Job Discussion Forums

TABING · Joined: 20 Jun 2005 Posts: 123 Location: right behind you

I would say the good times for ESL are over in the UAE. The powers that be have put quality free tertiary education on the back burner and are more interested in creating BS construction projects that no one can afford to live in. The stock market bubble recently burst and the real estate market isn't far behind. Salaries haven't increased for almost 10 years, and with the dollars steady decline, the exhange power of salaries vis a vie Euros, pounds etc. has declined 40%. The cost of living has risen over 40% in the last couple of years (they raised the petrol price about 75% a couple of months ago), housing is throught the roof with annual rent increases of 10-20% A YEAR, and all the rich people are scrambling to get richer on the backs of the middle class expatriates and poor laborers.
If I were starting out again, I've heard that Qatar is the up and coming place.

Bindair Dundat · Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Posts: 1123

TABING · Joined: 20 Jun 2005 Posts: 123 Location: right behind you

double post sorry

TABING · Joined: 20 Jun 2005 Posts: 123 Location: right behind you

Well there you go, I think the whole PERSIAN Gulf region is finished for serious educators. Maybe I've been here too long, but I'm fed up with the BS. Most of us work real hard, but there is little appreciation for our efforts anymore. The governments just give lip service to the idea of education.

When it just becomes a money thing, it's time to leave.

Odilo · Joined: 03 May 2006 Posts: 15

[[quote]quote="seemore"]Far from looking to cut their package, the PI is looking at an increase on certain aspects of what is already one of the best compensation packages in the field of ESL.

The survey, as stated in the mailout, was intended to allow the PI, as well as participating institutions, to gauge where they stand relative to other programs in terms of work characteristics and compensation. It doesn't stand to reason that someone who is working in the field of ESL would want to lower the standards in ESL, now does it? Noone wins in that situation.t[/quote]

[size=18][color=blue]What a shame the PI doesn't try to improve it's selection of staff. (MOD edit) This place needs help..[/color][/size]

[/quote]

seemore · Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Posts: 15

Well, I heard from a reliable source that the PI housing allowance just went up 20%.

Whoever goes there is probably making a wise decision.

TABING · Joined: 20 Jun 2005 Posts: 123 Location: right behind you

A 20% increase wouldn't even cover the increases in the last 5 years. My rent goes up Dhs.5000. every year, and now I must pay Dhs.25000. out of pocket every year. The government recently gave permission for landloads to raise rent 10-22%.

Getting back on topic, from what I've heard, The PI is one of the better places to work in regard to compensation, but don't know much about conditions there.

seemore · Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Posts: 15

Yes, rent has really gone through the roof in places like Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Still you can get very comfortable accommodation for 110-135K Dhs. If not, you're probably looking in the wrong places.

There are some contracts in the UAE that give you a much bigger salary and let you pay housing on your own. Just see what kind of housing people choose when it's coming out of their salary, that's when people get creative!

TABING · Joined: 20 Jun 2005 Posts: 123 Location: right behind you

Housing at HCT is 65K for singles 75k for married /with one child, 85k with 2 children, so 110-135k is way out of budget for HCT people in AD and Dubai.

Wigwam · Joined: 27 Dec 2004 Posts: 93 Location: Abu Dhabi

PI pays well
110K for accommodation if an ESL lecturer
15,000 per month salary
educational allowance of 33K per child
use of ADNOC clinic and local hospitals and GDC
utilities subsidy of 600dhs per month
flights home every year
about 10 weeks holiday
xmas day is a study day
5 day working week
TESOL Arabia paid for
15 - 18 contact hours per week
class sizes no more than 20 students
thorough recruitment process and very few leave
expanding with female students in the fall

Wigwam

Wigwam · Joined: 27 Dec 2004 Posts: 93 Location: Abu Dhabi

Forgot to mention
Furniture allowance of 50K on start of post

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Good to hear that so far, PI has kept their package current with inflation. (was the best and still is!!)

Let's just hope that the survey that started this thread was merely for curiousity, not for evidence to try to lower things.

VS

Manny2 · Joined: 16 Mar 2006 Posts: 143

Yes the PI salary is good and continues to appear the best but as far as keeping up with inflation, well this is the same salary they have been offering for the last 4 years and in that time no annual increments were approved for 2 years and even when they are the average is a lowly 2 % which is hardly in line with current inflation. So If you are negotiating a salary make sure you are happy with it and remember most of the management are American as are the most recent hires, and the downward slide of the dollar does not affect them.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

In that situation, they are the same as all other UAE educational establishments. None of them have raised their salary scales since I was there in the mid-90's.

VS

Wigwam · Joined: 27 Dec 2004 Posts: 93 Location: Abu Dhabi

If you have stayed at the PI then you will have received at least a 2% pay rise. If you apply for promotional e.g. from lecturer to senior lecturer then you can get a further raise. The accommodation allowance is likely to rise by 20% so a grade 15 lecturer will be offered something like 130,000 allowance on entrance.

Wigwam