You're joining Taaleem. Here's everything, in order.
From the day you accept your offer through to your first weeks at school — whenever in the year you are joining.
- Joining from overseas. If you are eligible for a Taaleem-provided flight, HR will arrange your ticket. HR also applies for your entry permit, and your residence visa is completed in your first 30 days in the country.
- Already in the UAE. You won't need an entry permit — your status transfers to Taaleem from inside the country. Your current visa has to be cancelled first, and that part is on you.
- Based in Dubai. Your teaching approval goes through KHDA, and your visa medical is at a Medical Fitness Centre.
- Based in Abu Dhabi. Your teaching approval goes through ADEK, and your visa medical is at the Etihad Visa Screening Centre.
- Moving with family. You sponsor their visas yourself once your own is issued. Start the attested marriage and birth certificates now — they are the slowest part.
- Moving on your own. Nothing to arrange for dependents, so the family visa step won't apply to you.
Before you accept, or straight after
Some things can be started before your paperwork formally begins, and they are the ones most likely to hold everything else up if they are left late. If you are still considering an offer, none of this commits you to anything.
Certificate attestation
The longest task in the process, and it runs at the pace of embassies rather than yours.
Start nowLine up your references
Two covering the last five years, from your Principal or Line Manager. Ask before you need them.
Start nowGather your documents
Passport, previous visas, qualifications. Clear colour scans save a round of rejections later.
Safeguarding is mandatory for every member of staff
It applies from the moment you accept, whatever your role. The essentials — how to recognise a concern, who to report it to, and why you must never investigate it yourself — take a few minutes to read and are the most important thing on this site.
You must be financially prepared for your first 6–8 weeks
Moving to a new country can be expensive. You should not assume that Taaleem will cover your personal relocation or living expenses. You are personally responsible for making sure you have enough money available to support yourself until your salary and UAE banking arrangements are fully established.
This is the single thing new joiners most often underestimate. Read the detail and the indicative costs, and plan your finances before you join.
Start these four today
They take the longest and everything else waits on them. None of them can be rushed at the last minute.
Attest your certificates
Your education certificates need to be attested before they count here.
Equivalence Certificate
Qualifications gained outside the UAE need an Equivalence Certificate from the Ministry of Education.
Police clearance
Must be dated within three months of joining.
Two references
From your Principal, covering five years.
Where you are in the journey
11 steps to take you from signed offer to residence visa. The last one covers family visas, so it won't apply to you. Flights won't apply to you either, since you're already here.
The rest of the guide
Getting ready
Documents, attestation, visas, teaching approval, Oracle and insurance.
Moving to the UAE
The country, its culture and customs, and the conduct expected of you.
Living in the UAE
The country, its culture and customs, and the conduct expected of you as a Taaleem employee.
Getting settled
Your apartment, salary, banking, phone, driving and weekends.
Getting settled
Your apartment, salary, payroll transfer, driving and weekends.
Working at Taaleem
Probation, appraisals, leave, inspections and your employee pack.
People, not pages
Some things are better asked than read. Your HR representative stays with you from offer through to your first weeks at school, and your school will match you with a colleague who can help you settle in.
Your journey, step by step
11 steps to take you from signed offer to residence visa. Each one says whose move it is, so you always know whether you're waiting or holding things up.
Select the step you've reached and the banner at the top of every page will follow you.
Your offer is signed and references are requested from your referees.
All Taaleem policies apply from this stage onwards. That includes safeguarding, which is mandatory for every member of staff.
You'll receive a request for documentation. Return everything on the list in clear, complete scans — this is the step that most often holds the rest up.
Once your documents are processed, your employment contract is issued and comes to you for signature, so the entry permit application can begin.
If you are eligible for a Taaleem-provided flight, HR will send or arrange your flight ticket and provide you with the relevant details. Your flight details come back to HR at the same time, so the school knows when to expect you. Overseas joiners only — this doesn't apply to you.
Your permit is with immigration. It arrives by email as soon as HR receives it. Nothing is needed from you until you land.
Your family does need you now, though
Your spouse and children don't travel on your permit — they enter on visit visas. Check whether their nationality gets a visa on arrival or has to apply in advance, and book them a return flight home, which visit visas require.
If you are joining at the start of a new academic year, you may attend onboarding, orientation and induction events arranged by your school. If you are joining at another point during the academic year, your onboarding and induction will be provided through the relevant activities and information for your joining date and role.
Your school will send you the details that apply to you, along with any arrangements for your arrival and first days.
You complete the relevant immigration process on arrival. Your passport or entry permit may not be physically stamped, so don't worry if you don't receive a physical stamp. HR will let you know what immigration documentation or passport information you need to provide afterwards.
Your school will have confirmed the arrangements that apply to your arrival and transfer to your accommodation.
You are responsible for making your own arrangements to travel to your accommodation or school.
HR applies once your Emirates ID application form is complete. Your family should hold their own cover until theirs is set up.
HR books the appointment. In Dubai this is at a Medical Fitness Centre — a blood test and an x-ray, or just the blood test if you've lived in Dubai before.
HR books the appointment. In Abu Dhabi this is at the Etihad Visa Screening Centre — a blood test and an x-ray.
Biometrics and an eye scan at an Emirates ID centre, then your card is sent to HR. This is the step that unlocks your bank account, your driving licence and your family's visas.
