Teaching Offer In United Arab Emirate..What Do You Think?

Discussion in 'Education, Teaching and related degrees' started by NOG2, Apr 30, 2015.

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  1. NOG2

    NOG2 New Member

    Hey guys I just received a letter from Higher College of education UAE for future teaching appointment in that country (United Arab Emirate). I completed my PhD last year from Walden University in Management. I am a little worried whether to accept the offer or not. Has anyone ever taught in UAE before? I was told the remuneration is tax free . Do you know the living expenses there? What do I have to look out for? I don’t know whether to accept the offer or not. Please advice.
    Sincerely,
    Jeff.
     
  2. me again

    me again Well-Known Member

    Wow, sounds totally awesome, like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Keep us posted...
     
  3. SteveFoerster

    SteveFoerster Resident Gadfly Staff Member

    Dubai is what happens when a whole country is nouveau riche, but a lot of people really like it there. The other emirates are sleepier. It's costly to live there. Assuming you're American, only the first $80,000 is tax free: the IRS will expect you to report and pay taxes on anything beyond that even though it's foreign earned.

    Unless it would cause you to deviate from some previously well established plan, I say go for it. Why not? The worst thing that can happen is that you hate it and quit and come back.
     
  4. Lilywise

    Lilywise New Member

    First question, is which emirate? Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, etc. Cost of living is very different in each one. Second question, what is in the offer package? Health insurance, living stipend, car stipend, school fees for children? Most packages to expats offer all of the above. How many years is the contract? And what happens if you are dismissed prior to the end of the contract? Do you get paid in full? I lived in Emirates and Bahrain for 4 years, let me know if you have any questions.
     
  5. expat_eric

    expat_eric New Member

    My family and I lived in Dubai for a few years. It is a fun and interesting place to live. There are literally people from all nationalities around you. It is fun to meet the various people.

    The cost of living in Dubai is very high in my opinion. Probably on par with New York City. We rented a house in the Springs which is a suburb closer to the outside of the city and our rent at the time was around $40K USD a year. Going out to dinner at Chilis will run you more than Houston, Texas and schooling for your kids can be very expensive as well. You can live cheaper by getting an apartment and avoid getting into the nightlife.

    I don't know anyone personally in higher education, but I do know that there were articles in the newspaper about private university fraud. Additionally if you are going to teach at a school that caters primarily to Emiriatis you should be prepared to be patient and forgiving.

    My family is going back over in June to visit our friends in Dubai and Doha. That's how much we enjoyed living there and miss it.

    Overall, my advice is if you can swing it financially do it. You won't regret it.
     
  6. jhp

    jhp Member

    It's more like the first $90K is tax free, but you have to be out of US for 320 days or so.
     
  7. harryroy145

    harryroy145 New Member

    That's a great opportunity for you don't miss it. After taking this step you easily make a good future.
     
  8. Rich Douglas

    Rich Douglas Well-Known Member

    How exciting! Hopefully, it will be an adventure to remember.
     
  9. Randell1234

    Randell1234 Moderator

    I would go for it. I had a coworker that took a position in Dubai last year. I think it was starting with about $100K plus living expenses. The money is not "great" compared to the cost of living but I am sure the experience is priceless.
     

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