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Teaching in Dubai Abu Dhabi UAE  

Monday 21 May 2012 (UAE)   
 
   
      
 

Teachers and Teaching in Dubai, UAE

See the teaching jobs in Dubai page for important information about teaching job scams, and how to apply for a teaching job in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and other emirates in the UAE.

General information about teaching in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, UAE

Teaching in Dubai and the UAE can be one of the most rewarding experiences you will have, at least that's what the boss will tell you. Sarcasm and cliches aside, teachers in a good school in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, or anywhere else in the UAE, will normally enjoy the experience (embassy schools and non-profit schools are usually the best ones). The students are interesting and enthusiastic, generally well-motivated (if not, parents paying 30,000+ dhs per year will motivate them), and compared to teaching in any other big city, you'll have no or few discipline problems.

There are some schools which are less pleasant though. Long hours for little reward (although the students usually appreciate the teachers' efforts) and seemingly endless difficulties with administrative procedures - visas, housing, etc. Some schools will have discipline problems that are difficult to deal with - students threatening teachers with getting them sacked for example (if management supports the students, it becomes awkward). The UAE schools information pages have a rating system where you can view what other teachers think of a school, and add your own vote.

Most schools are somewhere between the two extremes. Read any contracts carefully, get everything down in writing, don't expect any favors once you've signed up, don't rock the boat once you get here and you should be fine. Just like any job - read the jobs in Dubai page for a bit more detail. If you were promised something but did not get it in writing, don't expect it to materialise.

One thing that exasperates many teachers who first move to the UAE is the favoritism shown towards certain students (the ones who have a degree of influence over school management for whatever reason - either wasta, or because they or their parents are spineless and whine a lot). It's the way it goes in the UAE and it won't change in a hurry. Just remember that if you lose your job because of your principles, the student will probably still get what they wanted. And you won't have a job.

Management in UAE schools seems to be particularly irksome compared to elsewhere. Almost as if the administrative offices are a graveyard for has-been heads and principals the rest of the world doesn't want. Try and stay out of their way and don't annoy any of the high-wasta (influential) students. Incompetent bosses are also quite often lazy so if their radar does latch on to you, the Sir Humphrey strategy can be quite effective: say Yes, Minister (with enthusiasm - you should at least appear genuine) to any request and then ignore it. With any luck they'll be fired by the owners before your own tardiness gets found out. This strategy won't work so easily in the non-profit schools since heads usually seem to last longer, and they have more of a clue in the first place anyway.

Like anywhere, office politics can be a blessing or a curse depending on how you adapt to it. Ignoring it is not usually a good idea though. Remember when whining about the management in the staffroom, that every efficient manager will have a plant in there somewhere - it won't be the grumpy Father Ted in the corner, it's more likely to be the one who's your new best friend ever within 5 minutes of you arriving for the first time in the UAE.

Teaching qualifications in Dubai
  • Dubai and UAE schools will usually expect teachers to have a teaching qualification from the same country as the curriculum of the school where a job is available, especially in the better paying schools.
  • There is some overlap, for example, international schools with western curriculums, especially IB, will usually be interested in anyone with a UK, US, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, and sometimes South African teaching qualification.
  • The best American schools in Dubai (and/or those offering AP) are more likely to restrict hires to US or Canadian qualified teachers and/or nationals if the student body is predominantly North American, for example the American School of Dubai or the American Community School in Abu Dhabi.
  • Similarly, the best British schools in Dubai, are more likely to restrict hiring to teachers with a UK PGCE qualification, for example, Dubai College or BSAK Abu Dhabi.
  • The UK teaching qualification is called a Post Graduate Certificate of Education (PGCE), and as far as we know, can only be studied in the UK to obtain Qualified Teacher Status (QTS). There are international PGCE courses available (or PGCEi) in Dubai but they do not have the same status as a UK based PGCE, and might or might not give you Newly Qualified Teacher (NQT) status but won't give you QTS status. Check carefully before enrolling on an international PGCE program to confirm if it will be accepted in schools were you wish to teach. See the Nottingham University distance learning PGCEi and Sunderland University distance learning PGCE for more information.
  • The worst schools in the UAE won't usually care where your teaching qualification is from, or sometimes whether or not you even have one. Sometimes a piece of paper with some sort of vaguely related education course might be sufficient but don't expect a great job, conditions, or salary. And be prepared for unpleasant working conditions, and significant differences between what you are promised and what you actually receive.
  • The UAE Ministry of Education and Ministry of Labour requirements for UAE work permit processing require that teachers are properly qualified as far as we know. But what "properly qualified" might be interpreted differently to what you would expect. Or a teacher might be employed under a job title that doesn't need a qualification (teaboy, secretary, technician, etc). Either way, if a school is bending rules to employ you because you don't have a respected teaching qualification, it increases the chances of it being an unpleasant place to work.
Teacher training in Dubai and the UAE

UAE colleges and universities (search for BEd or MEd in the Qualifications selection) offering teacher training programs and education degrees include (some institutes restrict entry to UAE nationals only though):

Teach in Dubai scheme (KHDA / Dubai Schools Agency)
  • From September 2007, the Dubai Schools Agency (part of the KHDA) started a "Teach in Dubai" scholarship scheme in partnership with the British University in Dubai (BUiD) and Birmingham University in the UK.
  • Up to 20 scholarships are offered each year to Emirati nationals and Arab-speaking residents in the UAE wanting to enter the teaching profession.
  • Selected Teach-in-Dubai candidates study a 9-month Professional Graduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) course at the BUiD
  • Candidates receive tuition fees, a study allowance, and a teaching job in a Dubai school after successful completion of the PGDE program.
Working hours in Dubai schools

Most schools will start earlier than many teachers are used to. Typically, the school day will begin around 0730 or 0800 for students, and finish around 1430 or 1500, with an hour or so for lunch. The working week is Sunday to Thursday with a handful of schools having an early finish on Thursday.

