COVID -19: UAE parents, students go shopping for the new school term

Come Sunday, schools across the UAE will see an influx of students who will be returning after a five-month hiatus. This school term will be different; under the shadow of a coronavirus pandemic many precautions will need to be taken and not everyone will be making a comeback all at once. But some things never change – everyone needs supplies. Before the school bell rings, parents are busy buying uniforms, stationary and the dozens of other little things a student may need. The extra purchase this time around? Face masks.

Books – check. Bags – check. Parent-child duos are rushing to stores including (as pictured) Carrefour in Mall of the Emirates for last-minute supplies.

Sanitising programmes, disinfection drives and stringent screening processes are all in place to ensure a safe environment for those returning to school.

For those opting for e-learning, preparing for term may require extra effort. Parents must scour stores for (maybe) faster laptops, desks or other classroom decor to create the right ambience.

Students require many different kinds of school supplies on a daily basis. Pens and pencils, pencil cases, notebooks, folders and a variety of art supplies are just some examples of the items that fall under this category.

The Back To School section at Lulu Hypermarket in Al Qusais, Dubai, had a consistent stream of moms, dads and kids looking to get everything off a long list.

Hundreds of parents moved from one shop to another to buy books and stationery for their children.

It’s not an easy job shopping for an upcoming term. Parents in a Back to School section at Lulu Hypermarket in AL Qusais, Dubai, look for the perfect products, on August 13.

It's not just supplies that need to be checked off the list, school uniforms must also be prepared for the new term.

Themed products including bags and stationery are available at various stores just in time for school re-opening. Parents and kids debate their favourite cartoon characters at Lulu Hypermarket in Al Qusais, Dubai.

In addition to uniform and back to school essentials parents are also busy buying mask, gloves and hygiene product for theirs kids.