Food on campus is overpriced, students say

Dubai: University students in the UAE are complaining of soaring food prices on campus. Most reported they pay over Dh600 per month on food and that the convenience stores on campuses are more expensive than outside, which results in financial pressure on them and their parents.

"The supermarket we buy from is rather expensive," said Amaan Haiter, a student at Middlesex University Dubai, based in Dubai Knowledge Village (DKV).

Vice-President of administration Raymi van der Spek said the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) used the food facilities provided by DKV.

Dubai International Academic City (DIAC) recently opened its main food court on campus, which caters to all universities based there. A service block located nearby has a café and a convenience store.

Like most of his friends, Jitendar Thawan, a BCom student at Mahatma Gandhi University (MGU), skips breakfast in his rush to get to class. He ends up having two meals on campus.

"I pay around Dh40 every day on food here," he said.

Adel Murad, an Emirati and first-year student at the National Institute for Vocational Education (NIVE) located in DIAC, and his classmate Abdul Rahman Ali, said they also find prices to be very high.

"As it is now, we literally have to plan a budget for food," he said.

Dr B. Ramjee, director of DIAC-based Manipal University Dubai Campus, said: "We do not set the prices though I believe these are reasonably priced to cater to the student body."

The administration of DKV and DIAC maintains prices have not increased at the food courts.

Are you a university student? Have you noticed an increase in food prices? How have you been affected by this? Should food prices be allowed to increase in universities?

I study in Academic City and even though the new food court has been opened there, it has not bought any differnce in the high price of food.I go in the morning batch, thus I have breakfast and lunch there, which costs me around Dh40-50 everyday.IF DIAC decreases the prices, it would be a great help for the students.
From A Reader
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 01, 2009, 15:06

The food court in campus are exaggerating crazily the food prices which is not worth it
Arifa Koya
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 01, 2009, 14:58

Make your own sandwiches the night before. I used to do this when I went to school in the US. It will save you a lot of money.
Kris Young
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 01, 2009, 14:33

I am not a student, but work in Media City. The prices are really high in this area. Even simple fruit drinks are expensive. There should be a body to keep a tab on increased prices. There is nothing which costs less than Dh20-25 for a simple lunch except for one Indian Veg Restaurant. One has to think twice before eating.
Vinita
Dubai,UAE
Posted: March 01, 2009, 13:03