Dubai Forums Dubai Expat Forums Dubai Expat Help Forum

I'm new to the forum and have tried searching for answers to my questions to no avail, but forgive me if they have previously been discussed.

I'm a female teacher from australia looking to find work in Dubai. I have a partner who is a Painter and a young child who will need to relocate with me.

I've sent off my resume to a few schools but no answer yet and have checked several employment websites but there's not much going round. Is there another way to find employment. Should I be approaching all relevant schools.

Is my partner going to have trouble getting a visa with me (as we're not married) and will he have trouble finding work as a Painter. Do schools generally accept couples. From what I've read they prefer singles.

Thank you for any info on this. We're at grass root level at the moment but are really keen to make the move to the UAE.

shazandmick wrote:I'm new to the forum and have tried searching for answers to my questions to no avail, but forgive me if they have previously been discussed.

I'm a female teacher from australia looking to find work in Dubai. I have a partner who is a Painter and a young child who will need to relocate with me.

I've sent off my resume to a few schools but no answer yet and have checked several employment websites but there's not much going round. Is there another way to find employment. Should I be approaching all relevant schools.

Is my partner going to have trouble getting a visa with me (as we're not married) and will he have trouble finding work as a Painter. Do schools generally accept couples. From what I've read they prefer singles.

Thank you for any info on this. We're at grass root level at the moment but are really keen to make the move to the UAE.

My answers to this have been well recorded previously, I await the experts and their opinions

shazandmick wrote:I'm new to the forum and have tried searching for answers to my questions to no avail, but forgive me if they have previously been discussed.

I'm a female teacher from australia looking to find work in Dubai. I have a partner who is a Painter and a young child who will need to relocate with me.

I've sent off my resume to a few schools but no answer yet and have checked several employment websites but there's not much going round. Is there another way to find employment. Should I be approaching all relevant schools.

Is my partner going to have trouble getting a visa with me (as we're not married) and will he have trouble finding work as a Painter. Do schools generally accept couples. From what I've read they prefer singles.

Thank you for any info on this. We're at grass root level at the moment but are really keen to make the move to the UAE.

Hate to be the bearer of bad news but there may be trouble on many fronts (and I am rasing them just so you prepared and avoid needless agreevation).

1. There is no way you can sponsor your "partner" even if you get a work visa.
2. Living together without being married could get you in trouble. It is against the law but enforcement depends on many factors (on this there are plenty of threads).
3. Your child. I don't know the nuances of it but you need the child's father consent and if the child is born out of wedlock then more trouble. Many times what people do is a 2 step process: First marry the "partner" then have the now spouse adopt the child. But depending on your jurisdiction and the other parent's willingness this might not be easy.
4. Your partner being a painter. If it means "painter" as in painting walls, etc: forget about it. They can hire a painter here for $150 USA Dollars per month. If an "artist painter" then the $150 per month is probably a good salary unless he is really good. Even as a "manager" for a painting company they can't be paying much (there are no unions or wage standars here).
5. Of course you guys could come separatedly so long as each finds work.

As I understand it salaries for teachers are not that high here. It is a good good for a young, unattached teacher, I suppose.

The above Notwithstanding: good luck.

thanks for the tips. i should have said, the child is my partner's child also, we're just not married.
so does this still mean its going to be hard for us to get a visa together, having a child out of wedlock.
my partner is a painter and decorator by trade.
i read a posting previoulsy where a 'carpenter' from nz was advised that he could possibly try to get a job for example as an 'interior design'. is this common practice (i.e. trading up to a more qualifed job. excuse the pun)

shazandmick wrote:thanks for the tips. i should have said, the child is my partner's child also, we're just not married.
so does this still mean its going to be hard for us to get a visa together, having a child out of wedlock.
my partner is a painter and decorator by trade.
i read a posting previoulsy where a 'carpenter' from nz was advised that he could possibly try to get a job for example as an 'interior design'. is this common practice (i.e. trading up to a more qualifed job. excuse the pun)

A wife cannot sponsor a husband unless under extreme circumstance, of which yours is not. i.e. it's really only allowed for specialist medical practitioners now. Married, not married, child, no-child... it doesn't matter. He would need to have a job to stay in the country.

The child born out of wedlock is a problem irrespective of whose child it is. You will need to be married, and you will need to satisfy the above requirement of both having jobs.

