'What are we paying for?': UAE parents call for daycare fee relief amid closures

[Editor's Note: Follow Khaleej Times live blog amid US-Israel-Iran war for the latest regional developments.]

With the ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict prompting precautionary measures in the UAE, daycare and early childhood centres have been closed for a month.

Parents across the country are now demanding fee adjustments, refunds, and clearer communication as many face reduced salaries or pay cuts.

Unlike previous school holidays, when daycare facilities often remained open, this closure has left families with limited options, forcing them to juggle full-time work with full-time childcare.

Stay up to date with the latest news. Follow KT on WhatsApp Channels.

Daycare closures spark parental demands

Mother of a three-year-old, Amani Al Dhaheri, described her growing frustration over fee adjustments.

“This month, I haven't paid, and I don’t expect them to ask me for payment because the service isn’t being provided,” she said. “They haven’t adjusted anything, and they didn’t even communicate properly. I tried reaching out to the authorities governing these facilities, but we are essentially paying for nothing. I understand that they also have losses like rent and expenses, but what exactly are we paying for?”

Al Dhaheri added that she had already paid fees in advance, despite her son attending only briefly. “I had paid Dh4,000 for April. My son only attended for two days or so, but I still had to pay for the whole month,” she said. She now works from home after taking special permission and hopes for official support to resolve the issue. “I want a letter from the governing body that I can show the daycare, so I can tell them this is based on official instructions,” she added.

Financial pressures rise as families seek flexibility

Radhika Nambiar, a UAE resident for 12 years, faced similar challenges with her child’s nursery in Karama. “I work from 8am to 6pm in Dubai’s private sector, and we enrolled our three-year-old in a nursery primarily for its daycare facilities. Now, with daycares closed, I’m forced to work from home. The nursery says they are offering online classes, but that simply doesn’t work for a child of this age when both parents are working full time. These sessions require constant supervision… I can’t sit with him from 9am to 2.15pm while also managing my job. It’s just not practical.”

The family had paid nearly Dh25,000 upfront for the year, a significant amount, yet since March their child hasn’t attended in person or online. “We requested a reasonable adjustment, such as extending his enrolment by an extra month, but the daycare centre says no refund or adjustment is possible as per their policy,” she said.

In response, some institutions have introduced flexible initiatives to support families while maintaining continuity in early years education.

Vandana Gandhi, CEO and Founder of British Orchard Nursery and Teacher Training Centre, UAE, UK said, “We continues to adopt a flexible and supportive approach to fee structures, ensuring affected families receive both financial consideration and extended educational value during this period.”

She added, “Measures include flexible fee adjustments aligned with individual family needs, added value through extended learning benefits and upcoming camps and an ongoing commitment to health, safety, and wellbeing under ISO-certified and HSE practices.”

Balancing childcare, work, and emotional wellbeing

Experts stress that the current situation is as much about emotional support as practical care.

Shifa Yusuff Ali - CEO & Founder of IdeaCrate said, “At times like this, children are not just responding to events, but to the emotions around them. For working parents, it’s not about doing more—it’s about creating small pockets of predictability and connection within the day.”

Ali added, “Simple routines, familiar faces, and even short moments of undivided attention can make a significant difference in helping a child feel safe.”

Regarding fee adjustments, institutions like IdeaCrate emphasise sustaining both children’s learning and staff wellbeing. “Our immediate focus has been on maintaining continuity for children—keeping them connected to familiar routines, educators, and structured engagement. At the same time, we are equally committed to supporting our teachers, caregivers, and support staff, because their wellbeing is directly linked to the wellbeing of the children they care for.”

While pay cuts and job uncertainty heighten parental stress, a few nurseries and early learning centers are attempting to strike a balance between financial realities and delivering uninterrupted, high-quality early years care.

“We are committed to staying in close conversation with our parent community and addressing individual needs as they arise. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution—it’s important to balance the realities families are facing with the responsibilities we carry. Our focus is on making thoughtful, long-term decisions rather than reactive ones,” added Ali.