Can't begin until step 10 is finished. You'll need attested marriage and birth certificates with Arabic legal translations — start those early, because they're slow. Moving with family only — this doesn't apply to you.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is the responsibility of every adult in a Taaleem school, from your first day and whatever your role. You do not need to be an expert — you need to know what to do if you are ever worried about a child.
Never investigate a concern yourself
If something worries you, your job is to notice it, record it and report it — not to work out whether it is true. Don't question the student for more detail, don't approach the family, and don't discuss it with colleagues who aren't part of the reporting process. Well-meant questions can compromise a later inquiry.
Report the same day. Never hold a concern overnight.
If a concern arises
- Listen. Let the student speak without interrupting or leading them. Don't promise to keep it secret — you can't.
- Reassure them that they were right to tell you.
- Record it as soon as you can, in the student's own words where possible, with the date, time and place. Stick to what was said and seen rather than what you concluded.
- Report it the same day to your Designated Safeguarding Lead and your Principal or Superintendent. You can raise it through any appropriate route — what matters is that it reaches them quickly.
Never decide a concern is too small to pass on. Judging significance isn't your call, and a small piece may complete a picture someone else already holds.
If the concern involves a member of staff
The duty to report is exactly the same. Where the concern involves the Designated Safeguarding Lead or another senior leader, raise it directly with your Principal or Superintendent. Where that would not be appropriate, raise it with the Head of Safeguarding at Central Office.
There is always a route. If one feels closed to you, another is open.
Confidentiality
You cannot promise a student that you will keep something to yourself. If they ask, explain gently that you may have to tell someone whose job it is to help. Information is shared on a need-to-know basis only — discussing a concern with colleagues who have no role in it is a breach in itself.
Professional boundaries
Keep your relationships with students professional and visible. Communicate through school systems and your school account so there is always a record, rather than personal phone numbers or social media. Avoid being alone with a student out of sight of others; where a one-to-one conversation is necessary, stay somewhere visible and let a colleague know. Don't transport students in your own car, photograph them on a personal device, or give and accept personal gifts.
Physical contact should be limited to what your role genuinely requires — first aid, keeping someone safe, or the demands of subjects like PE, drama and music. If a situation forces you into contact that could be misread, record it and tell a colleague at the time rather than afterwards.
Who your Designated Safeguarding Lead is
Each school has its own DSL. Their name is listed in the Taaleem safeguarding policy and displayed on your school noticeboards. Find out who yours is before you need them, and save the contact somewhere you can reach quickly.
The policy
This page is an orientation, not the policy. Taaleem has a group-wide safeguarding policy which sets out the full guidance and lists the Designated Safeguarding Lead for every school. It is an internal document, available to you through StaffRoom and Taaleem OneDrive, and you are expected to read it.
Your documents
You'll receive a request for documentation from your HR representative. What you send back is used for your teaching approval, your visa, your insurance and your personnel file.
Your checklist
The Staff Information Form sent with your Letter of Intent confirms exactly what applies to you, but in almost every case it comes down to these.
- Passport copy
- Previous visa, where applicable
- Attested education certificates
- Equivalence certificate
- Police clearance certificate
- References
- Any other required supporting documents
Check your scans before you send them
Rejected scans are the single most common cause of delay. Every scan must be clear, not blurry and free from glare. Send colour copies as PDF or JPG — photographs of documents and CamScanner files cannot be used for official purposes and are rejected automatically.
Once your documents are processed, your employment contract is issued for signature. That signature is what allows the entry permit application to begin, so the sooner the documents are complete, the sooner everything downstream can move.
References
You need two, covering the last five years of employment. If you've had more than two employers in that time, you'll need more references to cover the full five years.
- Academic applicants: from your current or previous School Principal
- Administrative applicants: from your direct Line Manager
- Not from relatives or friends, and not from a private email address
- Fully completed, signed and dated by every referee
Referees are asked about your suitability to work with children, your conduct and attendance, any disciplinary procedures, and any substantiated concerns relating to the safety and welfare of children.
Police clearance
A police clearance or criminal background check from your country of residence, always covering the last five years.
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Coverage | The last five years. If you've lived in your current country for under five years, you need a second check from your previous country too. |
| Age | Dated within three months of your joining date. |
| Scope | Must cover the whole country. State or county-restricted checks are not accepted for overseas candidates. |
If you are already in the UAE, Dubai Police issue the certificate online or through the Dubai Police smart app.
If you have previously lived in the UAE, Dubai Police issue a certificate covering that period online or through the Dubai Police smart app.
The certificate has to be addressed to the right authority
A police clearance certificate is issued for a named body, and one addressed to the wrong authority will not be accepted for your teaching approval — you would have to apply again.
You're joining a Dubai school, so it must be addressed to the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA). When applying through Dubai Police, select KHDA under Certificate Required By, with Purpose: Work, Requested Party: Government Sector and Language: English. You will need your UAE Pass to sign in.
You're joining an Abu Dhabi school, so it must be addressed to the Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) rather than KHDA. Select ADEK as the requesting authority when you apply, with Purpose: Work and Language: English.
What happens next
Everything goes to your HR representative, and is used for your KHDA, ADEK or MOE approval, your visa application, your medical insurance and your school records. Once it's processed, your employment contract is issued for signature.
Attestation
Your education certificates need to be attested — verified by the UAE Embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs — before they are recognised here. Your visa and your teaching approval both depend on it.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs handles the final attestation. Their service page sets out what's accepted, what it costs and how to submit documents, including the digital route for certificates issued in the UAE.
