Teaching in UAE: What’s Different?

Published

22 December 2025

Contents

Teaching in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has become a popular pathway for UK-trained teachers seeking new professional challenges, tax-free salaries, and the opportunity to live abroad in a fast-growing, multicultural region. The UAE is home to one of the largest international school markets in the world, with British-curriculum schools in particular in high demand.

But while the UAE offers attractive benefits, the teaching experience can feel very different from the UK. From curriculum structures and parental expectations to contract terms, working hours and cultural norms, UK teachers should understand these differences before making the move.

This article explains how the UAE school system works, how teaching compares with the UK, what qualifications you need, and what to ask before accepting an offer.

Key Takeaways

The UAE’s education system is dominated by private and international schools offering British, IB, American, and other curricula.
Teachers benefit from tax-free salaries, accommodation packages, and end-of-service gratuities, but contracts and conditions vary widely by school and emirate.
School culture, student behaviour, and parental expectations can feel different from the UK, with a strong emphasis on pastoral warmth, academic excellence, and customer-service-style communication.
UK QTS is widely recognised, but teachers must provide attested documents and meet each school’s licensing requirements.

How Does the UAE School System Work?

The UAE education system differs significantly from the UK, primarily because the majority of expatriate teachers work in private international schools, not government schools.

Public schools are operated by the UAE government and overseen by the Ministry of Education (opens in a new tab) (MOE). These schools follow MOE curricula and are taught mainly in Arabic. They employ some foreign teachers but the majority of UK teachers work in the private sector. Private schools are regulated at emirate level:

Dubai – Knowledge and Human Development Authority (opens in a new tab) (KHDA)
Abu Dhabi – Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (opens in a new tab) (ADEK)
Sharjah – Sharjah Private Education Authority (opens in a new tab)

These authorities inspect schools, set teacher licensing rules, and publish school ratings. This system is broadly comparable to Ofsted in the UK, although each emirate has its own framework.

Major Differences Between Teaching in the UK and UAE

Before looking at practical considerations such as contracts, accommodation and cost of living, it’s important for UK teachers to understand how teaching itself differs in the UAE. While many schools follow familiar international curricula, the day-to-day experience of planning lessons, managing behaviour and working with diverse student groups can feel noticeably different from the UK. The following sections outline the key differences UK teachers are likely to notice when moving into a UAE school.

Curriculum and Teaching Approach

Most private schools in the UAE use one of these curriculum models:

British Curriculum (National Curriculum for England) (opens in a new tab) – The most popular choice in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. These schools typically offer GCSEs and A-levels through exam boards such as Pearson Edexcel or Cambridge International.
International Baccalaureate (IB) (opens in a new tab) – Increasingly common in mid-range, offering the PYP, MYP and IB Diploma.
American Curriculum – A broad standards-based model that usually leads to a High School Diploma.
Indian Curriculum (opens in a new tab) (CBSE) – Widely used in schools serving the large South Asian community, with a strong emphasis on mathematics and science.

Schools choose their curriculum freely, creating significant variety across the sector. KHDA (opens in a new tab) data shows that in Dubai, the UK curriculum is the most popular, followed by the Indian, American and IB curricula.

In practice, curriculum and teaching differ from the UK in a few key ways:

Greater curriculum diversity – A single city can contain British, IB, American and CBSE schools. This means UK teachers need to be clear which system a school follows and how closely it mirrors UK expectations.
Lesson planning and pedagogy – Regulators such as KHDA and ADEK expect evidence of differentiation, assessment for learning and progress over time, but schools often have more freedom in how they structure schemes of work than maintained schools in England. Inspection frameworks emphasise student-centred, inquiry-based learning and effective support for English as an Additional Language (EAL).
Assessment – Alongside external exams, schools rely heavily on internal assessment data. Inspection bodies look for robust tracking, moderation and use of assessment to inform teaching, which can feel closer to international school practice than to UK state-sector models.

School Culture and Behaviour Management

School culture in the UAE is shaped by a mix of local traditions and international school norms. Regulators in Abu Dhabi and Dubai expect schools to promote respect, tolerance and Emirati values, and they inspect against these expectations. In many schools, you can expect:

Generally courteous behaviour, especially in mid- to high-fee schools, though standards still vary considerably between schools.
High parental expectations, with families often making significant financial sacrifices for school fees. Parents may expect frequent communication about progress and swift responses to concerns, sometimes more so than in UK state schools.
An emphasis on relationships and wellbeing, with pastoral care, safeguarding and inclusion all scrutinised by inspection bodies, similar to Ofsted’s focus on personal development and behaviour in England.

