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English Teaching Jobs in
Dubai

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Amazing weather, fantastic salaries and incredible facilities – the appeal of teaching English in Dubai is obvious.

One of the seven Emirates of the UAE, Dubai has seen an incredible level of growth in popularity over recent decades. With a population of nearly 4 million people, but an economy that staggers belief, Dubai has hosted major international events across sectors including sport, global politics and culture.

Certainly, Dubai and the UAE have blossomed as a destination to visit and, for many, to live full-time. Its population is multilingual, with Hindi, Urdu, Filipino, French, Mandarin and other languages being heard alongside Arabic and - happily for TEFL teachers - English. With Dubai offering so many economic opportunities for adult professionals, not least in the sizable oil and gas sectors, it’s little wonder that many in those professions have moved their families over to Dubai long term.

For English teachers, Dubai is packed with opportunities. While Arabic is the main language of instruction in schools, English is taught widely in the state education system. In private schools, the standards of English education are excellent, and international schools are predominantly English-speaking. There are also plenty of adults looking to bolster their English abilities to boost their career prospects. Oh, and of course - the salaries are some of the highest in the world.

So, where can teaching jobs be found in Dubai? Let’s take a look.

English teaching jobs in Dubai: an overview 

Even within the United Arab Emirates, Dubai’s passion for English is unparalleled. While the UAE as a whole is ranked 71st out of 113 nations for English proficiency by EF, Dubai’s proficiency score far outranks other Emirates like Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. 

This is due largely to Dubai’s prominence as a centre of global business and as a hotspot for tourism. Over the recent past, immense effort has been put into building infrastructure that primarily serves Dubai’s tourists, like the Burj Khalifa, the Dubai Mall and the Palm Jumeirah, the latter of which includes extraordinary luxury hotels.

As is the case with teaching English in Thailand and teaching English in Italy, for example, you’ll find that countries with massive tourism industries will have ample opportunities to find work as an English teacher. There are also fantastic salaries on offer, as is typically the case when teaching English in the Middle East.

There is, however, a caveat - not all teachers can work in Dubai or the United Arab Emirates more generally. Though women can work, own land and are entitled to equal pay in Dubai, some important rights aren’t afforded to women. LGBTQ+ rights in Dubai are also non-existent.

Download our teaching English in Middle East & Africa guide

Quick facts about Dubai 

  • Official Language: Arabic
  • Population: 3.7m
  • Currency: Dirham (AED)

Key facts

Requirements  

What requirements do you need to reach to land teaching jobs in Dubai? ESL teachers hoping to find work in Dubai require excellent teaching qualifications and, for the most part, a high level of experience. 

At the very least, TEFL certification with over 120 hours of study and a bachelor’s degree - preferably in education - are required. Though 120 hours of TEFL certification is the industry standard to teach English abroad, many schools in Dubai will require a Level 5 qualification or higher. Usually, you'll need a teaching licence from your home country to land teaching jobs in Dubai, too.

Native English speaker-level proficiency is required to teach English in the United Arab Emirates, so native English speakers are often preferred. However, schools in Dubai will consider non-native ESL teachers for teaching positions provided they can demonstrate fluency. A bachelor’s degree from an English-speaking institution and an IELTS or TOEFL certificate can undoubtedly help you find teaching jobs as a non-native English teacher in Dubai.

While you’re living and teaching in the Arabian Gulf, it’s extremely useful to have at least some basic Arabic. While not all employers will see this as being a crucial skill, it’s certainly an advantage and can open up more teaching opportunities.

Salary and benefits 

So how much can you earn with a job teaching English in Dubai? What’s the average salary working in this home for the super-rich? 

As you might expect, teaching English in Dubai can be very lucrative, with excellent salaries on offer. Provided you meet all the requirements to teach English, you can expect wages of approximately AED 7,677-19,191 (£1,600-£4,000/$2,040-$5,110) a month working in Dubai.

