City guide
Teach English in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Top-of-market pay for licensed K-12 teachers, tax-free, with housing.
Dubai concentrates the most international school positions in the Gulf. Pay is tax-free and a full package, meaning housing or an allowance, flights and medical cover, is standard at established private schools rather than a perk. Adult and corporate English is the lower-paying but easier-entry track. The documentation bar is the real gate: attested degrees, and for school posts a home-country teaching licence, which takes months to assemble and is the reason offers here fall through.
Neighborhoods
The Marina and JLT for the standard young-professional base and metro access. Deira and Bur Dubai, the older city, for the cheapest rent and the shortest commute to adult centres. Mirdif and Al Barsha for the family-sized housing near the schools themselves. Ask which one your allowance actually covers before signing.
Cost of living
Roughly 4,000 to 9,000 AED a month for a one-bedroom, and rent is usually quoted annually and paid in a few large cheques, which catches new arrivals badly. A school-provided flat or a named allowance changes the maths more than the salary does.
Best for
Licensed K-12 teachers with real classroom experience maximising savings, who can get their documents attested before they apply rather than after.
United Arab Emirates at a glance
Salary: K-12 licensed teachers: 12k to 22k AED per month, often with housing or 50k to 90k AED yearly housing allowance. Adult ESL at universities and centers: 8k to 14k AED. Add airfare, end-of-service gratuity, and health insurance to most packages.
Visa: Employment visa sponsored by the school. Requires attested degree, criminal background check, and medical exam. Process takes 4 to 8 weeks.
Full United Arab Emirates guide →Open positions in Dubai
No Dubai-specific listings right now. Showing recent United Arab Emirates roles below.
Other cities in United Arab Emirates
What you need to teach in Dubai
The practical side of moving here, from partners we earn a commission from at no cost to you.
ITTTOnline TEFL course10% off with code ETUNU2026K→SafetyWingMedical insuranceHealth cover for the gap before your school insurance starts→NordVPNVPN appUp to 75% off + 3 months extra→WiseMoney transfersPaid in one currency, need money in another? Skip the bank markup→
Affiliate link: we may earn a commission at no cost to you. All partners