Which is easier to teach i: UAE vs UK?

Thomas Blakemore
2 days ago
2 min read

Hi friends,It's been a full year since I last stepped inside to UAE which is crazy after spending a whole 6 years and most of my 20s teaching and living out there.

I still get asked about teaching and living in Dubai, UAE and further afield as I accidentally found myself as a voice for the expat teachers.

One question I frequently get is 'which is easier'. I think everyone expects me to answer with a 'grass is greener' type of answer and if I'm honest, it kind of is but its different, which I know is convoluted (new favourite word btw)

What do I mean? Well the UK, we know its faults, flaws and challenges because everyone screams them from the rooftop. Big class sizes

Underfunding
Big class sizes
Lack of support
Lots of over time

Just to name a few.But I guess here goes the UAE

Long days
Small class sizes but the parents might aswell sit in the class the amount they email
Corporate structure

Oh, you wanted a definitive? I can't do that. There's things I love about the UAE and then there's things I find oh so challenging and ever got used to like the 5am get ups.

The UK was much the same: pros and cons.

Make or break though, it's the schools in both places.

Leave a TOUGH school in the UK and go to a lovely one in the UAE you'd say I'm mad here.

ButI've now worked with 1000s of teachers here in the UAE and support Facebook groups like United Academic Educators. The amount of teachers who might say opposite is true is profound.I'm honest. Sometimes too honest. You're not going to get a sugar coating from me and that certainly won't happen in my guides.

There are lots of teachers out there who will do that though. I will say... my time in Dubai did change my life for the better but as with everyone, you lead your own story.

If you want to know where to get started. My Teaching In The UAE Guide is the perfect place.