Job Discussion Forums

[gibsong]

I've been offered a position at Ras Al Khaimah Women�s College. I have a family of 4, including two young children. I'm apprehensive because of the sketchy international schooling situation. Are the international schools there reputable? Is RAK a family friendly environment? Is the housing comfortable for a family of 4? Thanks ...

[adorabilly]

Hey Gibsong.

My wife and I are also relocating to the RAK, as she will also be teaching at the womens college.

We have a lot of questions about it as well since we are a family of 5, but this is what we have been able to find out.

There are 2 expat schools in the RAK. Rakess and the cherofot (misspelling) school. Rakess looks like the better school, and from what we have been led to believe about90% of the expats in the RAK send their kids to rakess. The only real issue is that it is for primary schooling only. There is NO expat high school in the RAk. Meaning if you have teenagers you will need to drive them to dubai for high school every day.

There are several groups to do activities with including a taekwando club taught by a 5 degree blackbelt.

We have found information on www.rakpat.com It is pretty good for finding out information about the RAK for expats. There is also www.rak24.com/english that shows a lot of stuff for the rak/available in the rak.

As for housing, from what I have found out, you should be very comfortable as anyone in HCT gets the same housing allowance (that is what I have been told by the HR people at RAK) and the cost of housing is much less in the RAK than say dubai or abu dhabi. I keep hearing how big housing is, and that you will probably have a villa that is huge (well by comparisions to US housing, or japanese housing.)

On an aside, how old are your kids? Boy's girls? WE have 2 boys ages 11 and 9, and a 7 year old daughter.

One of the nicest things is we (all new hires) will be staying in the RAK hilton for the first week, and they give us $8,000 to decorate the new housing (for beds, plates, couches etc...) so that is really nice, and removes one of the biggest pinches when moving (the money needed to set up house)

[gibsong]

Hey there,
Thanks for the great feedback. I'm in a bit of a bind, and decisions have to be made soon. Unlike you, I'm the sole breadwinner in the family, and our chief concern is ability to save. They offered me a decent salary, but I thought it would be a bit higher. Have you been made a firm offer yet? They've given me an estimate, so I'm thinking of asking for something better. Do you think that is advisable? I'm not familiar with Middle East/UAE workplace culture on such issues.

Thanks again and perhaps we'll be working together in the near future...very near future.

[adorabilly]

actually we are in the same boat.

My wife is the current sole bread winner, and I am finishing my MA in Educational Tech (hopefully in MAY, or after the summer session) online, so I am not working this first year either (of course i may take part time tutoring, or teaching at grade school level/high school not sure, we'll burn that bridge when we get to it.)

we are living on one salary. With a single salary, I think there is a decent ability to save as long as you aren't trying to eat western style every night. And if you are shopping at the local shops for veggies and meats you should be able to keep it pretty tight.

My wife was offered an original contract, and we have a firm salary level (about 40K US a year). We also thought it would be higher, I wonder if the salary is lower because it is the RAK. Not sure. I do know that all the benefits are amazing when compared to what we make in Japan (similar salary, but a LOT less benefits) and china (lower salary and NO benefits).

when you figure in airfare for 4of you (5 of us) each year (most other positions only pay for teacher, not family), $8,000 to decorate your home to ease the transition, expat schooling of your kids up to 80,000 durhams per year, and huge housing, and a cost of living that is lower than the US (from what I understand in most areas). I think it is a great offer, and better than we could do with both of us working in the states.

As for asking for something better, I have heard the UAE doesn't negotiate, unlike china/korea, but you can ask for clarifcation, and ask if the salary can go higher. I'd ask someone like Veiled Sentiments, helen1,, globalnomad, or even WD 40 because they have been in teh UAE for a while and have a better grasp of the situations. I think the offer is static, and not negotiable.

[globalnomad2]

We were a family of 3 in Dubai and Abu Dhabi 1997-2004 (and I'm alone at the moment in RAK). Regarding savings for a large family of 4 or 5, I would suggest avoiding trips to Dubai every weekend; instead, stock up on books and get Showtime satellite TV which at $50/mo. offers a half-dozen premium movie channels and a lot of other channels. There's nothing else to do in RAK except the usual off-road stuff, which is not a function of where you live anyway, and a couple of pubs if you like to spend your money getting drunk with other bored expats; the Hilton; that's about it.

Dinners out are cheap for individuals. I can get a big dinner at any Indian restaurant that serves generic international food as well, for Dh. 10 ($2.70). I often dine on two shwarmas for Dh. 5 and it happens to be a good meal.

Bottom line, I've had various salary levels here in the last 10 years, but with a family of 3 at Dh. 12,500 I could easily save $2500 (Dh. 9200) a month as long as we don't go out much. That's after the first year. During the first year you'll spend a bit on a car, car registration and other things...but at least the furniture allowance will furnish your home for you.

I don't agree that houses are bigger here than the U.S. That is usually not the case. Apartments can be quite large, because families here are very large, and there is a dearth of single-family houses...the average family in RAK lives in an apartment, although there are certainly a few villa neighborhoods.