Which documents
- Your degree and teaching qualification
- Equivalence certificate
- Your marriage certificate
- Birth certificates for your children
- A name change certificate, if applicable
Family documents need attesting a second time by the UAE Embassy in order for you to sponsor your dependents. Sponsorship is your responsibility and is done at your own cost — your HR representative will guide you through it.
Attesting before you come
- Have your certificates notarised by a solicitor
- UK certificates only: legalised by the FCO
- Attested by the UAE Embassy in the country the certificates were issued
- Bring the documents or copies to the UAE and submit them to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for final attestation
Attesting once you're here
- Take the documents to your home country's embassy for authentication
- Take them to the Department of Foreign Affairs to verify authenticity
- Take them to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dubai for final attestation
Alternatively, you can send your documents back to your home country and have the whole process completed there.
Using a service
Taaleem has partnered with two external attestation providers if you'd rather not handle it yourself. Both charge their own fees.
Work Abroad Legal
Attestation service partner
Argentum
Attestation service partner
Bring the originals. Not copies. You'll need the physical attested documents with you when you arrive.
Visas and sponsorship
Your HR representative handles most of the visa process for you. This page explains what's happening, and the points where you have to turn up in person.
Working in the UAE requires an employment visa for the whole of your employment. Once you arrive you have a 30-day window to complete it, and HR will move it along within that time.
Working in the UAE requires an employment visa for the whole of your employment. Because you're already in the country, you won't need an entry permit — instead your status is transferred to Taaleem from inside the UAE. The 30-day window starts when your current visa is cancelled.
How it runs, joining from overseas
- Your entry permit is processed by HR and emailed to you
- You travel to the UAE and complete the relevant immigration process on arrival — your passport or entry permit may not be physically stamped, and HR will tell you what documentation to provide afterwards
- HR changes your status from entry permit to residence
- You attend a medical — blood test and x-ray, or blood test only if you've lived in Dubai before
- You attend an Emirates ID centre for biometrics and an eye scan, which you may be able to skip if you've lived in the UAE before
- You return all documents and your passport to HR, who complete the process
- Your Emirates ID is issued and handed to you once it reaches the school
How it runs, joining from inside the UAE
- Your current visa is cancelled by your existing sponsor. This is the step you have to drive — HR can't begin until the cancellation paperwork exists, so agree the date with your current employer early
- You give HR the cancellation document and your passport
- HR applies for a change of status inside the country — no entry permit and, in most cases, no need to leave and re-enter
- You attend a medical — blood test and x-ray, or blood test only if you've lived in Dubai before
- You attend an Emirates ID centre for biometrics and an eye scan, which you may be able to skip if you've held a UAE residence visa before
- You return all documents and your passport to HR, who complete the process
- Your Emirates ID is issued and handed to you once it reaches the school
Mind the gap between visas
There is usually a short period between your old visa being cancelled and your Taaleem residence visa being issued. Check the grace period that applies to you before you cancel, and tell HR straight away if the dates look tight.
If your passport ever changes, tell HR immediately. Your visa is linked to your Emirates ID, and out-of-date passport details in the immigration system cause problems when you travel.
Sponsoring your family
Family visa applications can only start once your own residence visa and Emirates ID are issued. Expect a gap of a few weeks.
| You'll need | Where it comes from |
|---|---|
| Your own visa and Emirates ID | Issued at step 10 |
| An Arabic salary certificate — not always required | Where your immigration contract is available once your visa is completed, that can often be used instead. Check with HR before requesting one. |
| Attested marriage certificate with Arabic legal translation | You arrange |
| Attested birth certificates with Arabic legal translation | You arrange |
| Tenancy contract (Ejari) | Ask your Building Manager if you're in Taaleem accommodation |
| Fully signed employment contract | HR |
| Passports and photographs of your dependents | You provide |
Visit any AMER Centre to begin. Requirements change from time to time, so the GDRFA website will always have the most current position.
Occupational Health Certificate
Required if you work with students aged six and under, if you're a PE Teacher, or if your role touches public health or food handling. Valid for a year, and involves an x-ray, a blood sample and a stool sample. Your HR representative will tell you if you need one.
In Dubai the certificate is issued by the Dubai Health Authority.
In Abu Dhabi the certificate is issued through the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH).
Teaching approval
Teachers and Learning Assistants must meet the relevant regulator's approval requirements before they can be employed by a Taaleem school.
Who submits the application depends on your school
Schools currently use different regulatory portals, so either you submit the application yourself or your HR representative submits it for you. Your HR representative will tell you which applies to your school — don't assume it's being handled until you've heard.
Who approves you
| Regulator | Covers |
|---|---|
| KHDA | The Knowledge and Human Development Authority — the education quality and regulatory authority for the Government of Dubai. |
| ADEK | The Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge — the education authority for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. |
| MOE | The Ministry of Education, responsible for regulating all forms of education across the UAE. |
You're joining a Dubai school, so your approval goes through KHDA.
You're joining an Abu Dhabi school, so your approval goes through ADEK.
What the application uses
Whoever submits it, the application draws on the documents you've already provided. Approval can't be granted until all of these are in and verified.
- References
- Police clearance certificate
- Attested education certificates
- Equivalence certificate
Oracle
Oracle is the HR system you'll use for the rest of your time at Taaleem — booking leave, downloading payslips, requesting letters and keeping your own details up to date. It is worth twenty minutes early on to learn where things are.
