Indian teachers working in Dubai’s private education sector have a reason to celebrate. As part of the World Teachers’ Day celebrations, the UAE government announced that teachers who have shown exceptional dedication and made significant contributions to education in Dubai will soon be eligible to apply for the coveted Golden Visa. Applications for the Golden Residency for Distinguished Educators will open on October 15, 2024.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council, directed that long-term Golden Visas be granted to distinguished teachers in recognition of their invaluable work in shaping future generations.
What is Dubai’s Golden Visa?
The Golden Visa is a long-term residence permit that allows foreign talents to live, work, and study in the UAE without the need for a local sponsor. Introduced to attract skilled professionals, it is available to investors, entrepreneurs, scientists, exceptional students, humanitarian pioneers, and frontline workers.
Golden Visa recipients enjoy several key benefits:
- An entry visa for six months with multiple entries to facilitate residence issuance
- A long-term, renewable residence visa valid for 5 or 10 years
- No need for a local sponsor to remain in the UAE
- Permission to stay outside the UAE for more than six months without losing residency
- The ability to sponsor family members, including spouses and children, regardless of their age
- The option to employ an unlimited number of domestic helpers
- Family members may remain in the UAE until their permit expires, even if the Golden Visa holder passes away.
Golden Visa for Teachers
Eligible teachers include those working in early childhood centres, private schools, and international higher education institutions in Dubai. Selection is based on academic achievements and their impact on the educational sector. Key criteria include:
- Student performance and outcomes
- Peer and community feedback
- Contributions to improving education quality in Dubai
Speaking on the occasion of World Teachers’ Day, Sheikh Hamdan praised educators for their essential role. “On this special day, we extend our congratulations to teachers, recognising their pivotal role in shaping the future. Teachers inspire today’s youth and tomorrow’s leaders, supporting Dubai’s development journey and reaffirming our commitment to investing in human capital,” Sheikh Hamdan said.
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Role of Indian Educators in UAE Schools
Indian teachers play a significant role in the UAE’s education landscape, especially in the Northern Emirates, where 76 schools follow the Indian curriculum. These schools include:
- 69 following the CBSE curriculum
- 4 following the ICSE curriculum
- 6 following the Kerala State Board curriculum
In the 2023-2024 academic year, 83% of students in Dubai’s Indian curriculum schools received a “good” or higher rating in their education. According to the UAE’s school inspection report, out of 32 private Indian curriculum schools with over 94,499 students:
- 1 school was rated “Outstanding”
- 10 schools were rated “Very Good”
- 14 schools were rated “Good”
- 7 schools were rated “Acceptable”
- No schools were rated “Weak” or “Very Weak”
Recruitment of Indian Teachers in the UAE
Although official figures on Indian teachers in Dubai are not readily available, the UAE has actively sought Indian educators. In 2019, a recruitment drive in India aimed to fill nearly 3,000 teaching positions in Emirati government schools. Indian teachers were offered monthly salaries of around Dh16,000 (approx. ₹304,017), a significant increase compared to salaries in India.
