Job Discussion Forums

[missieUAE]

I know I can/should expect housing to be provided...but what other salary and benefits can one expect for a job at an international school in Abu Dhabi? (I have a master's in education, if that makes a difference.)

[helenl]

AGain, several very recent threads and the information is current. The Search function is found at the top of the page.

[missieUAE]

Yeah, thanks, I know about the search function. I was wondering about my specific situation (at an international school, since most of the posts seem to be about universities). No need to be rude.

[mishmumkin]

A straight teaching position w/o responsiblity: 12,500 dirhams/month as a minimum. That's for middle of the road schools. High end w/o responsibility you'd be looking at a start around 18,000 dirhams/month.

[adorabilly]

MissieUAE.

Helen1 isn't trying to be rough. But you need to realize that about 1x a month someone comes on and posts the same style of questions. After the 5th or 6th time writing the same answer, it becomes, use the search function, thank you very much.

It would help if you posted your experience and qualifications, which school, which grade etc... because there is a VAST range of salaries and positions available.

But make sure any contract includes housing, not just a housing allowance (unless you are familiar with the UAE and feel you can find housing faster or else you could be in a hotel for a while).

p.s. no need to be thin skinned. She wasn't being rude, just direct.

[veiledsentiments]

Once a month? It's more like once a week.

Of course one problem is that the board doesn't have the greatest search mechanism and it requires hours of reading... but that is what people should really do in order to focus their questions.

VS

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

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[missieUAE]

I guess I deserve all that, being the newb and all. It can be a little off-putting, though. This isn't a forum with a million posts a day, so I don't see how things could possibly have to be repeated all that much. On the other hand, having been a very active "regular" on other forums like this (including the Korea Dave's ESL forum several years ago) I know where you all are coming from.

I signed the contract already, anyways, so it doesn't really matter I suppose. They (AISA, the school I'll be working for) has a salary scale that they use, so there really was not much room for negotiations.

I do wonder though: Let's say your salary was 12,000 dhs/month. That's like....around US3000, right? How could a single person without children, without a car, who does not need to pay rent, possibly go through that much in a month? Am I missing something when I hear 10 or 12k referenced as a poor salary?

[Never Ceased To Be Amazed]

deleted

[mishmumkin]

You'd get housing on top of that, so $3000 US (and that is the low end for decent gigs). With housing out of the way, that money goes a good way.

[missieUAE]

mishmumkin, that was my feeling on it...I mean, here in the States I take home $2500 after taxes monthly, and pay my $900 rent out of that, plus car insurance, credit cards, student loans....I feel like $3000 without having to pay rent would be maybe not the lap of luxury, but not poverty level.

But maybe I really am missing something. How much does, say, going to a movie cost there? Or dinner at McDonald's (just for the sake of comparison)? I was there last summer for a few days, and didn't find it that much more expensive than the USA.

[veiledsentiments]

As a single person, you should be able to pay down your debts back home and save some money. It all depends on lifestyle. I rarely ate out, but you should be able to afford an evening out now and again. Families run through their salaries very quickly, but for singles, if you don't want to hit the clubs or eat out at the 5 star hotels a couple times a week, you can save.

The first year you will spend more as you set up your home. There is plenty to blow the cash on... like cell phone, high speed internet, satellite TV system... all luxuries that many consider necessities.

To me a car was another crucial item. Be sure to take a current US driver's license that has a few years to run and get a no-claims letter from your insurance company if you can. Even if you think right now you won't buy a car, you will have the stuff you need if you change your mind. After the first week of standing out on a sidewalk when it is 120 degrees with 89.5% humidity with not a taxi to be seen... (did you say that you're in Florida now or have I confused you with another poster? You'll be ready for the weather, but I notice you have a car... )

VS

[missieUAE]

I'm in Georgia right now, but close enough I know the heat will make it a pain at times not to have a car. On the other hand I will be living right in the middle of AD, where I have heard parking can be a nightmare. With the potential for parking problems, the expense, and the added headaches that come with car ownership (repairs, insurance, blah blah blah), there's a big part of me that wants to just not deal with it at all.

Ask me again when I've lived there a few months though and I may be singing a different tune...lol.

[adorabilly]

(ah hem.... search function)

but I'll also answer the question.

It is less expensive for most things than in the US.

A movie at the Grand Cinema is 30 AED (no matinees, no discounts)
A mcdonalds value meal (say the 2 cheeseburger one is 14 AED)

With 12000 AED a month salary, as a single person you can easily save half, if not 3/4.

But it all depends on your lifestyle. I know people who make 15K a month who are single, but who are always broke because they are out partying and doing other things.

It can be easy to go through the salary depending on how LARGE you are lving.

A new car can be between 2000 to 4000 AED a month.
Insurance on said car can be like 5000 AED a year (so 500 a month) especially your first year here.
Internet can run between 200 to 400 AED a month
Cell PHone depends on what you want, but 100 AED prepaid is pretty standard
your electricity and water 200 a month in the winter, up to 1500 a month in the summer months
food 500 aed a month

Those would be the basic costs. And then you get the "extras/perks" which help
cable TV 200 to 400 AED a month
a gym membership 200- to 400 a month
eating out, dining out, clubbing, and DRINKING (and the prices start to add up)
and lets not forget that mid year break where lots of folks leave the country so there goes a nice chunk of change.

the other thing to remember is that living in Abu Dhabi you will have between 15 and 20% inflation on EVERYTHING. So those prices will rise. And if housing is not provided, you may have to pay out of pocket any extra for housing.

So depending on your lifestyle and your choices, you can be very frugral and save about 2/3 to 3/4 of your salary, or if you are wanting to do things, go out, go clubbing, take those trips you can easily burn through your whole salary.

[mishmumkin]