Employee documentation
Much of your employee documentation is automated using the information you provide when you apply for your role and complete your pre-employment requirements.
Your HR team will keep you informed of anything further that we need you to provide or complete as part of your employee documentation. You don't need Oracle before you start.
Getting in
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| When do I get my login? | As part of joining, once your Office 365 account is created. You don't need to request it. |
| Where do I sign in? | Through the Office 365 portal — look for the Oracle Fusion HCM icon. Because it uses your Taaleem account, you don't set a separate Oracle password. |
| Can I use my phone? | Yes. The interface adapts to a phone, which is usually enough for booking leave or checking a payslip. |
If you can't log in
Almost every first-time problem is the Office 365 account rather than Oracle itself. Check you can sign in to Office 365 first — if that fails, it's an IT issue, not an HR one.
If Office 365 works but the Oracle icon is missing or rejects you, contact your HR representative, who can raise a helpdesk query. Include what you tried, the exact error, and a screenshot — it's the difference between a same-day fix and a week of messages.
What you'll use it for
The Employee Self Service manual is the authoritative guide, and the paths below follow the standard Oracle layout — start from Me on the home page.
Requesting annual leave
Under Me → Time and Absences → Add Absence. Choose the absence type, set the dates and submit — it routes to your Line Manager for approval. You can see the status of a request, and cancel or amend one that hasn't been approved yet, in the same place.
Annual leave for teaching staff follows the school calendar rather than being taken freely, so check your school's calendar before requesting anything in term time. See types of leave for what each kind covers.
Finding your payslips
Under Me → Pay → Payslips. Payslips are posted each month and remain available, so you can download past ones as PDFs — useful for visa applications, tenancy contracts and loan applications.
Updating your personal information
Under Me → Personal Information: address, phone number, emergency contacts and bank details. Keep these current — payroll and HR use them, and an out-of-date emergency contact is the one that matters most.
Tell HR separately if your passport changes, as your visa and Emirates ID are linked to it.
Salary certificates and employment letters
Salary certificates are the document banks, landlords and embassies ask for. Other letters — employment confirmation, NOC, visa support letters — work the same way. These can be downloaded from Oracle, so there's no need to email HR. New joiners receive instructional videos showing how to do this.
Key employment information
Your job details, contract information, Line Manager and team sit under Me → Employment Info. Your medical insurance details are also held here once cover begins.
Links and step-by-step guides are shared in your first week
The Oracle sign-in link, the Employee Self Service manual and short instructional videos are shared with you during your first week in country. They aren't published here because they sit behind Taaleem's internal systems.
If something goes wrong
| Problem | Who to contact |
|---|---|
| Can't sign in to Office 365 | IT, through your school's usual route |
| Oracle icon missing, or access rejected | Your HR representative, who raises a helpdesk query |
| Leave request stuck or wrongly rejected | Your Line Manager first, then HR |
| Payslip looks wrong | Your HR representative — don't wait for the next pay run |
| Personal details won't save | Your HR representative; some fields are locked and only HR can change them |
Medical insurance
Your cover is arranged by HR once your Emirates ID application form is complete, and managed day to day through the Sukoon app.
You must arrange your own cover until your Taaleem insurance is active
You must arrange personal medical insurance to cover the period from travelling to the UAE, through your arrival in the UAE, and until your Taaleem company medical insurance becomes active.
Any medical costs incurred before your company medical insurance becomes active will be your own responsibility.
Please make sure you have appropriate cover in place before travelling.
Do not wait until you are sick to understand your medical insurance
Half an hour now saves you a bad afternoon later. Before you need it, make sure you have:
- Read your welcome pack — it sets out exactly what you're covered for
- Downloaded the insurer's app and signed in, so your digital card is on your phone
- Understood the telemedicine service and how to start a video consultation
- Checked how claims work, in and out of network
Telemedicine is often the right first call
Unnecessary absence puts additional pressure on your colleagues and on your students — someone has to cover your classes. A video consultation is frequently the quickest and most appropriate option: you get seen sooner, you get a prescription if you need one, and you don't lose half a day to a waiting room.
In a genuine emergency, go straight to a hospital
Don't wait for approval — go to the nearest emergency department. For anything that isn't an emergency, use a clinic or telemedicine rather than a hospital.
Your family needs their own cover to begin with. Their Taaleem insurance can't start until your residency is issued and they are sponsored, so arrange interim cover before you travel and keep it until theirs is confirmed.
All medical cover is subject to the insurer's terms and conditions, which will be outlined in your welcome pack. Check the position for your own family with your HR representative.
What's covered
Alongside standard medical cover, your policy may include psychiatry, eye care and blood tests. Once your employment visa is processed you can see everything in the Sukoon app.
All medical cover is subject to the insurer's terms and conditions, which will be outlined in your welcome pack.
In the app
Digital insurance card, symptom checker, find a facility, book appointments, submit and track claims, reimbursement by bank transfer, and video consultations.
How to get it
Download Sukoon from the App Store, Google Play or HUAWEI AppGallery. Keep your contact details current so notifications reach you.
How billing works
| Situation | What happens |
|---|---|
| Inside the network | Direct billing within Taaleem's network of clinics and hospitals. |
| Outside the network | Additional cost, always pay and claim. Avoid where you can. |
| Every visit | There's a co-payment, plus a small percentage contribution on pharmacy prescriptions. |
Getting help with a claim
Claims support and escalations are handled by Lockton. Your HR representative has the current contacts, and there's an out-of-hours emergency hotline covering evenings after 5pm, weekends and public holidays.
