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Judson
Joined: 08 Jun 2008
Posts: 7
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 Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 4:01 pm Post subject: UAE --> Kuwait |
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I'm currently teaching in the UAE, but contemplating relocating to Kuwait. Can anyone in this forum advise me on what to expect on any of the following?
1) The paperwork requirements for a teacher from the US ... is this something I would have to start from scratch, or is having a working visa in the UAE of any benefit when applying to positions in Kuwait?
2) Can I bring my car from the UAE, and have it registered in Kuwait? Also, can I drive in Kuwait with a UAE driving license?
3) How do the "average" students compare between Kuwait and the UAE?
4) How do the pay scales in the two countries compare?
5) Any "watchouts" to ... uhm, watch out for? Should I just stay in the UAE? 
Thanks in advance for any info.
-J |
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ftawiah
Joined: 13 Jul 2010
Posts: 19
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| Posted: Wed Jan 12, 2011 6:36 pm Post subject: |
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The pay in Kuwait is good however I would stay in the UAE. As a fellow American you really have no rights in Kuwait. As far as the students be prepared for a lot of negotiating for grades. Do not be surprised when parents try to bargin with you in order to improve their child's grades.
Stay in UAE or go to either Bahrain or Oman the peace of mind is far better than Kuwait. |
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Starfell
Joined: 24 Mar 2010
Posts: 138
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| Posted: Thu Jan 13, 2011 8:22 pm Post subject: |
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| ftawiah wrote: |
The pay in Kuwait is good however I would stay in the UAE. As a fellow American you really have no rights in Kuwait. As far as the students be prepared for a lot of negotiating for grades. Do not be surprised when parents try to bargin with you in order to improve their child's grades.
Stay in UAE or go to either Bahrain or Oman the peace of mind is far better than Kuwait. |
LOL- I take it you're working for A'Takamul then............... |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 1:12 am Post subject: Re: UAE --> Kuwait |
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| Judson wrote: |
1) The paperwork requirements for a teacher from the US ... is this something I would have to start from scratch, or is having a working visa in the UAE of any benefit when applying to positions in Kuwait?
2) Can I bring my car from the UAE, and have it registered in Kuwait? Also, can I drive in Kuwait with a UAE driving license?
3) How do the "average" students compare between Kuwait and the UAE?
4) How do the pay scales in the two countries compare?
5) Any "watchouts" to ... uhm, watch out for? Should I just stay in the UAE? |
My advice would be to stay in the UAE, but it depends on your current job and your job offer. Normally pay is higher in the UAE. Having done paperwork in one Gulf country does little or nothing to assist paperwork in another Gulf country. They all have their own little peculiarities... and Kuwait is the worst of the bunch (or a tie with Saudi). It is the worst government that I had to deal with over there.
Yes, you can bring a car, but you will have to get a local license - same in every Gulf country. Only Gulf Arabs can use their driving licenses across the various countries... expats can not. I'm sure that it will be extremely frustrating and full of endless paper chases and rude clerks to bring a car. Hire a good shipping company.
I wouldn't make the move if it didn't provide a major jump in pay.
VS |
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PattyFlipper
Joined: 14 Nov 2007
Posts: 572
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| Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2011 4:31 pm Post subject: Re: UAE --> Kuwait |
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| veiledsentiments wrote: |
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Only Gulf Arabs can use their driving licenses across the various countries... expats can not.
VS |
Are you sure about this? My understanding is that a licence issued by one GCC state is valid in the others, even for expats. I used my Omani licence in the UAE and Bahrain (hiring cars) without problems. I concede, however, that this may only be expedient for a short space of time, and as soon as legal residence is obtained, one may be obliged to obtain a local licence. In this case a licence from another GCC State can be used to obtain the local one with the minimum of formality, in the same way as those issued by most Western countries. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2011 6:21 pm Post subject: Re: UAE --> Kuwait |
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| PattyFlipper wrote: |
| I used my Omani licence in the UAE and Bahrain (hiring cars) without problems. I concede, however, that this may only be expedient for a short space of time, and as soon as legal residence is obtained, one may be obliged to obtain a local licence. |
Sorry... I wasn't clear. I meant long term not just a short visit. As to changing countries, it is not 'may be' - one 'is' obliged to get the local license.
