Job Discussion Forums

[FungKoo]

Hi there,

I'm in the last-minute market for international teaching positions (recently interviewed successfully with ESOL for positions in Egypt that are sadly no longer available), and have been told of a very, very last-minute opportunity for myself and my partner at the Raha International School in Abu Dhabi.

After reading through this forum extensively, I have a few extra questions. But first...

I'm a qualified teacher (B.Ed. Primary/Junior), B.A, 3 years experience in a corporate educational role. My partner (common-law), is also a qualified teacher (B.Ed. Primary/Junior), ECE, B.ASc, and 4 years experience in primary-years teaching.

Questions:

Any opinions/observations on the Taaleem organization in general, and/or Raha IS specifically?

How concerned should we be about the last-minute nature of the offer (from this school, or schools in the area in general)? Is this indicative of a bad teaching environment? Poor administrative planning? Or are the possible reasons just too many for concrete advice...?

How big an issue is common-law vs. marriage in UAE? (We were offered a substantial off-campus living allowance in Egypt to accommodate our status, but on-campus was disallowed. Can we expect something similar in the UAE?)

I've read here that Abu Dhabi is somewhat more conservative than Dubai -- what are the implications for the mode of dress and freedom of mobility for women?

Ballpark figure, how much should we expect to spend in terms of travel expenses to destinations in the region? (We're thinking Egypt, Greece, Turkey, and India, specifically.)

What should we expect for salary? And, given the last-minute nature, how much wiggle room do we have over the average offer before we'd get laughed at?

What is the minimum we should accept for living allowance? And, is it typical to receive a living allowance that completely covers rental costs? Or should we expect partial? And, what's the wiggle room on negotiating?

Are there any typically-overlooked essentials that we should pay attention to in the total package offered?

And -- if you had to choose between Abu Dhabi/UAE and anywhere else in the ME, what would your first choice be?

--

Any and all help is greatly appreciated.

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

[MrScaramanga]

In this part of the world -- Arabian Peninsula -- living together as an unmarried couple is not legal, under Shariah Law. It is considered adultery. So you wouldn't be accommodated at all for that. As NCTBA suggested, if you could still apply separately... although I get the feeling from your post that it could be too late for that already... And if you do indeed take the job, and live together, pretend you're married!

Mobility for expat women is the same anywhere in the UAE. Non-local women can go anywhere they please with anyone they please. Not an issue.

Dress code? Yes there is one in AD and in Dubai. Don't be fooled by what you may see around town or on TV or anywhere. Dubai especially may be advertising istelf as a tourism heaven, but this is still a very conservative Muslim country where Islamic law rules.

Dress and behave in a way that will not offend the locals. This means:
- avoid showing legs above mid-calf (this also applies to men)
- no public displays of affection, except woman-to-woman or man-to-man
- for women: shirts should not come above elbows
- absolutely no obscene gestures
- no showing mid-rifs or muffin tops!

On the upside: sandals are okay for everyone! Shorts and other skimpy attire should be reserved for hotels and resorts, period!

I am with NCTBA on the housing allowance: don't take it! Rents are outrageous here and it would be much safer to negotiate for employer- provided free housing.

Good luck!
MrS

[veiledsentiments]

To expand on the idea of cohabitation without marriage... it is illegal in the Gulf and in order for the two of you to be hired as a couple, you must produce a certified copy of your marriage license. As is, you would need to be hired independently... perhaps best that they don't know that you are a couple at all.

That said, we all know of couples who have lived together for years in that part of the world. But to avoid getting yourself into trouble, you really need to know and understand the culture rules here. BTW, the punishment is flogging and deportation... thus far, the few Westerners who have been caught up in this... and there are very few... were only jailed for awhile and deported. I would seriously recommend that you make it legal if you want to teach in the Gulf.

Did you do a search here of the name of the school? I've never heard of it, but their website looks decent and the faculty list has a mix of nationalities. As to benefits, the normal package is a provided flat, already furnished or a furniture allowance, tickets, medical coverage, and gratuity. I agree that it is best to avoid a housing allowance as rents have been like a yo-yo for the last few years and you can really get stuck. There is no way for us to know why they are hiring late... as it could be all of your suggestions or they could have had people back out.

VS

[FungKoo]

Thanks, all, for your insights.

I think the marriage issue pretty much pooches it for us at this point.

[veiledsentiments]

You could try applying together and see how the employer reacts. If they wish, they can easily provide cover for you. If they balk, you know that it is best to avoid.

VS

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]