With respect to the last point about lying on the CV, I would suggest that this is something you can't simply gloss over (excuse the pun), as when applying for residency certain qualifications are required to be furnished, such as a degree in interior design.

Honest advice would be that I don't think your current life circumstance suit Dubai.

i seem to remember answering a question similar to this about 18 or 24 months back.

concord is right on all accounts.

the simplest method if you are serious about coming to the uae is to both take a walk down to the registary office. the certificate aslo needs to be attested (uae consualte in Aus); they don't ask for it often, but it is required in certain instances - opening joint bank accounts etc - and definitly if you intend to be the primary sponsor.

look, the long and short of the work/ labour saga is - it boils down to qualifications... a "western" senior school leaving certificate is normally all that is required for a westerner to get a labour card in dubai (semi-skilled, unskilled level or some tradespersons positions); obviously if you apply for a position as a rocket scientist, you have to have the related degree. for most indian sub-continent and african countries a post graduate level qualification is required, this sounds harsh, but it is the reality of the uae labour system!

^ian^ wrote:The child born out of wedlock is a problem irrespective of whose child it is.

If the child is his from a previous marriage then it's ok I think, but the rest of what was said still applies. Couple of other recent topics about living together in Dubai.

I know tertiary level teachers who have sponsored husbands, not sure about secondary or primary.

sage & onion wrote:

shazandmick wrote:I'm new to the forum and have tried searching for answers to my questions to no avail, but forgive me if they have previously been discussed.

I'm a female teacher from australia looking to find work in Dubai. I have a partner who is a Painter and a young child who will need to relocate with me.

I've sent off my resume to a few schools but no answer yet and have checked several employment websites but there's not much going round. Is there another way to find employment. Should I be approaching all relevant schools.

Is my partner going to have trouble getting a visa with me (as we're not married) and will he have trouble finding work as a Painter. Do schools generally accept couples. From what I've read they prefer singles.

Thank you for any info on this. We're at grass root level at the moment but are really keen to make the move to the UAE.

My answers to this have been well recorded previously, I await the experts and their opinions

Well done experts I applaud you all.

thank you all for your advice. very helpful.

so solving the marriage problem thing, does anyone think there is a chance of my partner getting some sort of job (trade or whatever) without a degree of some sort. and if so does he have to line one up before arrival (to get sponsored) or can he just come on a visitors visa and try when he gets here. he is a english national so will have no problem coming to and from the uk to the uae if necessary.

thanks again all.

shazandmick wrote:thank you all for your advice. very helpful.

so solving the marriage problem thing, does anyone think there is a chance of my partner getting some sort of job (trade or whatever) without a degree of some sort. and if so does he have to line one up before arrival (to get sponsored) or can he just come on a visitors visa and try when he gets here. he is a english national so will have no problem coming to and from the uk to the uae if necessary.

thanks again all.

Many people come on visitor's visa and then find work and get sponsored. Many also work before the residency visa is issued (I did). Depends on the line of work and company. The problem, based on your initial post is that "trade" workers get absoultely crap money ($150 per month!).

Good luck.

shazandmick wrote:thank you all for your advice. very helpful.

so solving the marriage problem thing, does anyone think there is a chance of my partner getting some sort of job (trade or whatever) without a degree of some sort. and if so does he have to line one up before arrival (to get sponsored) or can he just come on a visitors visa and try when he gets here. he is a english national so will have no problem coming to and from the uk to the uae if necessary.

thanks again all.

look, the long and short of the work/ labour saga is - it boils down to qualifications... a "western" senior school leaving certificate is normally all that is required for a westerner to get a labour card in dubai

dbxsoul wrote:

shazandmick wrote:thank you all for your advice. very helpful.

so solving the marriage problem thing, does anyone think there is a chance of my partner getting some sort of job (trade or whatever) without a degree of some sort. and if so does he have to line one up before arrival (to get sponsored) or can he just come on a visitors visa and try when he gets here. he is a english national so will have no problem coming to and from the uk to the uae if necessary.

thanks again all.

look, the long and short of the work/ labour saga is - it boils down to qualifications... a "western" senior school leaving certificate is normally all that is required for a westerner to get a labour card in dubai

Yes but in order to compete for the job as well? I mean... it's not just a given.. with the thousands of CVs flooding in every day... an interior designer will want t have qualifications in interior design to even stand a chance.

