Over Dh1,000 per week: UAE parents question if high winter camp costs are 'value for money'

Parents in the UAE are expressing concern over the high costs of winter camps for their children, with some priced as high as Dh1,100 per week but run for only a few hours each day.

With schools in the country closing for a three-week winter break from December 16, 2024, to January 5, 2025, many families are exploring different camp options. However, the high costs of these camps have led some parents to consider alternative solutions, such as taking time off work to care for their children themselves.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, Neha Bhagwat shared that she's considering sending her younger son to a football camp. However, she remains uncertain about whether it’s worth the cost, particularly when she already has an older child at home.

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“I am thinking of sending my younger son who is in Year 4 to the ISM football camp but it's priced at Dh780 per week. But most camp options are priced at around Dh1,000-1,100 per week," she said.

"When you have more than one child it’s difficult to decide if it’s value for money," added the Indian expat. "However, my older son who is in Year 8 won’t be attending any camp this year. Instead, he’ll be studying at home and spending time with friends in the neighbourhood."

'I want to keep the kids entertained'

“While afternoon pick-ups from these camps can be an added challenge during a busy workday or when coordinating a carpool system, leaving children at home alone with the nanny while parents are at work can lead to excessive screen time, as they don’t always listen to the help, which presents another issue. Therefore, sending them to a camp is often the better option,” Neha noted.

Another parent, Sally Maddison, explained that while camps are a necessary option for working parents, they can be expensive. “These camps are quite pricey, but unfortunately, they’re our only option," said the mother of two. "I want to keep the kids entertained, as staying at home would lead to boredom, making it hard for me to work."

Sally highlighted a variety of local options in her area at Sustainable City, such as sports, art, and play camps, with prices ranging from Dh165 per day to Dh715 per week for one child. "For two kids, the cost can quickly add up to nearly Dh1,500 per week," she noted. While camps like the PlayPoint camp at a local soft play centre offer a sibling discount, Sally still finds it difficult to justify the expense, especially given the shorter hours compared to school schedules.

"Camps normally start at 9am instead of 8am, further shortening the available time. Sometimes you wonder if it's better to send them to camp or just take a holiday and care for them yourself. However, when you do go out, you end up spending money, as they always want to do activities,” added the British expat.

She also mentioned that while many camps offer good entertainment, the activities often don’t match their advertised focus. "I chose a sports camp thinking they’d be learning sports, but when they came home, they told me they painted and played Tag," she said. "I expected more structure, especially when I’m paying for a sports-focused camp."

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