A recent YouGov survey commissioned by Zurich International Life has put a precise — and striking — figure on one of the UAE's biggest family financial concerns: UAE higher education costs can reach between AED 250,000 and AED 600,000 ($68,000–$163,000) per child. Despite this, nearly a third of parents have yet to set aside a single dirham.
What the Survey Found
The poll, which surveyed 1,000 UAE residents, found that 63% of parents already recognise high tuition fees as a serious worry. The expected spend — up to AED 600,000 for a single university degree — places higher education firmly among the largest financial commitments a UAE family will face.
Yet 29% of parents have not started saving at all, revealing a critical gap between awareness and action.
How UAE Parents Are Saving Today
When it comes to saving methods, most families stick to conventional approaches:
- 77% rely on bank deposits - 48% invest in shares or equities - Only 14% use education-specific savings plans designed to grow in line with rising tuition costs
Most parents also believe that setting aside 6–20% of their monthly salary is enough to cover future university bills — a figure that may fall short given how quickly higher education fees have risen across the UAE and internationally.
The Case for Education Savings Plans
Education-oriented savings programmes offer a different approach: investing in growth-focused funds that aim to keep pace with inflation, rather than leaving money in low-yield deposits.
David Denton-Cardew, Head of Propositions at Zurich Middle East, emphasises the value of starting early. Structured education savings plans pool contributions across multiple investment opportunities, shifting money toward better-performing assets over time — a smarter strategy than conventional deposits alone.
Despite the low current uptake, the appetite is clearly there: 87% of parents said they would be willing to save through plans that combine investment growth with life insurance coverage, providing both financial upside and a safety net for the family.
Why Acting Now Matters
With UAE higher education costs continuing to rise year on year, the window to build meaningful savings is narrowest for families whose children are already in school. The longer parents wait, the less time compound growth has to work in their favour.
For UAE families weighing their options, the survey points to one clear conclusion: conventional bank savings alone are unlikely to keep pace with university fee inflation. Dedicated education savings plans — started early, structured for growth, and protected by insurance — offer a more reliable path to funding a child's academic future.