As much as they are my compatriots, and I might sound a bit snobby here, but the reality is their circumstance doesn't fit in with Dubai at all.

fair question. when i hired people in the past i would rather take someone with 1 years on the job experience over someone with a 5 year degree. having said that it needs to be put in the context of the position - you would hardly hire someone with a years brick laying experience over a 5 year degree in architecture = it is dependant on the nature of the job and the stregnths of the candidate!

most (and i use that as generalisation), companies in dubai would prefer to take a person with practical experience over a novice with a heap of theory and little real life working experience.

look at worst, a change of proffession in the short term may also help them; getting an unskilled job working in the hotel industry may be easier than getting work in the design trade - at the end of the day its making the money that counts!

^ian^ wrote:

dbxsoul wrote:

shazandmick wrote:thank you all for your advice. very helpful.

so solving the marriage problem thing, does anyone think there is a chance of my partner getting some sort of job (trade or whatever) without a degree of some sort. and if so does he have to line one up before arrival (to get sponsored) or can he just come on a visitors visa and try when he gets here. he is a english national so will have no problem coming to and from the uk to the uae if necessary.

thanks again all.

look, the long and short of the work/ labour saga is - it boils down to qualifications... a "western" senior school leaving certificate is normally all that is required for a westerner to get a labour card in dubai

Yes but in order to compete for the job as well? I mean... it's not just a given.. with the thousands of CVs flooding in every day... an interior designer will want t have qualifications in interior design to even stand a chance.

As much as they are my compatriots, and I might sound a bit snobby here, but the reality is their circumstance doesn't fit in with Dubai at all.

For once I totally agree

<rant>
S&O seriously man is your only soul purpose in life is to increase your post count ? every single post of yours in this thread has been utterly pointless and just cluttering the thread ... no need to be so "post-happy" ..
</rant>

now back to regular programming.

MaaaD wrote:<rant>
S&O seriously man is your only soul purpose in life is to increase your post count ? every single post of yours in this thread has been utterly pointless and just cluttering the thread ... no need to be so "post-happy" ..
</rant>

now back to regular programming.

I really don't see what your problem is MaaaD, if I choose to comment, as you have done, then whatever, post count, please, give me a break, who cares about it or am I up for a lifetime achievers award?

thanx dbxsoul for your positive advice. much appreciated

Hi,
Rather than focusing on the male partners work potential in Dubai, it may be initially simpler for both of you to get to Dubai, by the female getting a work position.

As a teacher (you must be qualified, your degree will be attested locally) pay at the better schools in Dubai for a teacher will be around 11-14000dhs per month, for a teacher with 5+ years teaching experience.
On top of this, will be either supplied accommodation (typically a 2 bed flat for a couple), or an allowance (which generally is less in value than the accommodation offered).
Your child (aged 3+) will be generally taught fee free if you are a teacher at the school.
It is possible for a primary teacher to sponsor their husband for residence - but you have to be married.

The whole crux of this though is your unmarried status with your child.
While it may seem a little callous, getting married really is the easiest thing, as most schools will be reluctant to offer you a contract that includes accommodation for your unmarried spouse.

As for your 'husband'. Manual jobs here, such as painters, carpenters, electricians, plumbers etc are generally covered by low paid Asians.
He may be able to get a job in the trade, but with the best will in the world, even as a 'British decorator' he is unlikely to see more than 3000dhs a month, as others are available to do the job for a 1000dhs a month, and even less.

The only good prospect for your husband would be to act as a self employed person - offering to do quality work within the expat community, which is rising weekly. But to be self employed in Dubai, at the very minimum he would have to pay around 30,000dhs to become legal self-employed, then pay around 15,000dhs per year after the first year to his sponsor to continue.
Without a work visa, your 'husband' would have to exit and reenter Dubai every 60 days to continue his 'visit visa' and any work he would be doing, would be illegal.
And currently there is legislation going through to stop people continually reentering the country on a 'visit visa' as it is seen as a legal loophole for illegal workers.

Most of the large Construction Companies would probably have an opening for your future Husband as a Finishing Supervisor, should not be a problem, most of the Supervision here started as hands on in their own countries.