Cultural norms also influence behaviour management. The UAE Government’s official guidance highlights the importance of respecting Islamic values and local customs in dress, language and conduct, both inside and outside school. The National (opens in a new tab) give clear guidance on what is acceptable in terms of classroom language, displays and activities. Restorative approaches and positive reinforcement are common, but sanctions and escalation routes are usually set out in behaviour policies aligned with emirate-level regulations.

Contracts, Pay and Benefits

Contracts in UAE private schools are usually fixed-term, most commonly two years, and must comply with UAE Labour Law. Offers vary widely, but typically include:

Tax-free basic salary
Accommodation or a housing allowance
Annual return flights
Medical insurance
End-of-service gratuity (a lump-sum payment at the end of service)

The UAE Government portal (opens in a new tab) explains that full-time private-sector employees with at least one year’s service are entitled to end-of-service benefits, with gratuity calculated based on basic salary and years of continuous service. This end-of-service payment is a key difference from the UK, where teachers pay into pension schemes, usually the teacher pension (opens in a new tab), rather than receiving a gratuity from the employer.

Working Hours and Holidays

According to Squire (opens in a new tab), since January 2022, the UAE has adopted a Monday to Friday working week for public-sector bodies, with schools following the same pattern and Friday usually a shorter day to accommodate Friday prayers.

For teachers, this typically means:

Early starts – Many schools begin lessons around 7.30–8.00am.
Full teaching days plus extracurricular activities – Afternoon meetings and extracurricular activities are common, and contact hours can feel higher than in many UK schools.
Holiday structure – Terms and breaks follow a three-term or trimester model, with shorter breaks during the year and a long summer. Public holidays follow the Islamic lunar calendar, so dates move each year and may cluster around Ramadan and Eid.

Compared with the UK, the pattern of the week and timing of breaks will feel different, and teachers often comment that the working day is longer but more predictable once routines are established.

Accommodation and Cost of Living

Accommodation is a major part of any UAE teaching package, and what is offered can vary widely between schools and emirates. Some schools provide furnished staff accommodation close to the campus, while others offer a monthly housing allowance, requiring teachers to find and manage their own rental contracts.

In higher-cost areas such as Dubai Marina or central Abu Dhabi, allowances may not fully cover rent, whereas in more affordable neighbourhoods they may stretch further.

When evaluating a job offer, teachers should:

Compare the housing allowance with typical rents in the area where they will live.
Check whether utilities, internet and transport costs are included.
Consider the level of medical insurance provided, especially for dependants.
Factor in any school fee discounts for children.

Ultimately, salary, benefits, accommodation and everyday expenses must be viewed together. The headline tax-free salary alone does not reflect the true value of a UAE package, so careful comparison with UK living costs is essential.

Do UK Teachers Need Extra Qualifications to Teach in the UAE?

Most UK-trained teachers will find that their qualifications are recognised in the UAE, particularly in British-curriculum schools where UK routes into teaching are highly valued.

Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) is widely accepted, and schools actively recruit teachers with a PGCE and QTS, a BEd, or a PGDE. However, there are additional requirements that teachers must meet before they can begin work.

Firstly, the UAE places strong emphasis on degree specialism. Your undergraduate degree should closely match the subject you are teaching. For example, a maths teacher is expected to hold a maths-related degree, and a primary teacher is generally expected to have a degree that aligns with early years or primary education.

Teachers must also complete a process known as document attestation. This involves having your degree certificate, teaching qualification and sometimes your school experience verified and stamped by the relevant authorities in the UK and the UAE. Schools cannot issue a work permit or residency visa until these documents are fully attested.

Most teachers will also need to provide a police clearance certificate from the UK, proof of identity, passport copies and medical test results once they arrive in the UAE. Some emirates require teachers to register under a teacher licensing system, which may involve short online assessments or professional development modules, although many schools support staff through this process.

In summary, while UK teachers usually do not need “extra” academic qualifications beyond their teaching degree and QTS, they must ensure their documents are correctly attested, that their degree matches their teaching subject, and that they meet the licensing and visa requirements of the emirate in which they will work. With these administrative steps complete, UK teachers are generally well positioned to secure teaching roles across the UAE.

