The data is revealed by Zurich International Life (Zurich) survey

Dubai, Sept 01, 2022: Tuition fee for higher education is the leading concern for 70 parents in the UAE, revealed a survey by Zurich International Life (Zurich). Confidence levels were not very high, with only 34 percent of UAE residents feeling “very confident” that they will be in a position to support their children’s further education financially.

Conducted in partnership with research firm YouGov, the survey covered more than 1,500 GCC residents from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Bahrain. 

According to Rayner Britto, Head of Distribution at Zurich International Life, 62 percent of parents in the GCC use their monthly income for school-related expenses.

Top concerns for UAE parents

While tuition fees is the top concern for most UAE respondents, securing admission to an institute of their choice was another concern for 53 percent. 

The survey findings showed that eight out of 10 couples in the UAE set aside up to 40 percent of their monthly income to pay tuition fees, with the average annual cost of education among those surveyed in the UAE amounting to Dhs45,676. When it comes to selecting a destination for their children’s higher education, 41 percent UAE residents said they plan to send their children abroad, with around 12 percent hopeful of getting a scholarship. Popular higher education destinations included the US, Canada, UK and India among others. However, the UAE still ranked as the top destination, with 35 parents across the GCC choosing the country as their preferred location.