Teaching in the UAE
"Often viewed as the cosmopolitan hub of the Middle East, the United Arab Emirates attracts expats from all corners of the world."
Country Facts & Figures
Capital city: Abu Dhabi City
Population: 8.2 million
Major language: Arabic
Major religion: Islam
Currency: Dirham (AED)
International dialling code: +971
Country Profile
Sharing its borders with Saudi Arabia in the west, south and southeast and with Oman on the southeast and northwest, the United Arab Emirates offers a taste of the arabia yet provides comforts from the west. The climate is as you would expect, very hot summers peaking in July and August and warm winters. Over 60% of its population are expats taking advantage of the attractive and enticing packages.
Although the UAE conjures up images of 7 star hotels, fine dining and state of the art shopping malls, there is much more to this nation with a history dating back to over 5500BC. The UAE is comprised of seven emirates with Abu Dhabi city as its capital, which comes as a surprise to many who would have assumed Dubai to take this title.
Moving away from the bright lights, there is a lot to experience from bartering in the markets of Sharjah, to riding 4x4s across the vast sand dunes and seeing at first hand the Bedouin culture as well as relaxing on one of the many exotic beaches.
International Schooling in United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates has seen some of the highest rates of growth in terms of international schooling. The demand for an international education is driven by both local families and the high proportion of expat families working in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Typically international schools follow the British, International Baccalaureate curricula or combination of both and therefore the demand for qualified overseas teachers is high.
Although Dubai is the most popular and populated city in the United Arab Emirates, other cities and regions should not be overlooked. Dubai is more expensive, chaotic and also more competitive with regards to applying for international teaching vacanices. The over-inflated accommodation process of Dubai often mean that teachers are only offered shared apartments and therefore limiting those with families from applying.
Looking beyond Dubai, the city of Abu Dhabi offers a vibrant lifestyle, strong expat community and yet a slightly more calmer feel than its sister city. Outside of the two main cities, Fujairah, Sharjah and Al Ain attract families looking for a quiter and calmer environment. In each of these areas teachers find that they are well accommdated particularly those travelling with dependants.
Typical Salary & Benefits
- Salaries are tax-free
- Flights paid
- Relocation allowance is usually provided
- Accommodation is provided either as a single or shared apartment
- Contracts are generally for 2 years in the first instance with renewal
