Education and research jobs in the UAE

About education and research jobs

Education and research jobs cover teaching and academic work: teachers in early years, primary and secondary schools, special educational needs specialists, teaching assistants, university lecturers and professors, postdoctoral researchers and research scientists. The UAE has a large private school sector offering British, American, International Baccalaureate, Indian and other curricula, alongside public schools and a growing higher education and research system.

Private schools recruit teachers from around the world, mostly for the start of the academic year, which for most curricula is in late August or early September, with hiring often taking place many months in advance. Public schools are part of the federal Ministry of Education system. Universities in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai and Sharjah's University City recruit faculty and researchers, and research centres in AI, energy, health and space have expanded the number of research posts.

Schools are regulated by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in Dubai, the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) in Abu Dhabi, the Sharjah Private Education Authority in Sharjah, and the Ministry of Education for other public and private schools. Teachers need a recognised teaching qualification and must meet the licensing requirements in force.

Main roles

• Early years, primary and secondary teacher
• Special educational needs (SEN) teacher and learning support
• Teaching assistant
• Head of department and school leader
• Lecturer, assistant professor and professor
• Postdoctoral researcher and research scientist

Employers in the UAE

• Private international schools and school groups
• Public schools
• Universities and higher education institutions
• Research centres and institutes
• Nurseries and early learning centres
• Training providers and language centres

Qualifications

Teachers generally need a degree plus a recognised teaching qualification such as a PGCE or a teaching licence from their home country, and degrees usually need to be attested. University faculty positions normally require a PhD and a publication record.