About the UAE
A federation of seven emirates on the eastern side of the Arabian Peninsula, formed on 2 December 1971. Around 9.9 million people live here, and roughly 88 in every 100 are expatriates.
The seven emirates
| Emirate | Population | Dialling code |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai | 3.32m | 04 |
| Abu Dhabi | 3.23m | 02 |
| Sharjah | 1.51m | 06 |
| Ajman | 0.54m | 06 |
| Ras Al Khaimah | 0.39m | 07 |
| Fujairah | 0.25m | 09 |
| Umm Al Quwain | 0.08m | 06 |
Al Ain, in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, has its own dialling code of 03. The international code for the UAE is +971.
Language and money
Arabic is the official language, but Arabic and English are both official business languages and a great many others are spoken across the expatriate community. The currency in the UAE is the United Arab Emirates Dirham (AED), divided into 100 fils, with notes from 5 to 1,000.
Climate
A desert climate: mild, pleasant winters and very hot summers, with humidity that makes the heat harder work than the number suggests.
The UAE has a hot climate for much of the year, with particularly high temperatures during the summer months. Please check the expected conditions for your arrival period and plan accordingly.
Temperatures through the year
| Season | Typical temperature | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Dec–Feb | 18–23°C | The coolest months. Windy days in January. Popular for mountains and camping. |
| Jun–Aug | 35–36°C average | Daytime highs of 40–45°C, feeling like 50–55°C with humidity. Almost everything is air conditioned. |
The months in between run warm rather than extreme, cooling through autumn and heating up again through spring.
Rainfall (Dec–Mar)
What little rain there is falls in these months. It is infrequent, but it can arrive as an intense downpour — roads flood quickly because they are not built to drain heavy rain.
Culture and customs
The UAE welcomes newcomers, and it does so with clear expectations. Knowing them makes life here easier from the first week.
Respecting local culture and customs
The UAE is a multicultural country with its own customs and traditions. Please be respectful of local culture and customs, particularly when visiting government buildings and other formal settings.
Dress should be respectful and appropriate for the setting. Standards are more relaxed in some places than others, and what is fine at a beach club is not appropriate at a government office, a mosque or a school.
The UAE government publishes guidance on living here, covering culture, customs and everyday practicalities. If you are ever unsure, ask your buddy — it is exactly the kind of question they are there for.
What matters here
Hospitality, tolerance, family cohesion and solidarity run through Emirati society, along with real pride in that heritage. After faith, family comes first — children are considered jewels and family structures are close-knit.
The country's roots are in trade, fishing and pearl diving, which was the main source of income for many well into the early twentieth century. That history sits alongside a strong present-day push in science, technology and innovation.
Ramadan
The ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community. The dates vary each year because the Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle.
Don't eat, drink or smoke in public during daylight hours. This applies to non-Muslims too, and it's taken seriously — doing so can attract a fine or a reprimand from the police. Restaurants stay open and serve as normal, and most businesses work shorter hours.
Food and drink
An enormous range of cuisines, and supermarkets that cater to a very diverse population. Imported products cost more; local produce is cheap and good. Pork isn't served in most restaurants — designated venues hold pork licences, and selected supermarkets have separately labelled areas.
Code of conduct
Every Taaleem employee commits to a set of professional, behavioural and moral obligations — towards students, parents, colleagues and UAE society. The Code of Conduct is the document that sets them out.
You are required to read it
The Code of Conduct is an internal Taaleem policy, and you are given access to it from the outset. Reading it and familiarising yourself with it is a requirement of your employment, not an optional extra — breaches can result in penalties against you.
It applies from the moment you accept your offer, not from your first day in a classroom.
What it covers
In broad terms: professional appearance and behaviour, how you conduct yourself with students, conflicts of interest and the use of school resources, alcohol and substances, and confidentiality — including what you may and may not share publicly or on social media.
The policy itself is the authoritative statement of each of these. It sits alongside safeguarding, which carries its own obligations.
Where to find it
The Code of Conduct is available to you internally through StaffRoom and Taaleem OneDrive. If you cannot locate it, ask your HR representative rather than assuming it does not apply yet.
Your accommodation
If you are eligible for Taaleem-provided accommodation and are joining from outside the UAE, your school or HR team will give you information about your accommodation arrangements before you travel.
If you are eligible for Taaleem-provided accommodation, your school or HR team will confirm the address and your move-in date. If you are already renting here, you may receive a housing allowance instead.
If you're in Taaleem accommodation
A welcome pack with basic essentials is normally provided, so you don't have to find a supermarket on your first night, and your school can help you locate local amenities to get the apartment properly equipped.
If you're in Taaleem accommodation
A welcome pack with basic essentials is normally provided when you move in, and your school can help you locate local amenities to get the apartment properly equipped.
Agree your move-in date with your HR representative early, particularly if you're giving notice on a current tenancy — the two dates don't always line up neatly.
What's included
All Taaleem accommodation is approved and sourced by the Housing Department, and typically includes gym and pool access.
| Cost | Who pays |
|---|---|
| Rent | Covered by Taaleem |
| Utilities, air conditioning and wifi | Payable by you, monthly |
Airport arrival and connection
If you are new to the UAE and are eligible for Taaleem-provided accommodation, your school will confirm the arrangements for your arrival and transfer to your accommodation. Depending on your circumstances and your school, this may include airport collection or an airport assistance service such as Marhaba.
