Job Discussion Forums

ghost · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 1693 Location: Saudi Arabia

Which country is better to work in Kuwait or UAE?

Qualfications include: B.A., B.Ed., M.A., and Post Grad. in T.E.S.L.
Certified teacher in home country, and many years overseas. First time Gulfer.

Hi folks

1. Kuwait - teaching English and other subjects in an Elementary language school, grade 1 students. Basic salary is 670 KD ($2,317 U.S.) plus free housing, and around 8-10 weeks annual leave, plus 2 weeks winter break, and 1 week spring break, in addition to the two Eid and Ministry Holidays. Working hours are eight hours from 7am to 3.00pm.

2. United Arab Emirates, Dubai or Abu Dhabi. Working with elementary sections (grades 5-7) at a Basic salary of AED 11,500 ($3, 131 U.S.) plus AED 5,000 ($1, 361 U.S.) housing allowance. If you combine the salary with the housing allowance, it comes to AED 16,500 ($4, 492.86 U.S.). Annual leave 6 weeks in summer and about 2 weeks in winter.

Very important question: Will AED 5000 be enough to rent a one or two bedroom apartment in Dubai or Abu Dhabi? One strongly prefers not to share lodging at this stage in one`s life. Please note AED 5000 is approximately $1,361 U.S. dollars (for rent allowance).

Checked on the per capita incomes of both countries and Dubai (UAE) is at $21,040 per annum, compared with Kuwait at $17,870 per annum, so presumably, UAE is a more expensive country with higher expense costs and rents etc...

What one would like to know, though, is your perspective on differences in culture between the two countries and general lifestyle?

Finally do you think the two packages are very different financial wise, or less so when you take cost of living and accommodation (free in Kuwait, but allowance in Dubai) into account?

Any feedback from Gulf veterans and newbies would be gratefully appreciated.

ghost

stoth1972 · Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 11:03 pm Post subject:

60,000 dirhams/year for a one bedroom in Dubai? Perhaps, though I'd call on those paying rent right now to jump in. 2 years ago, I rented a 1 bedroom, 1 1/2 bath in Al Barsha for 40,000/year. Colleagues of mine rented studios in Bur Dubai (gross building) and Karama (lovely building) for around 35,000+. Since leaving, I've been told by friends there that the rents have absolutely skyrocketed. There is nothing to be had in Barsha (by Mall of the Emirates) for under 55,000. have you checked the gulf news classifieds? Good way to get an idea of rent.

miski · Joined: 04 Jul 2007 Posts: 298 Location: Kuwait

Nothing wrong with the people in Kuwait.

the 'fun' in Emirates will soak up your salary!! you can have 'fun' in Kuwait on a better salary and take a trip down to the Emirates or Bahrain whenever you please on Al Jazeera airlines which fly return for aprox. $70.

sheikh radlinrol · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 1222 Location: Spain

miski · Joined: 04 Jul 2007 Posts: 298 Location: Kuwait

Well 'fun' comes in many forms sheikh. Some people are alchohol dependent for their fun and for them there are a variety of parties which go on on a weekly basis, and for them the close proximity to Bahrain etc is a plus at cheap Al Jazeera rates.

However, for others there are many bowling alleys, golf clubs, health/beach resorts, cinemas, shopping malls,gyms, 'groups' (AWL, BWL,Irish Society, Calednians,Anzac etc), coffee shops, shisha cafes, moto cross at mishref on a Friday, amusement parks, aquarium, Imax theatre, trips to Failaka, diving centres, camping in the desert, the Hash Harriers, rugby, little league, ladies netball and hockey , concerts.....in fact a hell of a lot more going on there than in my part of the world in this dreary rain sodden summer!

Where you are is what YOU make of it- alternatively visitors to Kuwait could just sit on their arses and complain that ( for the absence of a wee dram) there is 'nothing to do'.....

canadashirleyblue · Joined: 06 May 2007 Posts: 162

Ghost-
Tell us the name of the school in Kuwait and we will do our best to tell you whether it is somewhere you would want to be or not.

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

This is an old thread from last October... I would assume that ghost has made his decision long ago.

Miski just chose to raise it from the dead... Laughing

VS

miski · Joined: 04 Jul 2007 Posts: 298 Location: Kuwait

OOops I am a ghost raiser then........wonder where he/she went ? Did he /she last the first 3 weeks? LOL

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

He decided against the ME I think... he is still on Dave's though... perhaps he stayed in Turkey.

VS

sheikh radlinrol · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 1222 Location: Spain

stoth1972 · Posted: Fri Jul 27, 2007 11:06 pm Post subject:

I think ghost is asking about Yemen on another thread. The dream lives on...

miski · Joined: 04 Jul 2007 Posts: 298 Location: Kuwait

Sheikh.......would we WANT the Stones to cme on tour? All that drool coming from those wrinkly old lips..........yuuuuuuck.

http://intokuwait.blogspot.com/

sheikh radlinrol · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 1222 Location: Spain

miski · Joined: 04 Jul 2007 Posts: 298 Location: Kuwait

Mmmm.Love'im....not.

sheikh radlinrol · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 1222 Location: Spain