PROS AND CONS WITH WORKING IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
Pros:
The Middle East is where you go if you want to live a more luxurious life and save a lot of money. These countries are wealthy, and they pay teachers quite a bit of money. New teachers will bring in at least $3,000 a month, tax-free, and will have free housing. More experienced teachers are making somewhere between $5,000-$6,000. Living in the Middle East is an easy life. Most ex-pats have cleaners, drivers, and personal trainers. And when you are making that much money, why not? Favorite things to do in the Middle East are shopping, coffee, and smoking shisha. Because of the heat, people spend their days inside relaxing with friends and then come alive at night. This area is also rich in culture and history. The Dead Sea, Petra, Pyramids, Mecca, Mesopotamia, camel riding, and belly dancing shows are at your doorstep. The Middle East is a vibrant part of the world and is constantly changing.
Cons:
The downside of living in the Middle East is that it is more difficult for women. It is a male-dominated society, so women naturally have less rights and make less money. Some countries have more strict rules as well, whereas others are more Westernized and relaxed. Living in Saudi Arabia is completely different than living in the UAE. Make sure you do your research on the country before you sign a contract. Also, check the school’s and country’s requirements. Because they pay so much, they do have higher requirements to teach there. The majority of schools will require a Bachelor’s and a teaching credential to accompany it.
Top 7 Countries to Teach English in the Middle-East
There are many beautiful cities in the Middle-East that would be perfect to start your teaching career abroad. Although it may not be your first choice, I always recommend to look at all your options and really look into exploring a new part of the world.
The Middle-East has many teaching opportunities with great wages, fully paid housing and airfare. Safety can be an issue and that is why it is important to research thoroughly before making any important decisions, but remember to always keep an open mind!
Degree Requirements | BA/BS Required, MA preferred |
Contact length | 12 months |
Interview Process | Phone/Skype Interview in advance |
Visa Requirements | Work Visa in advance |
Monthly Salary | $1800-5000 USD |
Average Monthly Costs | $1000-1500 USD |
Housing? | Free or Subsidized |
Airfare Included? | Yes |
Holidays? | Islamic Holidays |
Safety? (Canadian Gov.) | Exercise a high degree of caution |
Recommended Cities: Dubai, Sharjah, Al Ain, Ras Al Khaimah
2. Qatar
Degree Requirements | BA/BS Required, MA preferred |
Contact length | 12 months |
Interview Process | Phone/Skype Interview in advance |
Visa Requirements | Work Visa in advance |
Monthly Salary | $1600-3000 USD |
Average Monthly Costs | $800-2000 USD |
Housing? | Free or Subsidized |
Airfare Included? | Yes |
Holidays? | Islamic Holidays |
Safety? (Canadian Gov.) | Exercise normal security precautions |
Recommended Cities: Doha
3. Saudi-Arabia
Degree Requirements | BA/BS Required, MA preferred |
Contact length | 12 months |
Interview Process | Phone/Skype Interview in advance |
Visa Requirements | Work Visa in advance |
Monthly Salary | $1500-3000 USD |
Average Monthly Costs | $700-1000 USD |
Housing? | Free or Subsidized |
Airfare Included? | Yes |
Holidays? | Islamic Holiday |
Safety? (Canadian Gov.) | Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories) |
Recommended Cities: Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam
4. Kuwait
Degree Requirements | BA/BS required, MA preferred |
Contact length | 12 months |
Interview Process | Phone/Skype Interview in advance |
Visa Requirements | Work Visa in advance |
Monthly Salary | $1500-3300 USD |
Average Monthly Costs | $650-1000 USD |
Housing? | Free or Subsidized |
Airfare Included? | Yes |
Holidays? | Islamic Holidays |
Safety? (Canadian Gov.) | Exercise a high degree of caution |
Recommended Cities: Kuwait City
5. Bahrain
Degree Requirements | BA/BS required, MA preferred |
Contact length | 12 months |
Interview Process | Phone/Skype Interview in advance |
Visa Requirements | Work Visa in advance |
Monthly Salary | $1500-3000 USD |
Average Monthly Costs | $700-1100 USD |
Housing? | Free or Subsidized |
Airfare Included? | Yes |
Holidays? | Islamic Holidays |
Safety? (Canadian Gov.) | Exercise a high degree of caution |
Recommended Cities: Manama
6. Oman
Degree Requirements | BA/BS required, MA preferred |
Contact length | 12 months |
Interview Process | Phone/Skype Interview in advance |
Visa Requirements | Work Visa in advance |
Monthly Salary | $1600-3000 USD |
Average Monthly Costs | $800-1500 USD |
Housing? | Free or Subsidized |
Airfare Included? | Yes |
Holidays? | Islamic Holidays |
Safety? (Canadian Gov.) | Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories) |
Recommended Cities: Muscat, Mawaleh, Sohar, Salalah
7. Turkey
Degree Requirements | BA/BS required, MA preferred |
Contact length | 12 months |
Interview Process | Phone/Skype Interview in advance or Face-to-Face in Turkey |
Visa Requirements | Work Visa in advance |
Monthly Salary | $800-1600 USD |
Average Monthly Costs | $800-1250 USD |
Housing? | Sometimes Free or Subsidized |
Airfare Included? | No |
Holidays? | August |
Safety? (Canadian Gov.) | Exercise a high degree of caution (with regional advisories) |
Recommended Cities: Istanbul, Bursa, Ankara, Antalya
I hope that this list was informative and gave you another perspective on working in the Middle-East. There are many amazing opportunities that I hope you will look further into! Good luck on your future teaching endeavors!
Safe Travels
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