As the new school year approaches, many parents in the UAE are turning to private tailoring shops and uniform stores to cut down on the cost of school uniforms. For some, it is about affordability, while for others, it is about getting uniforms that fit properly.
Zahra Abdul Rahman, a mother of three, has been purchasing uniforms from a shop in Karama for over three years. She reports significant savings, spending half of what she would at the school’s official supplier. “The school provider sells one shirt for Dh95,” she explained. “I can get the exact same shirt in Karama at the uniform store for Dh45. They are also of better quality and last longer.”
Rahman highlighted the substantial difference in price and quality, which is even more critical when buying uniforms for multiple children. “Every item of clothing costs approximately 50 per cent less than the school provider,” she said. “For three children, buying two sets of uniforms and one set of PE uniforms, that is a significant saving. I spent around Dh1,000 for all my children’s school uniforms this year. From the school provider, it would have been more than Dh2,000. Also, the uniforms last longer, so I buy them every 1.5 years instead of every year, which adds to the savings.”
Rush Time Has Begun
With most schools in the UAE reopening on August 26, private tailors and uniform shops are already experiencing a rush. At Al Abaq Uniforms in Dubai, the current waiting time for stitched uniforms is 10 days. “We stitch any school uniform according to the child’s size,” said a salesman. “The pricing depends on the fabric and the size. Due to the backlog, it will take at least 10 days for uniforms to be delivered. We are expecting a bigger rush by the end of this month.”
Zahra noted that many of her friends also opt for tailored uniforms due to fitting issues. “Some children are tall and need longer pants, while others struggle with waist sizes,” she said. “Getting uniforms stitched helps with these issues.”
At Bambino Uniforms, with outlets in Sharjah, Fujairah, and Ras Al Khaimah, the rush has already started and is expected to peak by the end of August. “This year, schools reopen in the last week of August, and we have seen increasing crowds already,” said Rasheeda Mohammed, MD of the company. “By August 20, we expect to serve at least 250-300 parents in a single day in Sharjah. In Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, it might be slightly less.”
LCT Uniforms in Karama has also seen an increase in customers since early August. “We don’t have a huge rush yet, but parents who have returned to the country have started their uniform shopping,” said a spokesperson. “However, we anticipate a huge rush toward the end of the month.”
Other Ways to Save
Some parents are also buying generic uniforms from well-known retailers to save costs. Syrian expat Mohammed Younis bought skirts and pants for his children from popular stores. “My children’s school uniform includes navy blue pants and grey skirts with white shirts,” he said. “I bought grey skirts from a department store for Dh89. Last year, they lasted the entire school year. I also bought navy blue pants for my son from an online retailer for Dh68.”
Younis continues to buy certain items, like pullovers and shirts with the school logo, from the school provider but remains open to alternative options if available.
