How Teaching English in UAE Can Fund Your Travel Dreams
A career in TEFL or Teaching English as a Foreign Language is not only rewarding but can also be pretty lucrative in some parts of the world like the United Arab Emirates(UAE).
Moreover, teaching English in the UAE can provide you with an opportunity not only to enhance your experience as an instructor, but allows you to immerse in a rich culture steeped in history.
Whether you get a chance to teach in a small private school or at a university in any of the countries of the UAE, you can rest assured that your life will change for the better.
It is also important to note here, that the real bonus of the deal is that in most countries in the UAE you don’t have to pay income tax, meaning you get to keep all you earn.
From the cost of living to teaching requirements and what exactly it is like living in this corner of the world, here is how to fulfill your dreams of travel while teaching English in the UAE.
Why teach English in the UAE
The United Arab Emirates pays English teachers much more and provides many additional perks as compared to other teaching abroad destinations in the world.
UAE is often considered to be a very safe nation, plus you need not learn Arabic to stay there. Moreover the country is home to some incredible attractions like beaches and stunning architecture that are a major draw.
Requirements to teach English in the UAE
The UAE requires English teachers to have advanced qualifications such as:
- Have a TEFL certificate or teaching license
- Have a bachelor’s or master’s degree, preferably in education
- Have 2-3 years of teaching experience
- Prove native English proficiency
Where can you teach English in the UAE
Public Schools: Schools in the UAE operate from 730am to 239pm from Sunday to Thursday and the prestigious teaching job is filled by the Ministry of Education.
English teachers in public schools typically earn between $3,300-$5,500 per month, apart from other benefits like free accommodation, health insurance, bonus at the end of the contract and paid annual leave.
Language schools: These are private businesses that teach the locals English, mainly on weekends or after school or work hours.
Teachers at a foreign language school earn around $2,400-$4,000 per month with an additional housing stipend.
International schools: This is a highly qualified post given only to a fully licensed teacher. Monthly salary varies from $2,700-$4,000 and benefits like shared accommodation, flight reimbursement and health insurance.
Vocational schools and colleges: These institutions provide another opportunity to teach English to high school students or adults in trade seeking to improve their English.
These jobs pay between $3,000-$4,000 per month, including flight reimbursement, housing allowance and health insurance.
Some of the best places to teach English in the UAE are Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi.
How much can you earn
The cost of living in the UAE is high, but your teaching salary can easily cover it as expats monthly cost of living is $700-$1200 per month, excluding rent.
Thankfully, most English teaching jobs include free housing and one can easily save a minimum of $1000 per month to fund all your travel dreams.
