Teach in Saudi Arabia
What you need to know about teaching in international schools in Saudi Arabia
SCHOOL YEAR
September to June
KINDS OF INTERNATIONAL SCHOOLS IN SAUDI ARABIA
Most international schools in Saudi Arabia use the US Common Core, UK (English National Curriculum or Cambridge), or International Baccalaureate curricula or a combination. Additionally, because most international schools are actually attended by Saudi children, many have a bilingual component.
Many international schools that serve Saudi children have Girls Schools where all the teachers are women, and Boys Schools, where all the teachers are men. Boys from Kindergarten (Early Years) to Grade 3 attend the Girls section and then move over to the Boys section.
WHAT TEACHERS LIKE BEST ABOUT IT:
Tax free, low cost of living, good salaries, healthy lifestyle, welcoming with strong, ambitious vision for the future. Housing is often on a 'compound' which is like a gated community for expatriates and includes a community centre and sometimes restaurants, shops, gyms and pools.
WHAT TEACHERS LIKE LEAST ABOUT IT:
Alcohol is not available.
DESCRIPTION
Saudi Arabia is one of the fastest changing countries we know, and a great place to teach if you want to save money and experience the changes first hand. Gone are the religious police, mandatory head scarves, religious police and inward looking culture – Saudi is opening up to the world and they have a strong vision and drive to make themselves the newest tourism and technology centre of the world.
Saudi is different to many other countries, notably the UAE, in that local Saudis are seen everywhere at all social strata. They wait on you at shops, they teach in schools, and they run companies. Saudi is a young country with 60% of the population under the age of 30. Energised by the ambitious Vision 2030 that is driving the change, Saudis know that education is a key part of the equation and embrace its importance.
Salaries and packages are good in Saudi, but the cost of living is lower than many other Gulf countries. School employment packages usually offer ‘compound’ housing which is another name for a gated community exclusively for expatriates. These communities, once required by expats to escape the social and religious restrictions, still offer teachers a built-in expatriate community that often includes a community centre with social events, and occasionally, restaurants, pools and gyms. Whilst some teachers prefer to live outside of gated communities to gain more cultural insights, others enjoy the built-in social network compounds offer.
Saudi is changing rapidly and teachers who teach there now will see the widespread cultural and economic changes first hand which is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. For the expatriate teacher, it offers the magical combination of lower cost of living, excellent tax free salaries and unique cultural experience.
CURRENCY
Saudi Riyal Exchange rates for Saudi Riyals from XE which is approximately the same in value to the UAE Dirham
GOVERNMENT
Monarchy
CLIMATE
Desert climate with semi-arid areas in Southwest near the Red Sea.
In January, daily high temperatures are around 21°C (70 F), rarely falling below 15°C (60 F) or exceeding 27°C (80F). Summers, Spring and Autumn are hotter so buildings and cars are air-conditioned.