Rs 18 lakh a year for school? Dubai mom reveals daughter's shocking school fees

A Dubai mother's video breaks down her daughter's costs at GEMS International School, from AED 55,000 tuition to transport and uniforms. The tally shows how headline fees can understate the real annual burden, with extra charges pushing the bill to nearly Rs 18 lakh and beyond. Rs 18 lakh a year for school? Dubai mom reveals daughter’s shocking school fees (Instagram/@nika.indubai)Rs 18 lakh a year, just to send one child to school. That is the eye-watering figure emerging from a Dubai mother’s candid breakdown of her daughter’s education costs. With AED 55,000 going towards tuition alone, another AED 12,000 for the school bus and additional charges for uniforms, assessment and other essentials, the real price of international schooling can be far higher than the headline fee suggests.AED 55,000 TUITION, BEFORE THE EXTRASVeronika, a Dubai-based mother of two, recently took to social media to share a closer look at her daughter’s life at GEMS International School, while also laying bare the staggering costs that come with her education.The biggest chunk of the bill is the annual tuition: AED 55,000, or roughly Rs 14.3 lakh. But as her breakdown shows, that eye-watering figure is only the beginning.BUS COSTS AED 12,000 A YEARAccording to the breakdown shown in the video, school transport costs another AED 12,000 annually, or around Rs 3.1 lakh. The school uniform adds approximately AED 1,000, taking the combined tuition, transport and uniform bill to about AED 68,000, roughly Rs 17.7 lakh.There is also an AED 525 assessment fee, or about Rs 13,000, charged separately.WHAT PARENTS ARE PAYING FOR The video also offers a closer look at the school itself, giving viewers a glimpse of its classrooms, library, sports facilities and swimming pool. The visuals provide a sense of the campus environment and the range of facilities available to students, helping put the hefty school fee into perspective.The footage also shows Veronika’s daughter having a meal at school, highlighting another everyday aspect of the school experience. From food and uniforms to transport and other requirements, these additional costs can gradually add to what is already a substantial annual education bill.'LIKE PAYING FOR UNIVERSITY'The figures triggered a strong reaction online, with one commenter saying the amount felt like paying “for university tuition.”Others noted that Dubai has cheaper schools, while some commenters argued that the high cost of private education in the Gulf can influence families to consider sending their children abroad for higher education.THE BILL BEHIND THE HEADLINE FEEThe mother’s breakdown highlights a reality that can easily be missed when comparing school fees: AED 55,000 is only the tuition headline. Once transport, uniforms, assessment charges and other expenses are factored in, the cost of putting one child through an international school can move sharply higher.- EndsPublished By: Apoorva AnandPublished On: Aug 20, 2026 15:01 IST