Like schools everywhere, there will be marking, lesson preparation, meetings, parents evenings, extra-curricular activities, playground supervision, assemblies, international gala days, sports days, cover lessons, etc to occupy every other waking minute you might have planned to use for your own personal enjoyment. But don't worry, you get plenty of holidays, as all your non-teaching friends will remind you. Of course, the highest paid teachers will invariably be the most cynical ones who seem to get away with doing almost nothing. They're easy to spot - they'll be doing the crossword puzzle in the staffroom whenever you walk in. Learn from them.

Dress code in Dubai and UAE schools

Whilst it's true that the UAE is an Islamic country, it's relatively tolerant so you won't be expected to cover up completely. Men should wear a collar and tie (and trousers of course), it would be unusual to find a school where that wasn't the case. Jackets are not usually required or worn. It would be rare to see a teacher wearing a suit, and if they are, they're likely to be saying either "I do", or "Yes, your honour."

Depending on the school, women wear pretty much what they'd wear as a teacher anywhere else, although short skirts or sleeveless tops will get frowned upon. In the more conservative schools (usually ones with predominantly Arab students), females might be expected to wear ankle length skirts, and long sleeve tops but check with the school - some are more relaxed than many new residents expect. Scarves or other head coverings are not required for those who don't normally wear them. During Ramadan, it would be appropriate to dress more conservatively.

Sharjah has "Decency Laws" meaning men shouldn't wear shorts in public, and women should cover their arms and legs. Schools in Sharjah may have more conservative expectations than other emirates with respect to dress code.

The GEMS schools in 2006 had the bright idea of requiring their teachers to wear uniforms, which said more about what management thought of their teachers than anything else. The students were delighted. The idea was hopefully thrown out with the lunchroom trash at the end of that day.

Salaries for teaching jobs in Dubai and the UAE
Teacher Recruitment Agencies and Finding Jobs for Teachers and Teaching in Dubai
Private Tuition
Teaching visas in Dubai and UAE
  • In the UAE, the company you work for is responsible for obtaining your work permit (or labour card) and residence visa. The residence visa comes from the Immigration Ministry and is stamped into your passport - it is permission for you to live in the UAE. The work permit comes from the Ministry of Labour and is permission for you to work at the specified organisation (it does not give you permission to work anywhere else).
  • If you are the spouse of someone who is working in the UAE, then they can sponsor you for a residence visa. A male has fewer restrictions on sponsoring his wife than a female has for sponsoring her husband.
  • Many schools (and other companies) employ someone who is on their spouses sponsorship for residency. The employee in this case still needs a work permit, which should be arranged by the school.
  • Schools apparently need to obtain a No Objection Certificate or Letter (NOC or NOL) from the Ministry of Labour before employing a teacher who is on their husband's or wife's sponsorship. However, this rule did not appear to be enforced most of the time ... until March 2012 when there were news reports saying that the KHDA in Dubai was starting to enforce this rule, leaving schools and teachers a bit confused, especially those who lived an emirate other than Dubai. The National newspaper reported on 13 March 2012 that Abdulrahman Nassir, KHDA Executive Director of Customer Relations at KHDA, said "KHDA and the MoL are reactivating a process that has not been taken seriously by the schools. All schools must receive a no-objection letter from the MoL before hiring a teacher who is on family visa."
Last update Saturday 21-Apr-2012
Related pages
  • Abu Dhabi PPP schools - want a good salary and an interesting experience? The Abu Dhabi government is searching for teachers for public schools as part of their PPP program from 2006 onwards.
  • Dubai Academic City - a collection of schools and tertiary institutes in Dubai.
  • Dubai Knowledge Village - tertiary institutes and educational services in Al Sofouh, Dubai.
  • Education Dubai - general school information and different curriculums
  • Teaching jobs in UAE - how to find a job
  • Universities Dubai - universities and colleges in Dubai and the UAE
  • Visa Dubai - information about work permits and residence visas (but your school should organise it for you)
  • Schools in Dubai forum - for Dubai and UAE schools discussions (and anything to do with education and teaching in Dubai).
  • Special Needs Dubai - discussion topic about Special Needs children in Dubai with some resources
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Related websites (new window)
Blogs from teachers in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, UAE

Note that blogs listed here are ones suggested and/or found in public search results (contact us if you want to suggest one). We are not in the business of trying to publicise private or secret information but we assume if a blog is publicly accessible then the blogger is happy for the general public to access it. If you want your blog removed from this list, please contact us. And read our discussion about personal information on the internet in the meantime.

  • adventuresinabudhabi.blogspot.com - teacher in Abu Dhabi?
  • lynnhendren.blogspot.com - American teacher in Al Ain, teaching at an ADEC school
  • rakteachersnetwork.ning.com - Ras Al Khaimah Teacher's Network - an online collaboration resource for teachers in RAK
  • ourlifeinabudhabi.blogspot.com - Principal in Abu Dhabi (at the Canadian International School)

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