[uaeobserver]

RAK is a wonderful place. I would not mind living there, myself.

RAK is cheaper than AD and Dubai.

I know families ranging in size from 3 to 9 (yes - 9). Most of them feel just fine, and save. Sure - the bigger the family, the more modest the savings. Still, you can save. That's more than I can say for most westerners, where credit cards are as common as junk food.

You'll likely find that your expenses are very reasonable (especially if you avoid hotel dining), and that your income is better than you imagined, when it's not taxed.

You'll also find that your travel allowance goes fairly far, if you don't fly home with it.

[veiledsentiments]

Just a comment on negotiation... unless you have something unusual to offer them, little chance. If you are just a standard EFL teacher with your MA and X years of experience, the scale is pretty much set throughout the system... same pay whatever city.

VS

[globalnomad2]

Some westerners actually like RAK, but I suspect that's because HCT people have good housing allowances that qualify them for villas with pools and so on. How much you like a place is certainly related to how much you earn and how comfortable your home is. However, I have lived in eight countries around the world outside my own, since I was ten years old, and so many towns and cities I can't remember them all...and RAK is certainly one of the worst from my perspective--outside Saudi Arabia anyway. Half of it is hideous, scraggly, and all of it is dusty, sterile and boring. Well it's not all bad, to be fair: it's reasonably friendly and there are beaches.

I just spent 2 1/2 days at a hotel a couple of miles from the Paris airport. Didn't even go into the city because I was there for an interview, but I didn't mind. The greenery, the vast local farms and the fresh cool air filled me with a sense of relief, a renewed love of our planet; it was much-needed therapy even if only for 2 days. I've been in the Middle East far too long. Back in the RAK dustbowl, I am so glad to be leaving next month, and I'm leaving the Middle East too. Let's hope it's for good. I'm sure you do too, so you won't have to read my griping anymore

uaeobserver's comment on westerners with credit cards being as common as junk food is a silly stereotype. Credit cards don't mean you're necessarily in debt or spending too much. I pay off my full balance evey month--which means I use it like cash. It enables me to book my own best airfares and hotel rates sometimes, and it has protected me more than once after having bought bogus products and services.

And an American town of the population of RAK will have just as many "slow food" restaurants of various types but with one big difference...less food poisoning.

[NadiaK]

I do know a number of people who had their starting salary increased by one point on the scale - that's not much, but a bit. I also know people who did not get any joy. If they need people (which I understand is the case at the moment) then you may be in with a chance, unless you're at the top of the starting scale when I *think* (but not sure) you won't get anything higher.

Good luck!

[holbrook]

RAK isn't such a bad place to live and in pretty good when you are with HCT. Housing is decent and the work enviornment over at the Men's college is really good. I can not say the same for the Women's college however. Good luck.

As for schools.... There is most certainly a highschool in RAK for expats. RAKESS goes all the way to year 12, so does Choifat and so will the new Brittish School the is being set up by RAKESS will as well.

As for salary negotions.... It can work and this might be a time to try especially if you have back ups. Many people have upped a level or two in the past. I wish I had because the HCT starting salary is a bit low, especially compared to what people are getting in Qatar and in some of the new upstart college (ECAE) in Abu Dhabi.

[Manny2]

I agree with Holbrook both re the caveat on the women's college and the less than competitive starting salaries still being offered by HCT. 8 years ago they were offering Dh12200 for people with Masters and x number of years teaching (tertiary)and this year they were only offering Dh 11500 for similiar - and they say they are desperate for teachers. I would negotiate higher as at the end of the day the cost of living is increasing and the current exchange rates to the dollar are terrible.

[adorabilly]

now comes the problem. How do you get to renegotiate your starting salary if you have already agreed to the contract?

[Manny2]

well that is indeed a problem and a pity...you may want to contact them and ask on what criteria you were placed on the salary scale ....or a colleague arrived and in the first week during orientation compared salaries with other new recruits and realized their offer was low or at least lower compared to the others offers and they had similiar qualifications and experiences. On questioning this with HR and they raised the salary to the next level.

[gibsong]

Some of you have mentioned a so called cavaet concerning the women's college. Can you elaborate. Thanks.

[Saphiya]

I have some friends working there, who've been there quite some time. A few of the 'amusing anecdotes' they've shared regarding the environment at RAK Women's:

1. A highly experienced & effective teacher being fired because her Master's degree was 'too old'. By the way, the one who did the firing lacked a Master's degree...although he'd been working on one by distance for 7+ years (& yes, he was a supervisor).

2. A teacher covering a colleague's class (which was right next to his--apparently he'd set work for both groups, then was helping both in turn), being found out of his class when the Head was doing unannounced spot checks, was forced to take a sick day for that particular day (although he in fact worked double duty!).

3. A teacher who'd had a serious heart attack, and thus was out sick, was told after several days that he'd 'better put in an appearance at the college' or face consequences.

There are a few very good teachers there--and RAK is an okay area to live in, if you don't have children. However, I would think very carefully before accepting a position at that particular college.