Is Dubai a good place to raise children?
Dubai is a destination that’s hugely popular with a wide variety of different people. But something that everyone wants to know – Is Dubai a good place to bring up children? There is no simple answer as it depends on the age of the children, what your long-term plans are and your own attitude to living in Dubai.
deVere Acuma thinks this is a great place to raise small children, particularly if they were born in the UAE or move here before they have a large friendship base somewhere else. Dubai is safe, warm and sunny. There’s loads of activities readily available to suit every interest and budget. Whether it’s sunny beach picnics, strolling around beautiful public parks or themed play areas and sailing lessons.
As soon as a child enters primary school, they start learning Arabic. And with over 200 nationalities of expats living here, your children will make friends from all over the world.
The only noticeable disadvantages at this stage are the fact that you’ll be far away from loved ones and the high cost of schooling. A British curriculum primary school, for example, can cost up to AED 85,000 (£16,200) per year. There are a few well-established not-for-profit schools which charge a little but less, but of course they are over-subscribed.
So where does the “no” come into it? Well, according to the HSBC Expat Explorer survey, the UAE rates 18th out of 39 countries for raising a family: 11th for quality of life but a mere 36th for the cost.
Children in Dubai supposedly spend more time watching TV compared to those in their home countries, which has been blamed on their “low social integration”. However, this could partly be blamed on those months when it’s simply too hot to be outside.
Now, once children get to senior school age, things become more complicated. This is around the age where expat families up and leave or parents send their children to boarding school back home. The older the teen gets, the harder it becomes more difficult to find wholesome and affordable activities to amuse them, aside from malls, malls and more malls. Without a fully comprehensive public transport system, the possibility for true independence of movement is somewhat limited if they don’t have a sport or hobby they’re passionate about.
Additionally, the type of trouble teenagers get into in the UK with little consequence, can lead to serious punishment here in Dubai. If you’re caught underage drinking in Dubai, it’s a jailable offence, which can also lead to huge problems for the parents.
And of course, there’s also the problem of children growing up in such a sheltered and rather privileged world that they might struggle to cope when thrown into “the real world”. Some says Dubai kids don’t know how to “function” outside the UAE because they’ve become accustomed to a cushier life. Remember the story of the student from Dubai who turned up at university and waited for the porter to bring his bags to his room? If you want to avoid this being your kid, it’s down to the parent to do a certain level of education as unfortunately the term “expat brat”, was coined for good reason.
Needless to say, there are children of course, who make it happily through the teenage years in Dubai and turn out to be wonderful, down to earth young adults. There are loads of families who have kept their children in Dubai until university age who haven’t regretted it. Given Dubai’s geographical location, the opportunity to travel to both Asia and Europe, means that by the time they reach 18, most expat children have already developed the expat characteristics of independence and adventurousness. They grow up with a mature, open-minded and global outlook, if you like.
Ultimately, you have to ask yourself - where will children call home? Even if they’re born in the UAE, current laws mean they won’t be UAE citizens. They’ll hold the passport of a country they’ve never lived in or have very little connection to. So, going back to the original question, is Dubai a good place to raise children? It depends on a lot of things and your own situation!
If you are moving to Dubai or already live here, contact deVere Acuma for independent financial advice. Our experts can advice you on everything from pensions to education costs. Call us today!
Dubai is a destination that’s hugely popular with a wide variety of different people. But something that everyone wants to know – Is Dubai a good place to bring up children? There is no simple answer as it depends on the age of the children, what your long-term plans are and your own attitude to living in Dubai.
deVere Acuma thinks this is a great place to raise small children, particularly if they were born in the UAE or move here before they have a large friendship base somewhere else. Dubai is safe, warm and sunny. There’s loads of activities readily available to suit every interest and budget. Whether it’s sunny beach picnics, strolling around beautiful public parks or themed play areas and sailing lessons.
As soon as a child enters primary school, they start learning Arabic. And with over 200 nationalities of expats living here, your children will make friends from all over the world.
The only noticeable disadvantages at this stage are the fact that you’ll be far away from loved ones and the high cost of schooling. A British curriculum primary school, for example, can cost up to AED 85,000 (£16,200) per year. There are a few well-established not-for-profit schools which charge a little but less, but of course they are over-subscribed.
So where does the “no” come into it? Well, according to the HSBC Expat Explorer survey, the UAE rates 18th out of 39 countries for raising a family: 11th for quality of life but a mere 36th for the cost.
Children in Dubai supposedly spend more time watching TV compared to those in their home countries, which has been blamed on their “low social integration”. However, this could partly be blamed on those months when it’s simply too hot to be outside.
Now, once children get to senior school age, things become more complicated. This is around the age where expat families up and leave or parents send their children to boarding school back home. The older the teen gets, the harder it becomes more difficult to find wholesome and affordable activities to amuse them, aside from malls, malls and more malls. Without a fully comprehensive public transport system, the possibility for true independence of movement is somewhat limited if they don’t have a sport or hobby they’re passionate about.
Additionally, the type of trouble teenagers get into in the UK with little consequence, can lead to serious punishment here in Dubai. If you’re caught underage drinking in Dubai, it’s a jailable offence, which can also lead to huge problems for the parents.
And of course, there’s also the problem of children growing up in such a sheltered and rather privileged world that they might struggle to cope when thrown into “the real world”. Some says Dubai kids don’t know how to “function” outside the UAE because they’ve become accustomed to a cushier life. Remember the story of the student from Dubai who turned up at university and waited for the porter to bring his bags to his room? If you want to avoid this being your kid, it’s down to the parent to do a certain level of education as unfortunately the term “expat brat”, was coined for good reason.
Needless to say, there are children of course, who make it happily through the teenage years in Dubai and turn out to be wonderful, down to earth young adults. There are loads of families who have kept their children in Dubai until university age who haven’t regretted it. Given Dubai’s geographical location, the opportunity to travel to both Asia and Europe, means that by the time they reach 18, most expat children have already developed the expat characteristics of independence and adventurousness. They grow up with a mature, open-minded and global outlook, if you like.
Ultimately, you have to ask yourself - where will children call home? Even if they’re born in the UAE, current laws mean they won’t be UAE citizens. They’ll hold the passport of a country they’ve never lived in or have very little connection to. So, going back to the original question, is Dubai a good place to raise children? It depends on a lot of things and your own situation!
If you are moving to Dubai or already live here, contact deVere Acuma for independent financial advice. Our experts can advice you on everything from pensions to education costs. Call us today!