Your school or HR team will tell you what applies to you before you travel. Don't assume you will be collected until that has been confirmed.
If you are already living in the UAE, you will be responsible for making your own arrangements to travel to your accommodation or school.
Arranging your own accommodation
If you're already renting here and staying put, you'll receive a housing allowance instead. Tell HR which you're taking as early as you can, because it affects your payroll setup and, if you're sponsoring family, the tenancy contract (Ejari) you'll need for their visa applications.
If your children will attend a Taaleem school, staff admissions are handled separately from your accommodation — raise it with your HR representative as early as you can, since places are limited and availability depends on the year group and the point in the year you are joining.
Money and banking
You can't open a UAE bank account until your visa and Emirates ID are complete, and you can't be paid without one. You must have enough of your own money to support yourself until your salary and banking are established.
Your salary can only be paid into a UAE account, so the main job here is getting your existing account onto Taaleem's payroll — and funding the gap until the first run yourself.
Be financially prepared for your first 6–8 weeks
Moving to a new country can be expensive, and you must make sure you have sufficient personal funds to support yourself during your first 6–8 weeks in the UAE.
You should not assume that Taaleem will cover your personal relocation or living expenses. You are personally responsible for ensuring that you have enough money available to cover your costs until your salary and UAE banking arrangements are fully established.
You should budget for costs including:
- Travel from the airport
- Food and groceries
- Transport
- Accommodation costs where applicable
- Deposits and initial accommodation set-up
- Utilities
- Mobile phone and SIM
- Household and personal essentials
- Other day-to-day living expenses
You must have sufficient personal funds to cover these costs.
What it actually costs
These are indicative figures to give you a sense of the scale of the expenditure involved. They are not an entitlement, an allowance or a quote — your own costs will depend on your circumstances, your emirate, your school and how you choose to live.
| Cost | Indicative amount |
|---|---|
| Taxi from the airport | AED 80–150 |
| First grocery and household stock-up | AED 500–800 |
| Food and groceries, per month | AED 1,200–1,800 |
| Household and personal essentials, one-off | AED 1,500–3,000 |
| Transport by taxi and metro, per month | AED 400–800 |
| Car hire, per month | AED 1,500–2,500 |
| Utilities, per month | AED 400–800 |
| Home internet, per month | AED 100–350 |
| Prepaid SIM to start with | AED 50–125 |
| Mobile plan, per month | AED 100–250 |
| Driving licence conversion, one-off | AED 870 |
If you are arranging your own accommodation, budget considerably more
A private tenancy in the UAE normally requires a security deposit of around 5% of the annual rent, an agency fee of around 5%, an Ejari registration fee and a utilities connection deposit — all payable up front, and often before your first salary arrives.
Landlords here also commonly expect rent in one to four cheques for the year, rather than monthly.
When will I receive my first salary?
Your first salary will depend on your joining date and the monthly payroll cut-off. If you join before the payroll cut-off, your salary may be included in that month's payroll. If you join after the payroll cut-off, your first salary may be paid in the following month's payroll.
Please plan your personal finances accordingly and make sure you have sufficient funds to cover your living expenses until your first salary is received.
Your HR team will confirm the position that applies to your own joining date.
Budget for the gap between employers
If you already bank here you can keep the account, but your salary transfer only starts once your new visa is issued. Depending on your joining date that can leave a few weeks without an incoming salary, so plan for it — especially if your previous employer's final settlement is also pending.
When you get paid
| Situation | What happens |
|---|---|
| When | Salary is paid by the last working day of each month, and may be received on the final working day itself. |
| From when | Salary is paid from your official joining date, as stated in your employment contract. |
| Your first salary | Depends on your joining date and the monthly payroll cut-off, as set out above. |
| Housing allowance | Pro-rated in your first salary where applicable. |
| Relocation payment | Where applicable, paid in line with your employment contract. Your HR team will confirm the arrangements for you. |
Set your direct debits for the start of the following month
Because salary can arrive as late as the final working day, arrange your direct debits, recurring payments and other regular expenses for the beginning of the following month. Do not assume your salary will be received earlier in the month.
If your bank account isn't open yet
If your UAE account isn't set up in time, your first salary payment may be made by cheque. Where an account is already established, salary is paid straight into it.
Opening an account
Opening or switching an account
If you already hold a UAE account you can usually keep it — just give HR the details so payroll can be updated, and tell your bank your sponsor has changed, since your account is linked to your visa.
You will need your Emirates ID
Very few banks will open an account without one. Plan on opening your account as soon as your Emirates ID is available rather than expecting to arrange it beforehand — that is the single thing that unlocks it.
Taaleem signposts new joiners towards ADCB, Emirates NBD, Emirates Islamic and HSBC, and HR can support you with the documents a bank asks for — typically your Letter of Intent or employment contract, a salary certificate and a passport copy. Treat that as help with the process rather than a guarantee that an account can be opened before your Emirates ID is issued; each bank sets its own requirements.
Your card arrives in 2–3 working days by Aramex courier. You need your original passport to receive it. If you won't have it, tell the bank in advance so Aramex can accept a passport copy instead — and note the copy must carry the Taaleem company stamp, which HR can arrange.
Everyday spending apps
Most day-to-day spending here happens through apps — taxis, fuel, food and transport. Careem, Uber, CAFU, RTA, Talabat and Deliveroo are the ones you'll use most, and several can be set up before you arrive.
