Education Savings Goal Calculator
Work out how much to save per month so you can cover your child's school years without the bill being a shock.
About your child
School details
Growth assumptions
How to use
- 1
Enter your child's current age and the age they'll start (or continue) school.
- 2
Enter how many years of schooling you want to fund. Full KG1 through Grade 12 is 14 years; just secondary is 6.
- 3
Enter today's annual fee at the school you have in mind. KHDA's portal shows published fees for every Dubai private school.
- 4
Set fee inflation. KHDA's ECI typically runs 2-3%. Premium British and IB schools sometimes raise faster.
- 5
Set your expected investment return. UAE savings account: 2%. Diversified portfolio: 6%. Pure equity: 8%.
- 6
If you've already saved something, enter the current balance — the calculator factors in how it grows.
- 7
The result shows total fund needed, the monthly amount to save from today until school starts, and a year-by-year fee table.
Frequently asked questions
Big range. Indian curriculum schools (CBSE / GEMS New Modern): AED 15,000-30,000/year. American curriculum: AED 30,000-70,000. British/IB premium schools: AED 70,000-100,000+. Plus uniforms, books, bus, activities. Plan for 1.2-1.4× the advertised tuition as total annual cost.
KHDA caps annual increases based on the Education Cost Index (ECI), which has averaged 2-3% per year. Some premium schools raise less; others find ways to add fees outside tuition (bus, IT, exam fees) that aren't capped. A 3-4% projection is realistic.
Depends on where you'll eventually study. For UAE schools through Grade 12, save in AED — the bills come in AED. For potential university overseas, save in the country's currency (USD for US universities, GBP for UK) to avoid currency-exchange risk closer to the date.
Time horizon matters. 10+ years away: diversified equity ETFs (6-8% expected). 5-10 years: 60/40 equity/bond mix. Under 5 years: high-yield bank deposits or money market funds. Don't chase high returns close to the date — capital preservation matters more than growth in the final years.
Yes, but separately. UAE university bills run AED 40,000-90,000/year for 4 years. UK university for international students: GBP 25,000-45,000/year for 3 years. Total can easily exceed AED 1.5-2M. If you have multiple children, plan early — the cost gap between local and international university is enormous.
You bridge the shortfall with cash, loans, or scholarships when school starts. Most expat families end up paying some fees from monthly income rather than savings. Even a partial fund makes the early years easier and gives you optionality on school choice.
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Source: Compound interest projection with KHDA ECI inflation · Last verified 2026-06. This tool provides estimates only and is not legal, tax or financial advice. Always verify your specific situation with the relevant UAE authority or a licensed advisor before taking action.