What to Ask Before Accepting a Teaching Job in the UAE

Before signing a contract, it’s essential to understand exactly what a school is offering and how the role will work in practice. Packages vary widely across the UAE, so asking clear, detailed questions will help you identify whether the job is right for you. These checklists cover the key areas UK teachers should explore:

Contract and Salary

Is the salary fully tax-free, and how is it paid (monthly or quarterly)?
What are the probation, notice period and contract length?
Are there any deductions you should be aware of?

Housing and Living Costs

Is accommodation provided, or is there a housing allowance?
If it is an allowance, is it realistic for the area you’ll be living in?
Are utilities, transport or furniture included?

Visa and Sponsorship

Will the school sponsor your work visa and residency?
Will they also sponsor dependants, and what are the costs involved?
Who manages document attestation and visa paperwork?

Health Insurance and Benefits

What does the medical insurance cover, and does it include dependants?
Are annual flights home included?
Are there tuition discounts if you have children?

Working Conditions

What are the teaching hours, timetable structure and contact time?
Are extracurricular activities required and how often?
What is the typical class size and level of EAL support needed?

Curriculum and Expectations

Which curriculum and exam boards are used?
How much freedom is there in planning and assessment?
What are the expectations for data, marking and reporting?

Professional Development

Does the school offer CPD or fund external training (e.g. IB, leadership, NPQs)?
Is there a clear appraisal or career progression structure?

School Culture and Environment

What do inspection reports say about leadership, behaviour and staff wellbeing?
What is staff turnover like?
How are behaviour management and safeguarding handled?

Asking these questions early can help you compare roles accurately and avoid surprises once you arrive. A strong school will answer them openly and provide clear documentation to support their offer.

Life Outside the Classroom

Living in the UAE offers a very different experience from the UK, with year-round sunshine, modern cities and a large international community. Teachers can enjoy beaches, desert activities, cultural festivals and a wide range of leisure options, especially in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. More traditional emirates, such as Sharjah, offer a quieter, family-focused lifestyle.

As a Muslim country, the UAE places importance on respectful dress, appropriate public behaviour and awareness of religious periods like Ramadan. Schools usually provide clear guidance, and most teachers find the local community welcoming and supportive.

Daily life is safe, clean and well organised, with modern transport, healthcare and amenities. While the cost of living varies by emirate and lifestyle, many teachers find that once they settle into routines and understand local customs, the transition becomes smooth and rewarding.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is teaching in the UAE better paid than the UK?

Generally yes. Salaries are tax-free and many schools offer generous benefits such as housing, flights and medical insurance. However, overall value depends on the cost of living in the emirate and the quality of the package offered.

Do I need a PGCE to teach in the UAE?

Most British-curriculum schools expect a recognised teaching qualification such as a PGCE with QTS, a BEd or a PGDE. Some schools may accept alternative training routes if your degree matches your subject and you have relevant experience.

Can I teach in the UAE straight after qualifying?

It’s possible, as some schools hire Early Career Teachers, but competition can be strong. Many employers prefer one to two years of post-qualification experience, especially for core subjects or exam-year classes.

Are UK teachers in demand in the UAE?

Yes. British-curriculum schools actively seek UK-trained teachers due to curriculum compatibility and the strong reputation of UK teacher training. Demand is particularly high in STEM, English and primary.

Do schools in the UAE provide housing?

Most schools offer either furnished accommodation or a housing allowance. The quality and value vary, so it’s important to check whether the allowance realistically covers rent in the area you’ll be living in.

Final Thoughts

Teaching in the UAE can be a rewarding experience, offering strong professional opportunities, modern school environments and a vibrant lifestyle outside the classroom.

However, the reality of working and living in the region can differ significantly from the UK, from curriculum expectations and behaviour norms to contract structures and living costs. Taking time to research schools, compare packages and understand cultural expectations will help you make an informed decision.

For teachers who choose the right school and arrive prepared, the UAE can offer both personal and professional growth. With clear expectations and a willingness to adapt, many UK educators find the move positive, fulfilling and well worth the change.

References

Sign up for articles sent directly to your inbox

Receive news, articles and guides directly from our team of experts.

Share this article