Anyone jumped to the Middle East?

[skaif]

Thinking about going out there soon as the industry (I am a computing teacher) seems to be booming, particularly in the ICT / STEM / Computing areas.

Has anyone taken the plunge? Pros and cons?

 

[skaif]

Ok so a bump in this little story!

I have been offered a job in Abu Dhabi. Offer seems decent, just finalising the particulars.

Any of you expats been here for a sustained period of time?

Would love some advice on renting, living costs etc.

The school that I will be joining is in MBZ City. Any recommendations for areas to live or avoid?

Thanks in advance

 

[skaif]

Cheers for the feedback. Would be interested to know how the Abu Dhabi people are finding it. I'm not to fussed about the scenery etc, just want to know about what it's genuinely like out there.

Currently negotiating the contract to get medical, visa and flights for daughter as well as the wife including school fees.

What's the rental situation out there? Looks like some want a whole years up front?

 

[skaif]

I personally couldn’t even begin to consider anything even close to moving anywhere near the Middle East.

The only reason to do it would be for the money in my eyes.

Any reason?

 

[skaif]

So Abu Dhabi did not like my counter offer and reneged on what they said in interview so I rejected on principle.

Now looking at Qatar, pay is at least 25% more so will be going down this route.

Any experiences of Qatar?

 

[skaif]

I'm currently in Qatar with work, the expats here seem happy enough - assume you're aware of the embargo?

Yup read into that but it doesn't seem to have affected them much from what I can see/read? Also while you're there can you ask around about Awfaz Global School? Bit of a long shot but hearing mixed reviews about the place!

 

[skaif]

Taking the plunge then. Handing in notice at my current school this week and getting all the documents attested now. Will cost around £1k for both of us just in legal fees and document attestation! Was not expecting that. Hopefully pay off will be good though - booked a holiday there during half term at the end of this month to scope out the area and see whats what.

 

[skaif]

Awesome. So is this Qatar in the end?

Yup heading to Qatar.

Just hoping the school is going to be a good un. Heard some negative things about some schools out there and the way they are managed. Hoping that it helps that I am going in at some level of seniority and won't have any issues.

 

[skaif]

Just at the stage where I'm sending off the docs to the embassy to get attested. Solicitors fees, fco fees and attestation fees all come it at around £65 per doc. I have 13 docs to send not including recorded delivery fees etc. Its getting expensive!

We are flying out during half term (next Sat) to get a feel for the place and visit the school.

Handed in my notice and got all my affairs in order here. Just need to wait out the documents I suppose.

 

[skaif]

So I'm here at the moment on half term. Thought I would check out the place and let the school know I'm here. They have absolutely smashed it for me - invited me round to check them out, sent their driver to the hotel, got the tour and met the senior folk at the school.

Meeting the owner and CEO of the school on Wednesday. Got my daughters admissions up and running. Medical and bank accounts in the works as well as residents permits. They are happy to take me on 2 weeks earlier and put me up in a apartment hotel while all the stuff gets sorted in August at their own cost.

Really have made me feel so welcome and put me at ease with any questions I had. School had a pretty poor reputation and they were up front about it saying that they are going through change but the processes are in place now. Looks very evident from what I can see - new offices, new roles being made for the right people, new vision in place from the academic director.

I get the feeling that my role is going to be more senior than I thought. They have me down as Head of ICT and E-learning but they're talking about heading up the project rolling out systems for head office etc as well as overseeing their business courses as I have some experience there. I said I haven't got an issue as long as my time is accounted for.

And Qatar as a place? Absolutely stunning.
I get that these guys have built this place in a desert but damn it's impressive. The buildings, the architecture, the beaches, the weather? Starting to get excited by this prospect now!
Can you tell?

 

[skaif]

No, I'd probably be stoned to death or thrown off a building based on the crime statistics from over there.

Thanks.

For that.

Anything to back it up?

From what I gather crime rates are incredibly low compared to the UK?

 

[skaif]

Talk about deflating someones dreams lol. Harsh.

Lol, not really bothered about people's pre-conceptions about this middle east now - I am not gay so that particular ruling doesn't matter to me.

In other news I have received my confirmation of tickets and start date. Early august I will be leaving for a few years at least!

Starting to look at rental accommodation now over there, some really nice places with pools, gyms, childrens play areas, indoor football courts etc.
Looks really nice. A bit anxious about getting a car there. As much as I consider myself a car person I don't really want to be doing maintenance on a car when its 50+ degrees out and you have limited shade.
Don't really want to finance one either as breaking finance agreements can lead to prison!

I suppose I will have to buy second hand but try and be savvy about it (get a Toyota or Honda coz they never break down right?)

Got to start selling up my bits and pieces over the next few weeks!