Phone, wifi and apps
Arranging your personal mobile phone and SIM card is your own responsibility. Your buddy can help you understand the options available locally if you need assistance.
Mobile phones and SIM cards are your responsibility
Taaleem does not arrange your mobile phone or mobile service. The information below is to help you work out what to do, not a service that is provided for you.
Etisalat and du are the two main operators covering the country, and Virgin Mobile is one of the other options available. Compare what each offers before committing to a plan.
If you are new to the UAE
You can purchase a temporary SIM at the airport to use while you are waiting for your Emirates ID. Once your Emirates ID is issued, you can arrange your permanent mobile service.
For a postpaid plan you'll need your original Emirates ID and a UAE bank-issued credit card, neither of which you'll have on day one. Start on prepaid and switch later.
If you are already resident in the UAE
If you are changing employer, you are responsible for updating your mobile provider records with your new Emirates ID and employment details where required.
Keep your number, but update your details. Your SIM is registered against your Emirates ID, so once a new card is issued let your operator know. Numbers registered to a cancelled visa can be suspended.
If you enter on a visit visa, expect your first SIM to stop working
A SIM issued against a visit visa is cancelled automatically the moment your status changes to an employment visa. It isn't a fault and there's no warning — you'll simply lose service, often at the point you most need it.
Get a replacement SIM once your status has changed. An eSIM is often the easier option in the gap while your employment visa and Emirates ID are being completed, since you can activate it without waiting for a physical SIM to be issued and swapped.
Keep a note of any number you give to HR, the bank or a landlord, so you know what to update if the number changes.
Emergency numbers
| Service | Number |
|---|---|
| Police | 999 |
| Ambulance | 998 |
| Fire (Civil Defence) | 997 |
These work anywhere in the UAE. Worth saving to your phone if you haven't already.
Apps worth having
Download these before you travel where you can — several are much easier to set up on home wifi than on a fresh prepaid SIM.
You'll know most of these already, but it's worth checking you have them.
Getting around
- CareemRides, food and payments. The one most people here use daily.
- UberRides, available across Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
- CAFUFuel delivered to your car, wherever it's parked.
- RTADubai's transport authority — metro, buses, Nol card, Salik and licensing.
Food and groceries
- TalabatRestaurant delivery, and the widest coverage outside the main cities.
- DeliverooRestaurant delivery.
- InstaShop, Noon and KibsonsGroceries, delivered same day in most areas.
Weekends and everything else
- Dubai Calendar, Visit Abu DhabiWhat's on, wherever you are.
- The Entertainer, PrivileeOffers on restaurants, beach clubs and gyms.
- DuolingoIf you'd like to pick up some Arabic.
Getting around
Your school will provide you with details of any transport arrangements that apply to your onboarding and initial days at school.
If you're already settled with your own car, the sections below on licence renewal and tolls are the parts that matter.
Before you have residency
You can't get a UAE driving licence until your residency comes through, but renting is straightforward during the change-of-status period.
Between your old visa being cancelled and your Taaleem residency being issued you're technically without residency, which can affect renting a car and any licence renewal falling in that window. A rental can bridge the gap if you need one.
Car hire is widely available in the UAE and you can choose from a range of providers, including the international brands you will recognise and a large number of local companies. Compare terms, insurance excess and mileage limits before you commit.
To rent you'll need: a passport copy, a licence copy, and a tourist or employment visa copy. Costs vary by provider and vehicle, but budget roughly AED 1,500–2,500 a month as a starting point.
Converting your licence
If you already hold a UAE licence
Your existing UAE licence stays valid — it isn't tied to your employer. When it comes up for renewal you'll need your new Emirates ID, so keep the sequence in mind if the dates are close together. If you don't yet hold one, the conversion route below applies.
Whether you can exchange your licence without taking a test depends on where the licence was issued and on meeting the relevant eligibility criteria — not simply on your nationality. The RTA maintains the current list and conditions for direct exchange, so check yours against it rather than relying on what a colleague was told.
Whether you can exchange a foreign licence without taking a test depends on where the licence was issued and on meeting the relevant eligibility criteria — not simply on your nationality. The RTA maintains the current list and conditions for direct exchange.
| You'll need |
|---|
| Emirates ID, original and copy |
| Your driving licence, original and copy |
| Electronic eye test results — the test must be completed at an RTA-approved centre |
| An NOC from Taaleem, if required |
| A completed licence conversion form and two passport-sized photos |
| A copy of your passport page and residence visa |
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Opening a new file | AED 200 |
| Issuing the licence | AED 600 |
| Handbook manual | AED 50 |
| Knowledge and innovation fees | AED 20 |
Tolls
Salik charges apply when you pass through a Salik toll gate.
| When | Charge per crossing |
|---|---|
| Peak hours | AED 6.30 |
| Off-peak hours | AED 4.20 |
| Sundays | AED 4.20 |
| Between 1:00am and 6:00am | No charge |
Abu Dhabi charges AED 4 per vehicle at toll gates during peak hours only — 7 to 9am and 5 to 7pm, Saturday to Thursday.
Exploring the UAE
Dubai and Abu Dhabi get the attention, but the other five emirates are worth your weekends too. Here's a starting list.
Dubai
Burj Khalifa, the historic souks either side of the creek, Sky Dive Dubai, Global Village, Miracle Garden, and Ski Dubai when the heat wins. The Metro and hop-on buses cover a lot of ground.
