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[Ed Dean]

  I have been considering applying for some different positions in academic administration and in education in the UAE but have no experience there. I am attracted by the chance to help build a university or college. Does anyone have any experience in the UAE that they would be willing to share?

[expat in UAE]

Can you say where in the UAE you are considering relocating and which institutions?  Some areas are better than others here and this is also true of the different institutions.

[%sig%]

[Ed Dean]

  The position that caught my attention most recently was the George Mason, Ras Al Khaimah, positng.

[expat in UAE]

Don't know anyone in Ras Al Khaimah but if I were you I would ask the following:

Insurance coverage - what do they cover and what do they not cover?  For example, my institution does not cover any costs related to pregnancy, childbirth, or mental health.  All costs must be met by the person insured (presumably unless you are admitted to hospital) and then you have to wait several weeks for the insurance company to give back to you what they are supposed to cover.

Schooling for children - if you have any  - how much of the school costs do they cover if anything.  Some institutions - in Sharjah - are trying to move away from hiring expats with several children by no longer covering costs for school.

What are the accomodations really like.  What I was told I would have here is a far cry from what I got. And all of the images I saw before coming were actually taken elsewhere.  Your accomodation should be at no cost to you.

What happens if the rents go up - will they continue to cover the difference.  Rents frequently go up here even though a contract is still in effect as landlords can do what they wish.  And rents are expensive.  Actually so are many other things such as foods even if you eat mostly South Asian or Mid Eastern foods.

Do they give you a shipping allowance or money to buy what you need to set up?  You can get nice furniture here and if you like Indian made items or Chinese these are reasonable in nearby Sharjah.

Does George Mason pay "hardship pay" - usually given to expats by American companies to off set the "hardship" of living in certain regions or areas in the Middle East.  I do not fall under this unfortunately as I do not work for an American institution.  But for those who do the difference in pay can be substantial - (USD$60 - $75000 per year in contrast to $38000-$42000 per year all of which is tax free if you stay out of the US long enough)

How many classes will they expect you to teach and will they give you time for research (assuming this is of concern to you).

Yearly leave should be a given - but in some institutions in neighboring regions this actually is twice a year paid leave and tickets home provided.  Don't know of any here though.

Ras al Khaimah is on the other side of Sharjah - one of the more conservative of the Emirates - so a little further from Dubai.  But it is close enough to get to Dubai easily for food, entertainment, galleries, and general fun.  But it is a small community and I bet also as conservative as Sharjah or perhaps a little more so.  But provided you and your family dress consevatively, don't mind the call to prayer broadcast from the mosques five times per day (which it is regardless of where you are here) and pay attention to appropriate behaviour in public areas you would be fine.

Plus side is - it is close to India and Asia (good for vacations and short breaks) and also to Oman (good for weekend getaways).  Generally a safe area except for some crimes sometimes seemingly under reported (amazing number of young women who 'fall to [their] death from the 9th floor' etc - many of them are maids) and we are under Sharia law throughout the UAE of course so no drinking and driving, no physical contact male and female in public areas, no perceived inappropriate speech etc.

If the political situation in the region is of concern to you check out the Gulf News on line and the Khaleej Times on line.  But also read AlJazeera as well.  It is not a bad idea to look again at the map - to see how close you are thinking of being to possible hot spots.

Here is a link to papers in our region:

http://el.hct.ac.ae/UAE/News.html

And a link to the Mid East Analysis web site
www.mideastanalysis.com

Good luck with your decision.

[%sig%]

[Ed Dean]

Thank you for a very helpful response

[expat in UAE]

You are most welcome.  I did ask about Ras al Khaimah today.  It is a very small community where some persons without passports live in a shanty type community - (for a number of reasons - perhaps they are Palestinian and have been here for a couple of generations but do not have documentation and the UAE does not grant citizenship to anyone who does not have two Emirate parents - or maybe they are among the many now trying to get out of Iraq etc).  Not necessarily an easy thing to do here.  It does have interesting archelogical digs going on now.  The person I talked to said it is "like going back in time here"

Again - good luck with your decision.  What ever you decide it would be nice to know the outcome.  So if you can please post it to this list.

[expat in UAE]

Forgot to mention that there are several good vets (American, Canadian and British) here if you are considering bringing in a cat or dog - or two or more.  Also there are animal rescue leagues in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah for cats and dogs - who need homes after they are treated etc.

[Ed Dean]

I will let you know if anything comes of the application. I have travelled and lived for short periods in former Soviet republics in Central Asia so I think I have some sense of the conditions you mentioned. Still 3-5 month visits are different than living there for a few years.

[expat in UAE]

Your previous experience will be helpful.  While Dubai is ultra modern and a cross over between eastern and western the place you are considering is not. But it is close to Dubai and all the rest I mentioned.  Also things are so controlled here in this immediate area that potential problems  quickly addressed - unless you are unfortunate enough to be one of the many workers from south Asia, Pakistan, Afghanistan etc who are on the construction sites or who work as maids or drivers.

[Interested Expat]

Does anyone know of web sites or agencies that advertise professional job opportunities for expats in the UAE?

[%sig%]

[expat in UAE]

If you mean non academic jobs - no.  If you mean administrative jobs in academia you need to check out the ads through the Chronicle or Higher Education jobs etc.  Otherwise maybe looking for "head hunter" agencies might do the trick in terms of finding out what is available.

[Interested Expat]

Thanks for your comment.

[rakman]

Hi,
Saw the string of comments and just wanted to add a view from Ras Al Khaimah (RAK).
RAK is seen as a bit of a joke by the larger emirates, mainly because they haven't visited here.  I can assure you it is not as backward as you are lead to believe.  It is nowhere near as conservative as Sharjah and nowhere near as crowded or gridlocked as Dubai or Sharjah.  Accommodation is also affordable and, as such, you are more likely to get a villa than an apartment (as in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah).
I am really pleased I ended up here as it is a relatively small, but very friendly community.
Try visiting http://www.rakpat.com for a view of expat life in RAK. 
best wishes from Ras Al Khaimah

[iamwithyou]

Need your help, please.  Can you tell me anything "good" or "bad" about working at Dhofar University in Oman?  Is it a "good" (a relative word, I know) university to work?  Would you work there?  Is it a safe place for my wife--we lived in Saudi Arabia for 2 years?  I would appreciate any information you could give me.