TEFL Course in UAE

Are English teachers in demand in UAE?

With a TEFL certification and the large number of international schools in Dubai and other states, the UAE has a great pool of opportunities waiting to be explored by ESL teachers.  

Due to the attractive salary and benefits associated to teaching English in Dubai, the country attracts a large number of teachers leading to a certain level of competition in the ESL job market.

As a result, having qualifications such as a TEFL, a degree and teaching experience helps gain an upper hand and get a job easily in UAE. Although, there is a growing demand for ESL teachers in UAE, there are also teaching jobs in other subjects for teachers who might be willing.

With a TEFL certificate in UAE, ESL teachers could get jobs in private international schools, public schools as well as vocational colleges.

What are the requirements to teach English in UAE?

An internationally recognized TEFL or TESOL certificate is often required to teach English in UAE. ESL teachers in UAE are also required to have a bachelor’s degree and prior teaching experience.

While the subject of degree is usually irrelevant and some schools may not demand teaching experience, a TEFL is often a crucial requirement.

For ESL teachers interested in foreign language schools where there is a high number of local students, a reasonable ESL teaching experience is needed.  

What type of jobs are available for English teachers in UAE?

UAE has a bunch of English teaching opportunities spread across the country and the opportunities can be found in private International schools, vocational colleges, public schools, elementary schools and foreign language schools.

A lot of ESL teachers in UAE also take up private tutoring classes to supplement their monthly pay.

English teachers in the elementary schools are usually required to teach alongside an Arabic teacher and there are schools where they teach in other languages too.

ESL students in UAE are of a wide variety, while there are kids and adults, there are also students from rich and royal families and students who are ordinary citizens.

Private English tutoring has no fixed pay rates as the pay varies depending on the students’ ability to pay as well as teachers’ qualification and experience.

What is the salary for English teachers in UAE?

Salaries for English teaches in the UAE are very competitive compared to other ESL destinations. ESL teachers in UAE earn between USD2,500 and USD5,500 per month teaching for 30 hours a week.

Teachers also enjoy several benefits including housing allowance or free accommodation, return airfare and health insurance benefits. In addition to these, there are a number of bonuses such as end of year bonus, completion of contract bonus and sometimes return airfare for teachers’ dependents.

On the average, English teachers in UAE enjoy a very comfortable lifestyle and can afford to travel and save significant amount at the end of their contracts.

Can you save money while teaching English in UAE?

The cost of living in UAE is varies depending on the states or emirs as they are also called.

Dubai, the Emirates’ entertainment capital is one of the most expensive states to live although it has a high concentration of teaching jobs in the country.

Although there has been a decrease in the cost of living in the UAE generally, teachers will still spend between USD2,000 and USD2,500 per month including accommodation and expenses depend on chosen lifestyle.

Accommodation Options: Most English teachers will get fee accommodation or rental allowance from their employers. However, teachers who are unable to get this benefit may also rent apartment cost of which varies depending on the state or area.

A furnished one bedroom apartment in the UAE costs between USD1,300 and USD2,000 per month.

What type of visa do you need to teach English in UAE?

One of the major reasons why UAE is a favorite destination for ESL teachers across the world is the ease of obtaining a visa.

Once you have been offered a teaching job in the UAE, it becomes easy to get a work visa and begin teaching in the country legally although the process may take a few months to complete.

Some employers also have third party agencies who help their foreign workers through the process of visa application. In addition, foreign teachers are expected to obtain a residence visa as well as labor cards to be able to teach legally in Dubai.

There are also certain medical examinations and teachers must always be with their labour and residence cards as a means of identification in the country.

Hiring season and process for English teachers in UAE

The hiring season in UAE starts during the spring as school year usually begins at the end of August. In order to increase motivation for teachers to apply, UAE offers a number of incentives including return airfare and several bonuses.

English teachers in UAE are mostly committed to two year contracts as the minimum contract length.

The hiring process for ESL teachers in UAE is designed in such a way that it is very comfortable for the teacher.

In some cases, interviews are organized in the teacher’s home country either directly with the employer or through third party agencies.

Fun and travel activities while teaching in UAE

Although a larger part of the UAE have a very conservative culture, the entire country is still an exciting place to visit and attracts a lot of tourists every year especially to Dubai, the most westernized part of the Emirate.

UAE is home to seven states usually referred to as emirs and each one has its spectacular spots although Dubai is the center of attraction. Places to visit in Dubai includes the Burk Khalifah, the Dubai Mall, the famous Wild Wali Water Park for all sorts of water sports imaginable and The Marina.

Then there is Sharjah which is a UAE city with amazing showcase of culture. Places to visit in Sharjah includes the King Faisal Mosque, the Sharjah Heritage Museum and the Heritage District.

For beach-lovers, Jebel Ali offers a very astounding experience. A port located on the outskirts of Dubai, Jebel Ali provides tourists with an amazing view of green land and relaxation at the Jebel Ali Beach.

Other places to visit include Abu Dhabi, the country capital where the infamous Ferrari world is located. There you also have the Marina mall and the popular Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.

Then there is the Palm Islands, famous for one of the most amazing archipelagos in the world. Palm Islands is a combination of three Islands named Palm Jumeirah, Deira Island and Pal Jebel Ali.

Important cities in UAE

Important destinations to teach English in UAE include Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ras al Khalmah.