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What Dubai needs is a judicious mix of costly and affordable

Life in Dubai is extravagant. Living here means living in the most favoured expat destination. With no tax on salaries and a minimal value added tax on consumption, life seems attractive. Yet, Dubai is among the most expensive cities in the region. It is the second most expensive Middle Eastern city for expatriate cost of living after Tel Aviv, and the 20th most expensive city in the world. The two main reasons for this burden on the pockets are the exorbitant rents and high school fees, which are again among the highest in the region. Private schools in Dubai charge anywhere between Dh5,000 and Dh100,000 annually per student as fee, depending on the curriculum, quality of facilities offered and staff salaries. However, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority keeps a vigilant eye on the tuition fee of each school just as the Real Estate Regulatory Agency keeps watch on the rents in the city. It is because of such watchful institutions that a decrease in rents has resulted in a decrease in tuition fees.
A survey done by Edarabia.com and Bayut.com has revealed a 15 to 20 per cent decrease in rents in residential areas and a corresponding reduction in school tuition fees. With rents and cost of education being the major money guzzlers, it's imperative that the government regulates them. Most expat parents need to keep an eye on their budgets, which calls for affordable housing and education. Expensive schools with ultra-modern facilities and football-sized pools can cater to the rich. But while prices need not necessarily be an indicator of quality, institutions with basic facilities and nominal fees should offer good education to the rest. The emirate has been witnessing a mushrooming of ultra-modern residential homes and cutting-edge schools, both extremely expensive. This bodes well for the ambitious city Dubai is. However, a healthy city calls for a judicious blend - of the very expensive and the affordable. In its efforts to have a happy city with happy people, the government should step up its efforts to ensure this prudent mix.