UAE parents call for price cut on summer camps

With weekly charges of between Dh500 and Dh1,000, some families say the activities are way out of their range.

Tasneem Uddin’s daughters Hooria, 6, Humama, 6, and Safa, 11, studying for their final exams. The girls are looking forward to their summer break, but Mr Uddin says he will not be able to afford to send them to camp this year. Reem Mohammed / The National
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ABU DHABI // Parents have called on organisers of day camps to cut their prices over the summer holidays, saying their children will be stuck at home or in malls because they cannot afford the activities.

With weekly charges of between Dh500 and Dh1,000, some families say the activities are way out of their range.

Tasneem Uddin, a Pakistani sales manager, lives with his wife and three children in a studio flat in Sharjah. They are not going home this year and cannot afford day camps.

“With those kinds of prices I’d be spending more than Dh10,000 in six weeks, which is out of the question,” he said.

“We also want to engage our children in creative activities but cannot do so. We cannot do much outdoors and malls become so monotonous.”

But camp organisers defend the costs. Lisa Lewis of Inspire Children’s Nursery in Dubai, said the weekly Dh805 a child she charged was not excessive.

“Parents do need to consider the content of the camps, as well as the quality of delivery, training and qualifications of the teachers, facilities and the duration to judge whether they are getting the best value for money,” Ms Lewis said.

“The hot long days during summer can be tiresome and boredom sets in pretty quickly, and when children get bored it reflects in their temperament and behaviour, making the holidays last so much longer.”

Nuha Mohammed, a working mother with two children, said she took her son, 5, to a summer camp last year but stopped after two days because of the price.

“It was very expensive and my kid was not doing anything there that made it worth paying that kind of money,” said Ms Mohammed, a Palestinian.

“I am one of the fortunate parents in the UAE who has an extended family in the country. Hence my children can spend time with their cousins, uncles and aunts.

“But it must be really challenging for those working parents who have no support system. These summer camps are simply good for nothing.”

Ms Lewis said camps gave children a chance to socialise, try new activities and be entertained in a safe environment.

“Summer camps are also a great time to help prepare your child for nursery enrolment in the coming academic year, especially if it’s the first time, as there is a chance to become familiar with the environment and teachers,” she said.

Another company, Dubai Holiday Camps, charges between Dh650 and Dh1,000 a week, depending on the age of the child. Spokeswoman Hazel Kemp believed these fees were fair.

“Our priority is to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for your children and child-centric activities encouraging children to make new friends and try new activities and experiences,” she said.

“It is as good as sending them to school, but in a more relaxed and fun environment.”

The Knowledge and Human Development Authority in Dubai said that regulating the price of summer camps was not part of its responsibility.

akhaishgi@thenational.ae