Considering a move to teaching in the Middle East

[TheresAlwaysAnAskHole]

have friends who appear to live a life of luxury in the Middle East (Abu Dhabi) area. I have spoken to another friend who used to live in Dubai. They both gush about how different life is there. In pictures of houses to rent online, I find the houses look a bit dull and soulless - probably because of a lack of furnishings we have in the western world.

I feel in the UK life is always such a struggle, even with both parents working, the average family doesn't have much money for luxuries or a show stopping home.

I wonder if it's scary living in these places? The worry of accidentally breaking a law or terribly corrupt police etc. (I don't know if the latter is a big concern?).

Me and DH are teachers in different age groups so could walk into teaching careers quite easily in these countries. Every now and then I think about it and wonder if the standard of living is replacement for leaving other family behind, best friends, snow days and cosy Christmases.

DS will finish secondary school in Summer which seems like the logical time to move if we are going to do it.

Has anyone done it for say, 5 years, to build up a nest egg and come back to the UK? My friend who went out there as a college lecturer became a primary school Head within two years, I presume she could now come back if she wished and be a Head here.

Thought and experiences very welcome

MN do not like the ME and you will get lots of people actually getting muddled up with Saudi. Ignore them! Myself and my DH moved out here last year with our DD to teach and do exactly as you want to do of build up a nest egg. We plan to be here for 3 more years. It is not home and we love going back to UK for holidays but life is very comfortable and we live a lifestyle that we could never afford in U.K. Even as experienced teachers. Teaching here is easier and a lot more pleasant if you are in a good international school with a good package. Try it and enjoy!

When you say your son finishes school. What about his relationship with his father? I presume you plan to take your son with you. ? If dad doesn't give consent and you aren't prepared to leave him - it's pretty much a none starter if son not in 100% agreement.

Has your son just finished GCSE or A level? And what is he planning on doing next? If A levels, and he comes with you, you need to consider he may be classed as an international student for uni fees and/or loans. I've assumed you and DH are both his parents. It becomes more complicated if only one of you are.

The cost benefit is very different in the different countries of the ME. The savings you can make will depend very much on where you move to - places that find it harder to recruit tend to pay more, and it's often harder to spend money in less luxurious places. Don't rule out Saudi (it's where I'm typing from). Our school loves teaching couples, and would probably snap you up if they needed the age/discipline combination.
Research the school very carefully- "international" has a lot of meanings here. Some are more international than others.

We are in the middle of a 5 year plan (not teachers). We have had some amazing holidays, have a healthy bank balance, DH and kids have thrived. It is not for everyone! Yes, leaving behind everyone in the uk is tough, but you also make new friends when you move.

We lived in Riyadh when DH worked there. It was a great experience. As previously said, MN tens to despise the Middle East! Ignore them.
The accommodation and lifestyle can be very pricey in the ME but the salaries compensate for that. We saved quite a lot of money for when we returned to the UK.
We made friends from all around the world, as were not on a particularly "western" compound. Our kids loved the freedom.
Snow days are replaced by huge sandstorms or heavy rain!
There are very frequent flights back to the UK to see family and friends, or have them stay with you.
Many people are concerned about the human rights issues there. We treated people as we would want to be treated ourselves. We taught our kids that too.
I think it's pretty safe generally, although I was nervous towards the end of our stay in Riyadh. Security is very high.

When you say your son finishes school. What about his relationship with his father? I presume you plan to take your son with you. ? If dad doesn't give consent and you aren't prepared to leave him - it's pretty much a none starter if son not in 100% agreement.. WTF? Read the OP!

In terms of teaching, the Middle East is a big place. Different countries have different expectations of their students, likewise, there is a big difference between government and private schools. There is a reason that classroom management skills are deemed more important than anything else in some countries!

Consider the employers very carefully. Employment law is a joke but you do have more protection in some countries than others. Some employers do not pay salaries on time or in full. And there is not a darn thing you can do about it.

