Korean Job Discussion Forums

silkhighway · Joined: 24 Oct 2010 Location: Canada

Hi,

I'm considering making a move to the UAE and would like to hear any first or secondhand information anyone has about it. In particular, I'm a single male in my early 30's and concerned about what kind of social life I might be able to have there.

Squire · Joined: 26 Sep 2010 Location: Jeollanam-do

You should post this in the international forums, I think they have one for the UAE.

As a place it seemed reasonably chill to me when I visited. I was only there for 2 days but there are tons of Brits there so it can't be that bad if they're all happy to live there. The weather was lovely in January, but probably sucks most of the time. I think you can get nightlife at hotel bars, and there are tons of hotels. It's also a great place if you're into Indian food

silkhighway · Joined: 24 Oct 2010 Location: Canada

Thanks Squire. I'm lurking on the international forum but I don't have an account. I'm researching as many avenues as I can, so opinions here are appreciated.

sho · Joined: 22 Jan 2012

I lived in Dubai for four years (as a kid) and later next door (Oman) for four years. Dubai has tons of expats and has plenty of places to socialize, so you should be totally fine, socially speaking.

bucheon bum · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

Dubai felt a little like Vegas without the gambling (tacky [Mod Edit] everywhere, lots of luxury stores, lots of sprawl, etc) but with a beach (with a large number of 20something Eastern Europeans in bikinis).

Anyway, it depends where you are in the UAE. Abu Dhabi is the richest emirate and a bit more conservative than Dubai. Sharjah (the 3rd largest city in the UAE) is (or was) significantly more conservative than both Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The upside to Sharjah is it is the hub of Air Arabia, a budget airline.

Nowhere Man · Joined: 08 Feb 2004

The money (without the Saudi) is the UAE.

Oman is the soft landing of happy Arabs pleased to peach you've come to visit them. Teaching may be more like crowd control.

If you've got the chops, Sultan Qaboos University is the place.

TESOL Arabia is the recruiting platform.

Choose carefully.

Google "HCT sucks".

silkhighway · Joined: 24 Oct 2010 Location: Canada

Thanks guys. I'm not worried about job information, I have a specific position in mind. I've also researched cost of living and all that as well. My concern is that most people in my situation are already settled with families and I'm not, and when they go over, they take their families with them whereas I'll be traveling solo. It would be either in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, not sure which.