Teaching in Abu Dhabi

 

Sarah is a teacher from the UK who is currently teaching in Abu Dhabi. In the following interview, she shares her insights into teaching and living there and why she has loved the experience.

 

What inspired you to want to teach overseas?

I was looking for a different experience with a different culture. Nicer weather was also a huge part – growing up in the UK can tend to make you crave warm weather!

Why did you choose to teach in Abu Dhabi?

So many reasons, really! To name a few:

• Hot weather
• Great salary package
• Glamourous lifestyle
• Exciting night life
• Good shopping
• I enjoyed my last holiday here and I had friends already teaching out here.
• There’s also a chance to save as many expenses are already covered.

How long will you teach in Abu Dhabi?

I will stay for two years. Each contract is minimum two years but it is easy to renew your visa for longer contracts, which so many people do.

It’s a crazy social life here and I’m ready to go home and become a boring 30-year-old.

 

What agency/company did you use to find and secure this position?

I had a few friends already working here so I applied directly to the school. The staff at the school were brilliant at helping me sort out my official paperwork. In every school there are Arabic members of staff to help the English staff work with the Arabic government rules and guidelines.

Did the agency cover any of your expenses? 

The school cover the cost of your housing, bills and contribute to your flights. They provide medical insurance and also have a bus to pick you up and take you home to staff accommodation. There are tests for the medical insurance which are covered by the school (HIV, heart problems etc).

I had to simply pay for visa transcripts etc.

What documents did you need to organize before leaving for Abu Dhabi?

There are a few documents required by the school/country, including:

• An experience letter from the school you currently work in to state how long you worked there. The school in Abu Dhabi also needs to verify that you have the right to work somewhere else and your contract has finished – this needs to be certified by a solicitor and stamped by your embassy.
• Your qualifications also need to be certified and stamped. This will cost you.
• Your current police check.
• The school will also send you lots of policies you will need to sign.
• You enter the country on a tourist visa. UK and Ireland get the 30-day stamp at the airport, South African and Indian need to apply beforehand.  I don’t know about Australians sorry. Your working visa gets finalized while you are in Dubai, once you have your government approval for teaching here. It is common for teaches to leave the country to Oman and get another tourist visa stamp. The school will provide transport for this.

Did you need any specific qualifications or training to teach in Abu Dhabi?

For my job, you only need your teaching qualification degree.

Is there a website people can visit to see the salary they should expect in Abu Dhabi?

Your salary will depend on your passport (where you are from) and years experience.

For extra information on wages for teachers in Abu Dhabi/Dubai, check out:  https://www.payscale.com/research/AE/Location=Dubai/Salary

Have you been able to travel while teaching in Abu Dhabi? Where?

I have travelled to some of the different emirates (states) – the country is the UAE and Dubai and Abu Dhabi are 2 of the emirates. There are 7 different emirates. Many people travel to Egypt, Thailand, India, Vietnam, Cambodia, Azerbaijan, Oman, Jordan, Georgia etc. 

How do you find teaching in Abu Dhabi?

For me, personally, sometimes it is frustrating because the schools are private and the pupils might not always come first. The schools usually start with students who are 3 years old and go up to 16 years old.

The days are long for the children – 7.45 until 12.30 for 3 years to 5 years old and 7.45 to 2.40 for 5 years to 16 years old. The children have 2 breaks in the day both are 30 minutes each. They get 15 minutes to eat 15 minutes to play – It’s too hot to play for any longer.

The school has specialist teachers for P.E, Drama, Art, ICT and Music so you do not teach these subjects. You get an average of 3 free periods a day. The schools also need to teach aspects of the Arabic curriculum so you have an Arabic department for that.

There can be divides between English staff and Arabic staff but it’s usually a language barrier. The teaching staff are very close because you usually live close to one another, everyone is on their own and you all have similar interests (drink!). There are often romances between school colleagues.

My school is majority Indian children and the behavior is good. The biggest behavior challenges are usually from the local boys.

What do you love most about teaching overseas?

Again, there’s so many reasons! For starters, after growing up in England, I’m loving the hot hot hot weather!  Schools in Abu Dhabi also have fewer working hours, higher salary than I’m used to from UK schools AND a very active social life.

Have you personally had any issues while teaching overseas?

There are rules within the country that might go against your own beliefs, but it is not as strict as people assume. It is illegal to be gay and to live with the opposite sex unmarried, although people obviously do. When teaching, you can’t use any image/reference to a pig or magic and some of the countries are crossed off the map (Israel and the Persian golf). 

Do you have any advice for teachers wanting to take their career to Abu Dhabi?

If you are looking at building your teaching career, there are lots of opportunities to climb the ladder within schools here because there is a high staff turnover.