Working in Dubai - Anyone Done It?

hieveryone

Hi all,

I'm seriously considering applying to work in Dubai after this school year is finished, has anyone had any experience of this? Not necessarily in teaching, just general working there.

For example, as I am a young (ish!), single woman, is there anything to be aware of in taking up employment there? The general rule of thumb in teaching jobs there is that they are offered on 2 year contracts, with an apartment given to you rent free - this seems too good to be true, any catches that anyone can foresee?

Thanks!

inmypocketnottheirs

Take a bucket and spade!

pinkshoes

I believe Dubai itself is fine, but don't bother living outside of Dubai. It may be cheaper, but women are treated like 2nd class citizens and have very few rights.

olias

Don't have any personal experience, but I remember seeing a TV program where in effect your social life is carried out 'behind closed doors. What I mean by that is due to their laws/views on things like drinking/dancing/socialising with the opposite sex, that these activities usually occurr in private ex pat clubs etc 'behind closed doors'. I'm sure someone who actually has personal experience will be along shortly to confirm if this is the case

Olias

Meenu

Lots of my friends have done it and they had great experiences, be aware that Dubai is very expensive to live in and use a reputable company to organise your job, otherwise Good Luck

DKLS

My mate worked there as a teacher for 4 years, and loved it, and came back with a large lump sum and an Canadian wife to put a deposit down on a house. Now he is in South Korea teaching english somehow I dont think he is coming back in a hurry.

Have a look on some of the expat forums, for more detailed info.

olias

DKLS wrote: »

My mate worked there as a teacher for 4 years, and loved it, and came back with a large lump sum and an Canadian wife to put a deposit down on a house. Now he is in South Korea teaching english somehow I dont think he is coming back in a hurry.

Have a look on some of the expat forums, for more detailed info.

Are they taking Canadian wives as deposits these days:D

Olias

hieveryone

DKLS wrote: »

My mate worked there as a teacher for 4 years, and loved it, and came back with a large lump sum and an Canadian wife to put a deposit down on a house. Now he is in South Korea teaching english somehow I dont think he is coming back in a hurry.

Have a look on some of the expat forums, for more detailed info.

Thanks DKLS, how would I find these forums?

olias

www.britishexpats.com

Just click on discussion forum at the top of the page and there is a forum for the middle east

Olias

DKLS

http://www.dubaiforums.com/

pinkshoes

Meenu wrote: »

Lots of my friends have done it and they had great experiences, be aware that Dubai is very expensive to live in and use a reputable company to organise your job, otherwise Good Luck

Spot on! My best mate made this mistake, and her and her husband are living outside of Dubai as it was much cheaper. She HATES it, as she's 100% reliant on her husband to escort her everywhere (and he works long hours!), so she insisted they either moved to Dubai itself (regardless of cost), or had a long distance marriage and she'd come back to the UK.