How to become a teacher in the UAE
Schools in UAE
In the UAE, schools are generally either public (government-funded) or private.
Public schools are mostly attended by locals, teach in Arabic and follow a curriculum set by the UAE’s Ministry of Education.
Private schools are often international schools, commonly attended by expats and host students from across the world. There are a range of private schools that teach in various languages, and to various curricula.
The most common curricula are British, American and International Baccalaureate (IB) – all of which are generally taught in English.
What qualifications do I need to teach in UAE?
The UAE Government site states that to teach in the UAE, which includes Abu Dhabi and Dubai, you need “a minimum qualification of a bachelor’s degree or a 4-year university degree or higher in the required field”. You also usually need to be a qualified teacher. Otherwise, the required qualifications vary by school, role and location.
To teach at secondary level in Abu Dhabi or Sharjah, for example, you need to have a degree in the subject you are trained to teach – so a maths teacher would need a maths degree as well as their teacher training.
In Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, you also need teaching experience – usually at least two years.
To become a teacher in Dubai, the requirements are generally more relaxed. There are teaching roles in Dubai for teachers with less experience, and you don’t always need a degree in your subject to teach at secondary level.
However, to teach anywhere in the UAE, you need an Education Professional licence.
What is the UAE teacher licence?
You need an Education Professional licence to teach in the UAE. This is a mandatory credential for UAE teachers.
How do I get a teaching licence in the UAE?
There are two ways you can get a UAE teaching licence:
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Pass two tests: one in pedagogy and the other in a specialised subject
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Obtain a transitional licence through the UAE Ministry of Education’s Recognition of International License Service, which eliminates the need for professional licensing tests – for this, you need to submit evidence you already hold a recognised teaching licence (e.g. QTS)
If you are taking the test route, you initially have three chances to apply for a licence (that is, three chances to pass your tests).
If you fail three times, you can try again after six months. You can also access training courses that prepare you for the tests ahead of reapplying for a licence.
Do I need QTS to teach in Dubai?
While QTS is not a legal requirement to teach in Dubai, most international schools in Dubai will also expect QTS (or an equivalent licence) as a condition of employment.
Similarly, you need a teacher licence to teach in Dubai or anywhere else in the UAE – and submitting evidence you hold QTS is one way to do this.
Can I teach in UAE if I only speak English?
In UAE, you can teach in a private international school even if you only speak English. These schools host students from over the world and most of them teach one of the British, American or IB curriculum, which are most often taught in English.
If you aren’t a native English speaker, you will likely need to prove your proficiency in English, such as with the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). This requirement will vary by school, curriculum and location.
Visa requirements
You need a residency visa and a work permit to live and work in the UAE. While getting these documents does take time, the process is usually organised by your employing school.
It's important to note that the UAE does not award residency to people with certain medical conditions, and you need to pass a medical examination as part of the visa process.
Be cautious of coming into the country on a tourist visa: if a school offers you a role on this condition, you will need to leave and re-enter the country on another tourist visa until your employment visa is processed.
This is often a sign of poor management, and you should consider whether a role offered in this way is right for you.
To teach in the UAE you also need to have your educational paperwork attested – this means your teaching qualification and degree certificate, and sometimes also certificates of your high school or secondary school qualifications. Ensuring these are formally attested is your responsibility.
How much do teachers get paid in UAE?
Salaries for teachers in the UAE can range from 100,000AED (£22,000) to 200,000AED (£44,000) per year, and are tax free.
What you can earn varies between schools, with the higher-paying schools normally asking for more overseas teaching experience as a result.
Almost all schools offer free accommodation, or an allowance that can be put towards your accommodation. Some schools may also include allowance for your partner and family.
Most schools will also include some sort of healthcare provision, such as health insurance, as part of your contract.
Schools will usually pay for your outward flights and often offer one return flight to your home country per year – this sometimes includes flights for dependents.
On a fixed contract, this money is often added to your final month’s pay, so you have to complete the contract to get it.
Many schools also offer a relocation allowance somewhere in the region of £500. Many teachers find that most of this allowance goes towards the cost of visas and paperwork, which is usually around £300.
What is it like living in Dubai as a teacher?
Because Dubai is such a popular teaching destination, you can expect to find a large community of teachers who have migrated there. This means it might be easier to make social connections than in other areas.
You will also teach a range of students, with families from all over the world opting to have their children attend an international school in Dubai.
It is important to bear in mind that like any country or region, Dubai has its own culture and rules you need to be aware of and follow while living there.
For example, you can only drink alcohol at your home and licenced venues in Dubai. Public displays of affection are not allowed, and neither are same-sex relationships.
However, Dubai is generally seen to be more liberal than other emirates, such as Abu Dhabi or Sharjah.
Ultimately, many people from across the world find living in Dubai as a teacher to be enjoyable and incredibly rewarding, with a thriving expat scene that provides great opportunities for meeting new people.
Teach internationally with Tes Institute
With our international courses, Tes Institute can support you to teach schools around the world. Our iQTS is a school-based initial teacher training course specially designed for international schools.
Similarly, our iPGCE enables you to gain a globally recognised postgraduate qualification worth 60 UK level 7 credits – equivalent to one-third of a full Master’s degree.
If you already meet the English Teachers' Standards, our Assessment Only course enables you to be independently assessed against the standards and gain QTS within three months – all without leaving your current school. We also offer a Straight to Teaching course to help you prepare for assessment.
At Tes Institute, we’ve qualified more than 3,000 teachers across 123 countries. Start your journey with us and learn more about any of our courses with our free on-demand webinars.