Report - Dubai Education Costs Up in 2012

Image source: The National. Stats by the Dubai Statistical Office.

According to the Dubai Statistical Office (DSO), the cost of living declined in the emirate of Dubai last year, with inflation for 2012 at minus 1.71 per cent. However the cost of education, went up, a finding unlikely to surprise struggling parents.

The inflation rate is measured by tracking a basket of goods and services that includes rents, education costs, food and non-alcoholic goods, restaurant prices, clothing and utilities, such as electricity and water.

Causing the overall fall was a heavy drop in the cost of rent - something we're likely to see a reversal of in 2013.

Rent in 2012 fell by 7.65 per cent according to the DSO report, and was the main contributor to a group reduction of 6.19 per cent in housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuel.

There was also a fall of 0.31 per cent in the cost of materials and services for house maintenance and repair.

The cost of education went up, however, rising by 2.59 per cent for primary, and and 2.22 per cent for secondary education.

In 2013, that rise is likely to be halted, temporarily, by the KHDA ruling on school fee rises.

Private schools in Dubai are not be able to raise fees this academic year (2013-2014) according to the KHDA because the cost of providing education has declined according to research by the DSO.