The Middle East is a fascinating region of the world and this is one of the most desirable destinations for foreign language teachers due to high salaries available.
Teaching English in the Middle East gives you the opportunity to work in completely different countries. This region offers cultural immersion at its fullest! You will be living and working in an Islamic society where the days are dictated by the call to prayer.
If you have an adventurous spirit and are looking to experience something completely different from Western culture, this place is well suited to do so.
Top Reasons to Teach in the Middle East
• Some of the best salaries in the world
• Tax-free salaries
• Respectful students
• Warm sunny weather all year round
• Super modern high tech cities
Best Places to Teach in Middle East
These are some of the most popular countries to teach English in the Middle East. You can click a country for specific guides:
• Bahrain
• Egypt
• Israel
• Iraq
• Jordan
• Kuwait
• Lebanon
• Morocco
• Oman
• Qatar
• Saudi Arabia
• Turkey
• United Arab Emirates
TEFL Courses in the Middle East
Not yet certified and keen to get started? There are limited options to get trained on a classroom TEFL course in the Middle East so we recommend taking an online TEFL course instead.
English Teaching Jobs in the Middle East
These companies are hiring TEFL teachers to work in Middle East:
FAQ
Requirements
Keep in mind that because these positions are in high demand, they often require higher education. While it is possible to obtain positions where only a Bachelor’s degree and TESL/TESOL certificate is required, some jobs may require you to hold a Master’s degree and as much as two years teaching experience. Make sure you are fully qualified before you apply.
Where is the easiest place to get hired?
Most advertised positions are in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
Salaries
This is definitely the right destination if you are looking to save a substantial portion of your salary. Consider that your round-trip airfare will be covered by your employer, as will your accommodations, health care, and sometimes even your utilities. Add to that the fact that you will be earning a tax-free salary, and it’s easy to see why people would want to work here! Whether you are looking to pay off your student loans, fund your future travels, or save for the future, a teaching position in the Middle East will allow you to do so more than comfortably.
What’s it like to live in the Middle East?
Teaching English in the Middle East isn’t for everyone and can be particularly challenging for women. You need to be prepared for an extremely different way of life than you’re likely used to, and while this can be an exciting prospect for some it can be a hard pill to swallow for others. An alternative option is to apply to teach English in Asia.