Abu Dhabi Nimme Centhil Kumar admitted her four-year-old son to a nursery so he could learn how to mix, but soon realised he was becoming submissive. She withdrew the boy.

More and more parents say there is a lack of fordable nurseries with qualified staff. “I enrolled my son in a nursery at age two, but was unhappy with his development. I wanted him to learn how to interact with his peers.. The longer he was at the nursery, the more withdrawn he became,” Kumar, a 35-year-old Indian dentist, said.

The boy was pressured academically to perform better than his peers. “Adequate time was not set aside for playing. I left him at home with my parents,” Kumar said. She said her son was withdrawn because staff were not adequately trained.

Abu Dhabi has 105 nurseries that are regulated by the Ministry of Social Affairs. Parents use word-of-mouth recommendations and online forums to choose nursries or opt for one close to their office. But this is a problem because many new facilities are outside the central business district in areas like Khalifa City A, said a mother of two from Egypt, who did not want to be identified.

“I had to find a pre-school for my son close to my office. The staff do not speak English fluently and there is no designated playtime. M My son is missing out on important experiences. HH He will be better off when he is old enough to attend school later this year. I want to move my son, but the nurseries that provide better care cost more. I pay Dh1,500 a month,” she said.

A 27-year-old mother from Lebanon said: “It does not help working mothers when a pre-school closes at 1pm. I have a nanny to look after my six-month-old son,” she said.

The percentage of children attending nursery school is low in the Middle East and North Africa. World Bank statistics of 2010 say less than 5 per cent of four and five-year-olds attended pre-school.

Tracey Furey, chief executive officer of childcare development company Bidayaat, said it is because many parents here have a strong family structure.

“This is especially true of Emirati families. But it is changing because the benefits of a professional environment are being recognised. Children learn to be socially confident outside the family setting, and within the proper environment, can also develop important language, art and playing skills,” she said.

Bidayaat plans to open a centre in Abu Dhabi that will offer full-day childcare and balanced meals with prices ranging from Dh1,500 to Dh2,500 a month.