 

[skaif]

Hey I'm not deflating anyone's dreams. Just painting a realistic picture of the locale lol. Some people don't care about the countries laws until they are bitten by them, but more fool them. Sounds a bit like 1940's Germany to me, it's great unless you're (insert x demographic here) but that's why I don't go there. I just think it's unethical to introduce children to that environment, last thing you want is them to come out in abu dhabi lol.

Except its not Abu Dhabi - it's now Qatar

Quoting myself for obvious reasons...

Yeah it's fine, not going to let random peeps on the internet get me down. End of the day I'm happy to go out of my comfort zone and explore the world a little.

Planning to go explore the eastern Asian areas of the world (Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, China, Japan etc) while I am over there as they look like amazing places to go!

Obviously need to settle down there and get a place etc but genuinely looking forward to this move now. Never would have thought I would be in this position so riding the wave for now.

 

[skaif]

Well today's the day! Got off to a rocky start tho, issues with work visa meant I have missed my initial flight. The school have been good and sorted out the next flight but its a 6 hour delay....

Anyway, shouldn't be too much of an issue.

See you on the other side!

 

[skaif]

Finally here! Stupid o clock and after almost 20hrs of travelling I'm finally at the hotel that will be my home for the next few months. Got my medical and bits and pieces to sort out and then it's time to start getting involved with the school.

Need to sleep right now but first thing tomorrow morning will be a quick gym session followed by a swim. I could get used to this!

 

[skaif]

Good luck! I moved to Egypt as I grew fed up of the Primary system in the uk. I’m now in my 6th year here and loving it.

More Money and low cost of living certainly help and have moved into a Head of Computing role. They do really struggle to find candidates for positions sometimes. The media don’t help with this much. But statistically it is safer here than the US and the Uk.

There are plenty of downsides to living in a land of sand but the right schools do look after you.

There will be bad days where the culture seems to hit you hard. Remember to smile and just try to laugh about it later. I think that has been the biggest help to my transition. I will be one of those “lifers” here.

The students present different challenges and @OP it sounds like you have plenty of good challenges to get into. Good luck.

Yep getting used to it. The lifestyle here is completely different. Just been out for a meal with the work lot at a swanky place which was only £35 a head for an amazing experience. Can jump in the pool / gym whenever, my daughter is absolutely loving her nursery and I've settled into the school really well.

Went car shopping today as looking to treat myself so watch this space. Loving it so far although I know it's the honeymoon period.

Work doesn't seem like work, getting up in the morning to blue skies and 30degrees is bliss and does wonders for my mindset. In the UK dreary skies and cold used to physically demotivate me. I'm actually looking forward to getting up for work for the first time in ages!

The only downside at the minute is the early starts. Have to be at work for 6.30 which means leaving at 6 and waking up at 4 to do my morning gym routine and sorting out the kiddo. Means by the time we're back home at 3pm we're knackered. Need to find some nap time but at the moment 9pm bedtime during the week is keeping us going!

 

[skaif]

Glad it’s going well.

The weirdest thing for me was the week starting on Sunday’s. It meant every time I looked at the timetable on a Monday I got it wrong for a few weeks! Also, Fridays here were eerily quiet initially. Not sure if it will be the same there though.

Haha yeah it's definitely weird changing to a Sunday - Thursday week with hump day being Tuesday. It takes some getting used to. Fridays are annoying because everything is pretty much closed till around 4pm so need to get used to that too!

 

[skaif]

Hey dude, at the moment there's nothing at all going on here, Business as usual. Although if I'm being honest, being an expat and a non Arabic speaker a lot of the local issues just fly by me.

Add on the crazy time I'm having at work keeping me busy, I really don't keep in touch with the local politics. I probably should tho!

 

[skaif]

@skaif

ref this:




and this:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1214716105396228096

Granted you're in Qatar (a country on rather friendlier terms with Iran than the UAE!). You might have dodged yourself an immediate bullet by ending up there instead of the UAE which Iran is now threatening to attack soon (based on US response) would you still want to stay there if the adjacent countries (UAE & Saudi) end up getting dragged into a conflict?

Just bumping this to highlight that earlier point... might never happen but the risk could emerge again in the near future - UAE and Saudi were not so long ago looking to share the spoils of Qatari oil wealth, the US prevented it but with the situation changed and Qatar's friendlier relations with Iran being part of the source of the fall out with its neighbours then is it worth staying there?

Yup might not happen, might be all a bit of a tiff between US and Iran and blow over... but if it does - I'd not want to hang around.

Just caught this there did seem to be a bit of tension when it all kicked off but things are back to normal now. There's been a bit of rain which seems to have extinguished any issues (rain is like snow to them, whole country stops)

When it was happening we had some jets etc fly over a few times but nothing else. Colleagues at school have referred to Qatar as being the Switzerland of the Middle East. No idea if that translates across but there you go!

Regarding if I would stay if there was any conflict, a resounding no thanks. I have a young daughter and wife out here with me so not taking any chances no matter what they will pay!