Teaching English Job in the Middle East

Teaching English In The Middle East Country Profiles

From Morocco to Dubai, learn about English teaching jobs across the Middle East.

Teaching English in the Middle East

Schools in Middle Eastern nations such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates have a strong need for certified English teachers. University classes in several of the Arab nations are taught in English. Besides, the strategic location of the region at the crossroads of the East and West has turned cities such as Dubai into important leisure and commerce hubs where the norm is to communicate in English. Several of the wealthy Gulf countries in particular offer majority of the jobs in the education system to experienced teachers holding a TEFL certification in addition to their bachelors’ or masters’ in education.

Individuals qualifying for such teaching positions get to enjoy one of the highest pay packages this field has to offer, ranging from a monthly salary of $2,500-$6,000 with add-ons such as free housing and flights to and from their home country.

Countries such as Turkey, Jordan, Morocco, and Egypt have a considerably lower pay-scale but job opportunities for those with only a four-year degree or less besides a TEFL/TESOL certification will be relatively easier to come by. The low pay does not really put individuals at a disadvantage considering the low cost of living as well as the innumerable opportunities to immerse oneself into one of the great regions in the world, famous for its history and culture.

Pointers about teaching English abroad in the Middle East:

Advance interviews are the only way to secure a job for majority of the teaching openings in the Gulf Countries, namely Oman, Bahrain, Qatar, UA, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait.
Adherence to local cultural norms is expected from the teachers and could be dramatically different from what the Western world practices. Regions may have restrictions on personal freedoms such as dressing styles while the right to consume alcohol can also have country-specific variances, amounting to regional differences within some countries.
Large expatriate communities are present, allowing the teachers to socialize with other westerners, thus making it an easy transition for those coming new to the region.