If you are thinking in terms of money, think very carefully. VAT has been introduced, prices are going up, you also have a tendency to splurge on holidays when your are an expat. I know a lot of people (especially teachers) who have ended up in debt and stuck in a country they don’t like because they can’t leave until the debt is paid off.

If you are thinking in terms of lifestyle, don’t just think of what you can do in your time off. Consider the working life as well. You will have to work hard for your salary and unions do not exist. It is not all sunshine and palm trees.

The lifestyle in different countries varies enormously. A lot will depend on your personality. I loved Riyadh, hated Dubai, would kill to go back to Muscat, and am in two minds about Bahrain.

If you would like more info, PM me.

Why limit yourself to the ME? The world is literally your oyster as an international teacher.

I'm currently in China and never in a million years would I have thought of living here, but it happened and it worked out very well.

Excellent package includes:

• salary I could only dream of in the UK
• generous and beautiful housing included within walking distance of school
• utilities paid
• annual flight allowance which covers several flights around Asia a year (not gone back to UK, why would I go to miserable weather to drink tea when I can explore new cultures?)
• private medical for self and family

School wise I have well behaved students, who are eager to learn and have ambitions and fantastic colleagues.

I live in a place where if you live local (use markets for fruit and veg etc) the cost of living is a fraction of what you'd spend in the UK and hence I can save over half of my wages a month.

Just putting it out there, basically, look around. Many places in SE Asia that would be suitable for you.

A friend of mine did exactly this (except different career) in Dubai. It has financially been very good for him and helped him to buy a decent place back in the UK but I think he found the lifestyle transition back tough even though he never really enjoyed living in Dubai.

It's not an area I'd personally be interested in, but I no longer live in the UK, mostly for lifestyle reasons.

I think just going abroad for only money could lead to problems in the longer term. Having an interest in and knowledge of the culture before you leave is going to generally make the experience better.
It can be very interesting if you are the thought of person who likes trying different food and exploring but if you like British food only etc then it could be a problem. I have worked abroad a lot and seenms that the more people are interested in the place they are going to the better it works out Knowing the local language is the biggest advantage as it opens up so many possibilities and you know what is going on all the time

The way the economy is here right now you won't be able to save money AND enjoy the lifestyle. It's either or. And don't assume you can transition back into a job in the UK. Many places don't really look at work experience gained in the ME unless it's in the energy industry.

It's great here, and I love it, but it's no easier to live here financially now then it is anywhere else. The days of fat expat packages are long gone.

Try the TES Teaching Overseas forum, loads of advice there.

Lived in the region for 10 years. I think international teachers, particularly couples have a great lifestyle and much much more financially rewarding than the UK.
My only advice is to research the school carefully. The excellent internationals have transparency.and plenty of good reviews from current and past staff, websites and community feedback.
Not all name schools ( e.g. UK franchised public/independent ) translate well when the primary focus is profit.

If your son is 18, you won't be able to sponsor him. So he will have to be here on a tourist visa. This is fine if he is at UK university and flies in and out for holidays.
If he goes to uni here (there are lots of UK ones with branches in Dubai. Middlesex and herriot watt for example) he will be on a student visa.
We have been living in the UAE for 10 years and i work in education. Its a great country and a great lifestyle. My vote is do it!

We moved to Kuwait with a 2 year old and a 5 year old 4 years ago. DH was a secondary teacher I was a Sahm for a year. I work now in a nursery over here. It's hard and it's very different but I love living here. You have to be very resilient and patient as things are done on a completely different timescale and priority as to what we are used to in the U.K. I would say if you want to save Dubai isn't the best place as it's mega expensive. Kuwait is more family friendly and even though it's a dry country we manage 😉. We came here with literally nothing and have started from scratch. We now own our car outright, have some small debts to pay from back home and we are now in a position where we can save substantially and still have a high standard of living. ( I pay for a driver and nanny with my salary). It's not a place for the faint hearted as racism is rife. If you can rise above it and get on with what you want to do then go for it.