Job Discussion Forums

narmtal · Joined: 23 Feb 2009 Posts: 4

I have a BA + CELTA with 3 years ESL/EFL teaching experience to various age groups in Japan and Thailand (haven't done a lot of AEP as of yet). I have applied to do Master of App Ling online starting from July '09 and am waiting to hear back from the uni. I also need to pay back my HECS loan (I'm an Aussie) some day...

My husband is Asian; we have three kids under 5 years of age; we're an easygoing Muslim family (we don't need to live in luxury to be happy); and we want to move to the Middle East for at least a few years. My husband has a very good job of his own here, but one that is not in demand in the Mid East. So I will probably be supporting the family for the next few years (both financially and visa-wise).

I'm leaning towards Yemen for the first two years since I'd like to gain some more experience teaching adults; I've heard the people are quite friendly compared to other Mid East countries; we want our kids to speak a 'good' dialect of Arabic; and it looks like quite a bit more of a forgiving place to start out.

After a few years in Yemen, I thought I might try to get something a bit more lucrative in UAE or Saudi. Are there any women who've sponsored their families to come out to any of aforementioned countries?

I would love to hear some of your experiences and opinions.

PS. Take it easy - I'm new!

15yearsinQ8 · Joined: 17 Oct 2006 Posts: 462 Location: kuwait

in kuwait, a wife cannot sponsor her husband
meaning your husband would have to get a job to stay permeneantly
kids are sponsored by their father except under highly unusual situations

i think that's the way it is in the gulf

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

From the facts that you have given - and this is just my opinion - if your husband "has a very good job of his own," why would you want to go somewhere that he will be stuck at home caring for the children? That is if one of these countries will even give him a visa to get in. Sponsoring a husband will be difficult if not impossible. But, even if you can bring him in, with your current credentials, your pay would be very low. (in Yemen, it would be minuscule). I assume that part of your reasoning is that you would prefer to live in a Muslim country and have your children learn Arabic naturally.

If possible, I would finish my MA before going and get some adult teaching experience where you are now. The reason that I say this is that you will need a job that provides school fees which are very expensive - and you want to be able to get your children into the better schools. School fees are standard if you are teaching university level.

The biggest problem will be getting your husband a visa to live in these countries. His being an Asian will make it even harder and his (and your) being Muslim will not help.

Just some ideas to think about. For instance, can your children get Arabic lessons in a local mosque to give them a good base to work on later?

VS

narmtal · Joined: 23 Feb 2009 Posts: 4

Thanks for your advice Q8 & VS. I realise it's a bit difficult to give someone advice without knowing all of their circumstances, but at least it's given me another perspective.

Yemen still looks like a good place to start for a family who's not worried about money for the next few years. I found a website after reading VS's comments yesterday:

http://pubweb.fdbl.com/ihp8/global/media85.nsf/public-country-briefs/yemen?opendocument

This site suggests that it isn't very difficult for anyone with a working visa in Yemen to sponsor their family. However, the websites I've looked up so far regarding Saudi don't sound so positive.

By the way, VS, I don't tell people that I am Muslim when applying for jobs in the Mid East. I am applying for a job as an ESL teacher, and I expect them to make their decision based on whether I have the credentials for that role or not. As for my husband being Asian, I don't know whether that will make a huge difference to whether I can sponsor him or not (it seems like it would make more of a difference if he was the one doing the sponsoring), but you would know better than me with your years working there, VS.

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

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

PMU ın Khobar KSA ıs a possıbılıty - but you need that MA.

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

PMU doesn't insist on an MA from its male staff; why should it insist on one from its female staff.

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

Incidentally I don't think there is any legal problem in Saudi for a working female to sponsor the spouse.

Gulezar · Joined: 19 Jun 2007 Posts: 483

Yes, it seems that a woman can bring a husband in tow to the Kingdom as he would be her "ma'haram", but it depends on the employer as to getting that husband's paper work done. If you are coming to Saudi, demand that you and he come together or you might be waiting months for his visa to get finalized.