-based or community alternatives.
Filipino expat and working mother Bernadette Lalog said, “My four-year-old twins will be attending gym classes three times a week within our community in Al Ghadeer. They’ll participate in fun physical activities, such as flips, splits, and jumping. Since the gym is part of our residential area, it’s quite affordable — about Dh450 per child for a month.
“I’ve also ordered some activities for them from Temu — world puzzles, painting kits and the like. My nanny, who I fondly call our ‘super nanny,’ will be doing these with the kids. She’s very hands-on and makes learning fun for them. I’ll be putting together a daily timetable for their activities over the break. I know how expensive some of the summer camps can be — it’s hard to find quality ones that are reasonably priced and won’t burn a hole in your pocket,” added Lalog.
© Khaleej Times
Twitter