Even though most schools in the UAE won’t start for another month, invoices for student fees are already rolling in. Annual tuition can range from around Dh9,000 for local schools to upwards of Dh120,000 for premium international institutions. For families with multiple children, the costs can quickly add up. Many parents are exploring strategies to ease the financial strain.

One popular approach is paying annual fees upfront instead of by term, which can sometimes unlock discounts. Others are exploring interest-free school loans or using credit cards that offer cashback on education payments.

“It’s no surprise that families are looking for ways to soften the blow, and cashback credit cards seem like an obvious choice,” says Mike Coady, CEO of Skybound Wealth Management. “There’s opportunity here, but only if you understand the rules.”

Watch Out for the Catch

Not all credit cards treat school fees the same. To benefit from cashback, your card must specifically include education payments in its reward categories. Otherwise, you may find yourself with no rewards at all.

“Some banks classify school fees as education, others as government services or quasi-cash transactions, which may not qualify for cashback,” explains Coady. “Always read the fine print. Just using your card doesn’t guarantee rewards unless the transaction codes match your card’s criteria.”

Understand Cashback Deals and Limits

Cashback rewards often come with caps. Most UAE cards limit monthly cashback between Dh200 and Dh1,000. For example, the CBD Super Saver card offers up to 10 per cent cashback across multiple spending categories, but for school fees, the monthly cap is only Dh150—equating to Dh1,800 a year.

The ADIB Cashback credit card pays 4 per cent on education payments with a Dh300 monthly cap, giving a potential Dh3,600 annual cashback—one of the most generous in the UAE. Emirates Islamic Cashback Plus also offers education-specific cashback, though criteria apply.

Parents like Rehaan Nensey, whose child attends Brighton College in Al Barsha, report meaningful savings. “Using the CBD Super Saver card, I’ve saved around Dh2,500 on school fees so far. Monthly payment options help, though not all schools promote them. Some parents split payments across multiple cards to maximise rewards.”

Your first step should be asking the school if monthly fee payments are possible. Some schools allow it with minimal administrative fees, while others do not. Speak directly with the school’s bursar or finance team for details.

Explore Other Card Options

Check cashback credit cards from Sharjah Islamic Bank, Ajman Bank, and Emirates Islamic, keeping in mind their education-related cashback limits. The FAB GEMS card is unique in offering a branded partnership with GEMS Education, paying up to 4.25 per cent cashback.

Mind the Interest

Coady warns, “It’s only beneficial if you pay your card balance in full each month. Otherwise, a 3–4 per cent cashback can be quickly wiped out by 30 per cent interest charges.”

Interest-free instalment plans are another way to manage large payments. Many UAE banks partner with schools to offer 0 per cent interest plans over 3–12 months, easing cash flow without earning cashback.

Stuti Sri, co-founder of creditcardfinder.ae, notes that Emirates NBD provides 0 per cent instalment plans up to 24 months on education fees via cards like Go4it Platinum and Manchester United. ADCB also offers zero per cent Easy Payment Plans on school fees through its Touchpoint and Lulu cards.

RAKBANK, through its Skiply app, allows payments to over 300 schools using RAKBANK cards with 0 per cent instalments and no extra processing fee. Ajman Bank offers similar 0 per cent profit instalments for education payments above Dh1,000.

Al Hilal Bank’s Education Cash feature allows up to 80 per cent of your credit limit to be sent directly to the school at 0 per cent profit (with a one-time fee). Standard Chartered and HSBC also offer zero per cent instalment plans for school fees.

By carefully selecting the right card or instalment plan, parents in the UAE can significantly reduce the burden of school fees while managing cash flow effectively.