Enormous with retail centers, yachts, intimidating buildings, and eager kids, Dubai is a teacher’s dream come true for the globalist. A melting pot of international people, cuisines, and cultures, downtown Dubai’s glitter is more than just a lovely façade. One thing unites the different student body in Dubai classrooms: they are motivated to study! The land of dune buggies, beaches, and skyscrapers is beckoning. However, don’t begin packing just yet! This is all the information you need to prepare for your upcoming exciting adventure of teaching in Dubai.
What Are The Requirements For Teaching English In The Middle East
To push your boundaries as a teacher and fully immerse oneself in a historically and traditionally rich culture, you must:
- A Bachelor’s degree in English or education from any reputed organization
- A minimum of 120 hours of TEFL certification from an internationally accredited institution
- At least 2 years of experience (public and international schools)
- A health insurance
- Valid work visa and work permit
- Clean background check
Can You Teach English In Dubai Without A Degree?
Sure, if you’re willing to clear a couple more obstacles. The UAE Ministry of Education requires teachers to be ‘properly qualified,’ which most take to mean ‘have teaching certifications,’ to acquire a work visa, hence the majority of English teaching possibilities in Dubai are restricted to certified teachers.
This need not be a complete degree, though. Before applying to teach English in Dubai, think about obtaining your TEFL, TESOL, or CELTA certification. In only a few short months, your teaching salary in Dubai will cover the whole cost of it. There are still ESL employments available in Dubai if you don’t have a degree and being certified is out of the question, particularly if you speak English as your first language.
Thus, even if your wall is devoid of framed credentials, it is still worthwhile to submit your CV. However, keep in mind that pay is determined by experience and credentials, so you will lose out if you don’t have a degree.
What Are The Types Of Teaching Opportunities Available in Dubai?
Despite having plentiful opportunities in Dubai, here are some of the best teaching jobs you can look for:
Private Schools
The vast affluent class in Dubai is served by a multitude of private schools. Since most private schools use English as their primary medium of teaching, there are always a ton of chances for foreign instructors, whether they work in topic courses or ESL programs.
Public Schools
The public education program has expanded significantly over the past few decades, just like everything else in Dubai. All citizens of Dubai can now attend public schools; however, non-resident students must pay annual tuition while Emirati children can enroll for free. Although public schools may not provide as much money as similar private schools, international educators will be able to learn firsthand about the UAE’s extensive educational changes.
Language Schools
Dubai is a cosmopolitan metropolis, thus language schools here provide instruction in anything from Chinese to German. The most well-liked language schools instruct adult foreigners in English, which they require for regular business communications. Language schools provide some of the greatest ESL jobs in Dubai, so if you’re up to date on your past participles and subordinate conjunctions, this may be the right learning environment for you.
Private Lessons
You may indeed teach young kings and princesses in Dubai! Seek out the surnames Al Nahyan, Al Maktoum, Al Qasimi, Al Nuaimi, Al Mualla, and Al Sharqi if this is your desire. These are the six royal dynasties that control the seven emirates of the United Arab Emirates. The majority of these jobs are contracted through recruitment firms, therefore go through the businesses listed below for applicable openings.
What Is The Salary For English Teachers In Dubai?
The typical monthly salary range for teachers in Dubai is between $2,800 and $3,500, depending on the kind of institution and expertise. Additionally, some schools provide competitive benefit packages to their instructors, which may include local apartment rentals, health insurance, and round-trip flights for an annual visit home. Make sure you check your contract for these items, and before you come, get any promises made to you documented in writing.
In Dubai, teachers receive tax-free salaries! Therefore, your earnings remain in your pocket. Dubai’s cost of living is comparable to that of other renownedly pricy worldwide cities. The cost of food and rent is very high, not to mention the cost of entertainment and nightlife. Pay should cover all of your costs, but unless you’re frugal with your money, you probably won’t have much left over for savings.
Is Arabic Fluency A Mandatory Requirement?
No. As a major international commercial center, Arabic and English are commonly used in street signs, place names, and advertisements. To ensure that only English is spoken in the classroom, some institutions even give preference to individuals who have no Arabic background when hiring English instructors.
Experience speaking Arabic or having lived in other Arabic-speaking nations is highly valued by other schools since it provides a valuable cultural foundation. Speaking the language is very beneficial outside of the classroom. Arabic-speaking expatriates, of which there are many in Dubai, as well as Emiratis, will esteem Arabic-speaking teachers there.
How Does A School Week Work In Dubai?
Similar to the academic systems in the US and the UK, the school year in Dubai normally begins in early September and ends in late June or early July. In Dubai, the school week used to run from Sunday to Thursday, however, it was recently rescheduled to run from Monday to Friday.
You’ll still work around the same hours each week, which are usually between 35 and 40, even if it might take some time for you to adjust to a different work schedule. However, schools in Dubai normally begin classes at 7 a.m. and end at 3 p.m. because of the city’s very hot environment for most of the year.
Living And Teaching In Dubai
Teaching positions in Dubai provide you with the opportunity to live in the sun, work with highly motivated students in state-of-the-art facilities, and earn a fantastic salary that is tax-free. If you have completed an online teacher training course in Dubai and fulfill all the above requirements, you are all set to find your dream in the land of bling and glamour.