UAE school supplies among most affordable globally for parents – study

Emirati parents spend among the least on school supplies compared to their global peers, according to a study by retail analysis firm Picodi.

The company analysed the cost of providing first graders’ with 27 items split across four categories including a backpack, basic supplies like books and stationary, creative tools for art classes and a physical education outfit.

The analysis did not include school uniforms as schools themselves or local authorities often decide costs, although it should be noted rising prices in this area have been the subject of complaints by UAE parents in recent years with some spending up to Dhs3,600 ($980) per child, according to a recent article in The National.

Based on pricing in the medium-to-low area of the UAE retail market, Picodi found a backpack cost Dhs28, basic supplies Dhs140, creative tools Dhs128 and a PE outfit Dhs90 for a total of Dhs385 ($105).

This figure meant that Emirati parents, based on an average exchange rate from July, spent the fourth least in comparison to their salary among the 36 countries analysed at 3.29 per cent.

This compared to 2.99 per cent and a cost of $145 for Swiss parents, 3.14 per cent and $103 for Swedish parents and 3.18 per cent and $99 for Canadian parents.

Saudi parents spent slightly more of their salary than those in the UAE at 3.62 per cent and $96.

At the top of the ranking, parents in Nigeria spent the spent the most in comparison to their average salary at 54.74 per cent ($99), followed by those in Moldova at 36.6 per cent ($104), Vietnam at 32.71 per cent ($71), Belarus at 26.86 per cent ($112) and Ukraine at 25.33 per cent ($70).