These salaries can go even higher. Private international schools and similar elite institutions offer even more to long-tenured, successful teachers. In terms of benefits, it gets even better for English teachers - it’s not uncommon to hear of flight reimbursement, performance bonuses, free medical care, annual bonuses, free enrolment at schools for dependents, accommodation and other perks. 

Living and working in Dubai

With the considerable salaries on offer for teaching English, you might assume Dubai is prohibitively expensive to live in. Here are a couple of exciting bits of news on that front: 1. There’s no income tax on earnings. 2. You can live comfortably in Dubai with your salary from teaching English.

Let’s take a look at the cost of living in Dubai. If your teaching job doesn’t offer accommodation, renting will be your biggest expenditure. If you’re looking to rent in central Dubai, it’ll cost around £1,670/$2,186 per month for a one-bedroom apartment, but this price falls considerably to an average of £1,060/$1,385 outside of the Emirate’s central hub.

Basic utilities will cost about £152/$200 per month on average, which will include much-needed air conditioning, while internet access is usually around £75/$100 per month. If you’re hoping to teach English online and bolster your teaching income, Dubai’s wifi is famously excellent, so it’s arguably worth the expense.

As for eating and drinking? A solo meal at an inexpensive cafe will cost about £9/$11, while a three-course meal for two at a mid-priced restaurant will normally cost about £62/$82. If you’re craving a cappuccino, expect to pay about £5/$6.

So, while the cost of rent and utilities is quite high from a general perspective, there's still a lower cost of living than you might expect in Dubai and the United Arab Emirates. These costs are relative to a generous teaching salary, and with no income tax to pay, salaries do stretch that bit further.

Read our United Arab Emirates Country Guide for info about salaries, living costs & requirements

United Arab Emirates Country Guide

Types of English teaching jobs in Dubai

In terms of the variety of English teacher jobs, Dubai is an exciting place for any teacher hoping to explore the United Arab Emirates. So where are all these jobs, and what do you need on your CV to have a chance at landing them?

State schools

State schools in Dubai teach English from an early age, and English teachers are very much in demand. As well as meeting the standard requirements for teaching English in Dubai, it’s useful if you can teach maths, science, art, music or any other subject. Having an advanced TEFL certificate in teaching young learners will help if you’re looking to teach in an elementary/primary school in Dubai, and you’ll need plenty of classroom experience.

Jobs boards

As always, the TEFL Org Jobs Centre is an ideal place to find jobs in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, the Middle East and anywhere else!

TES is a useful resource for job openings in Dubai.

Seek Teachers is, as the name suggests, seeking teachers for jobs in Dubai and across the UAE.

With opportunities at schools and for private companies, we’d recommend trying Naukri Gulf. This site is especially useful for finding roles at international schools.

Related articles for teaching English in the UAE

 

Teach English in the UAE

TEFL teachers from across the world are making the move to teach English in the UAE, and it’s not hard to see why.

 

Teach English in the Middle East

With its unbelievable landscapes, religious significance, variance of cultures and sky-high teaching salaries, the Middle East can be a fantastic place to teach English as a foreign language.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Q. How much do English teachers make in Dubai?

    Teaching English in Dubai, much like it is in much of the Middle East, can be extremely lucrative. Expect a salary of around AED 7,677-19,191 (£1,600-£4,000/$2,040-$5,110) a month while teaching English in Dubai.

  • Q. Are English teachers in demand in Dubai?

    Yes, English teachers are in demand in Dubai. With English being an official language of the Emirate, the language being taught in schools and playing such a huge role in international business, the demand for high-quality English teaching is considerable. 

  • Q. How to get an English teaching job in Dubai?

    To get a job teaching English in Dubai, and in the United Arab Emirates more generally, you’ll need at least a bachelor’s degree, a teaching license, a TEFL certificate and some teaching experience.

  • Q. Can I teach in Dubai with no experience?

    It’s very unlikely that you’ll be able to teach English abroad in Dubai without experience.