Dubai: Some parents are spending thousands of dirhams on school supplies, which have become more expensive this year because of a five per cent Value Added Tax (VAT).
They are busy with shopping this week as the new school year begins right after the weekend, on Sunday.
The prices of back-to-school items, such as schoolbags, shoes and other supplies, vary greatly from store to store and brand to brand.
However, with the introduction of VAT in January, prices have generally increased. Also, parents shopping for multiple children and choosing certain brands easily spend Dh1,000 or more.
Farhan Uddin, a 27-year-old Pakistani businessman in Abu Dhabi, is spending a total of Dh4,000 on school items for eight children — Dh500 per child, on average.
He said: “The children include two of my own, while the rest are for my nieces and nephews, and so it is expensive when it’s all added together. This year there is also VAT so prices have increased, and I have to spend more.
"It would be helpful if prices for school items were reduced, because as a parent you don’t really have a choice and have to buy these items every year for your children. I do most of the shopping over a week as I check different markets — some stores will have better priced items than others.”
School supplies budget: Dh1,500
Prakash Shetty, an Indian expat who recently moved to Dubai, is expecting his shopping expenses to reach around Dh1,500 for one child at a UK curriculum school in Dubai, including books and uniforms.
Shetty said he is buying almost all supplies from the school itself.
“I have the option to buy from my child’s school but I’m also looking at deals outside. It [the price range] is pretty much the same from what I’ve found so far. There are deals out there but back-to-school shopping is still expensive, especially text books and uniforms,” Shetty added.
Faisal Abbasi, a 41-year-old Pakistani finance manager in Abu Dhabi, is spending a total of around Dh1,300 on three children — around Dh430 per child.
“This is a lot of money which I have to spend. The prices have steadily gone up over the years, and with VAT introduced that’s going to be another price increase for these school items.
"It is manageable for me, I budget and plan ahead of time, but if prices were reduced — which parent would say no to that?
"As a parent, buying school items for your kids is something that you have to do. It’s also not always your call on what items to buy for your children as they pick the items they like, which can be expensive.”