I have heard varying stories of the success of using one Gulf country's license to easily get another's. I at one time had a valid Kuwaiti and Emirati license, but I still used my US license to get a new Omani license. It is best not to even tell them that you have another Gulf license... if you do, they may very well take it from you. The Omani police were rather upset that my other license was left in the US because they wanted me to turn it in to them.
At the same time, they tried to fine me for not renewing my previous Omani license from the 80s. I fought it and ended up with the "Officer" where a bit of polite Arabic, smiles, and the fact that at the time it expired there were still no tourist visas in Oman and I couldn't just pop in and renew a driving license, got the fine waived. It was a 35 OR fine!! I neglected to mention that at the time I was working in the Emirates and regularly driving back and forth with my Emirati license and my Emirati residence visa. 
VS |
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usa_in_gulf
Joined: 10 Aug 2009
Posts: 133
Location: Gulf
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| Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2011 7:17 pm Post subject: |
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It is an easy process to get GCC license when you have another GCC license; as long as you have the necessary work permit/ papers. Licenses in Kuwait, and Oman, UAE, and Bahrain , are invalid once your work permit (iqama) is cancelled. But as long as the license is not expired, you can use it in another GCC country to obtain a drivers license in that second country.
If you have a UAE license, if I remember correctly, you will have to get a clearance paper from the UAE Traffic Department saying you don�t owe any fines. (A few years ago, this was easily done at the UAE embassy in Kuwait---not sure if this is still true.) Obtaining an Omani license, based on another GCC license, is extremely easy. They do not take your other license. It took about 10 minutes. You have to take an eye exam and pay a small fee. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 2:02 am Post subject: |
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| usa_in_gulf wrote: |
| They do not take your other license. |
They took my UAE license at the main office near Ruwi and were upset that I didn't have the Kuwait one to give them too.
I also had friends who went back and forth working between Oman and the UAE with different contracts/employers and used their previous driving licenses in both countries - even though they had had different employers. I don't know if they are still giving those 10 year licenses. I have never heard of them being tied to one's work visa... as I usually had my driving license before I had the passport back with the residence stamp. One thing I found over the years was that the DMVs in these countries seem to make up the rules as they go along... and change them at whim.
So, as often happens. YMMV...
VS |
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usa_in_gulf
Joined: 10 Aug 2009
Posts: 133
Location: Gulf
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| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 1:55 pm Post subject: |
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veiledsentiments wrote:
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They took my UAE license at the main office near Ruwi and were upset that I didn't have the Kuwait one to give them too.
I also had friends who went back and forth working between Oman and the UAE with different contracts/employers and used their previous driving licenses in both countries - even though they had had different employers. I don't know if they are still giving those 10 year licenses. I have never heard of them being tied to one's work visa... as I usually had my driving license before I had the passport back with the residence stamp. One thing I found over the years was that the DMVs in these countries seem to make up the rules as they go along... and change them at whim.
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In all GCC countries (and even in America), you need to be a legal resident in order to get a driver�s license. This means you either have to have a work permit or be a dependant. There are other restrictions also. For example, in Kuwait you must earn above a certain salary and work in certain professions. Driver�s licenses in Kuwait are issued for 10 years. But they are invalid if you do not have a valid residency. If you get a new job, you have to turn in your new work permit papers, etc.. and you license is re-instated. You license is tied to your civil identification number. (That is why most traffic stops involve showing your license and your civil id.)
I have never heard of----nor have I experienced--- another countries' license being confiscated. I currently have my Kuwaiti license (valid because I have a Kuwaiti passport), my Omani license (valid because I have a work permit), UAE license (not expired--but not valid), and a Bahraini license (expired and invalid).
How you got a license without showing your passport or civil id-- I don't know--but then again--you are talking about the 80's and 90's right?
Its 2011. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sun Jan 16, 2011 3:39 pm Post subject: |
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No, I'm talking about 2000. And I got both my UAE and Oman license with the forms from my employer. Didn't yet have the residence stamp. All that was in my passport my last time in Oman was a tourist visa. And I even had the car registered with only it. Ever heard of wasta?
But then as long as you have been there, you are likely aware that they do what they want... not what you want... or think is the law.
VS |
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