Abu Dhabi
Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Emirates Palace and the Corniche. Yas Island holds Ferrari World, Warner Bros World and Yas Waterworld.
Ras Al Khaimah
Mountains, rock climbing and camping, plus the world's longest zipline at Jebel Jais.
Fujairah
On the Gulf of Oman coast. Diving and snorkelling, Snoopy Island for coral, turtles and reef sharks, and the country's oldest castle.
Sharjah
The Khor Fakkan amphitheatre and waterfall, and a lot for families.
Ajman and Umm Al Quwain
The quieter end. Ajman Museum in a restored fort, Al Hamriya Beach, and mangroves and kite surfing at Umm Al Quwain.
Social life here can get expensive quickly if you let it. Most people find that after the first few months they settle into something a lot more sustainable.
Your probation
Six months, in line with UAE labour law, with structured check-ins along the way. It's designed as a conversation, not an exam.
Your role and expectations
Your role, responsibilities and expectations will be explained when you join. Your job description, KPIs, roles and responsibilities will be established within your first four weeks.
Reviews and observations
Your probation reviews will take place during your probationary period. Teaching staff may also have lesson observations or learning walks as part of their induction, development and probation process.
Your school will provide you with all relevant details when you join, including when your reviews will happen and who will carry them out.
These are two-way conversations — a chance to talk about how it's going and where you'd like more support.
Don't wait for the formal meeting. If something isn't working, raise it with your Line Manager when it happens.
One thing to know: under UAE labour law there's no paid sick leave during probation. See types of leave for the detail.
Performance and appraisal
Everyone has an annual appraisal. The cycle normally follows the academic year rather than the calendar year, and your school will confirm how it works for you.
The cycle
Set objectives
SMART objectives and an agreed personal development plan.
Do the work
Achieve the objectives, carry out your role, work through your development plan.
Check progress
Regular feedback and coaching along the way.
Review
Review achievements, identify areas to improve, discuss career goals, agree actions.
Your first year
Your school and Line Manager will confirm your objectives, targets and KPIs in line with your role, your joining date and the school's appraisal cycle.
You will have a formal appraisal meeting with your Line Manager, who will confirm exact dates with you.
Objectives should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound — clearly defined, quantifiable, realistic, aligned to the wider strategy, and set within a time frame.
Types of leave
Beyond your annual leave, which follows the school calendar, these are the main kinds you should know about.
Sick leave
Reporting an absence
Tell your Line Manager as soon as you know you will be absent, and by 6am at the latest on the morning of the absence. This is the requirement across all Taaleem schools. Cover has to be arranged before the school day starts, so the earlier someone knows, the less disruption there is to your students.
Sick leave is for genuine sickness or illness. Other reasons for being away are covered by the leave types below.
Your school's procedure
The 6am deadline applies across the group. Beyond that, each school sets its own procedure — how to notify, who to notify, and which form to complete so cover can be arranged. Some schools require notification by phone rather than by email or message.
Your school will confirm the procedure that applies to you. Check it when you join rather than assuming.
- A medical certificate is required from day three, and must be an official document from the Dubai or Abu Dhabi Health Authority, at your own expense
- Under UAE labour law there's no paid sick leave during your probation period
- Weekends immediately before or after a period of sick leave aren't counted — but if the absence runs across both sides of a weekend, those days do count, and the certificate must cover the whole period including the weekend
Bereavement Leave
Employees may be entitled to 5 working days of bereavement leave where the funeral is held within the country, and up to 10 working days where the funeral is held outside the country, in accordance with the applicable policy.
Taaleem understands that living away from home means a bereavement may require you to travel at short notice.
Exceptional Circumstances leave
For the hospitalisation of a dependent, or an embassy or government appointment that can only be taken during working hours. Both Bereavement and Exceptional Circumstances leave are approved by your Principal, following your school's procedure.
In a genuine emergency, contact someone first and sort the paperwork afterwards.
Other leave
Other types of leave are available and will be outlined to you on arrival.
Leaving school during the working day
If you need to leave school during the working day, or before the end of the working day, 48 hours' notice should normally be provided. Cover has to be arranged, so the earlier your Line Manager knows, the easier it is to accommodate.
School inspections
Schools in the UAE are inspected by their education regulator. If you haven't worked in an inspected school before, this is the general shape of it.
Regulatory requirements
Every Taaleem school operates under the requirements of the education authority for its emirate, and is inspected against that authority's published framework. Inspections look at the quality of teaching and learning, students' attainment and progress, wellbeing, leadership and the school's own improvement planning.
The inspection body, the framework and the way an inspection runs differ depending on which authority regulates your school. Your school will support you in preparing for inspections.
What it means for you
- Lesson observations may form part of an inspection, and inspectors may speak to staff, students, parents and governors
- You may be asked to have your planning and relevant assessment data available
- Your school will brief you on its own preparation and expectations
Inspections judge the school, not you individually
You won't receive a personal judgement grade from an inspection. The outcome is a judgement about the school as a whole.
Afterwards
Inspection outcomes are normally shared with school leaders first, and judgements stay provisional and confidential until the regulator's quality assurance is complete. Reports are usually published on the regulating authority's website in due course.
Unemployment insurance
The ILOE scheme provides income if you lose your job for reasons other than resignation or disciplinary action. Subscription has been mandatory since 1 January 2023 under Federal Decree Law No. 13 of 2022.
You subscribe to this yourself — and failing to do so results in fines
It's mandatory but it isn't automatic. It is not deducted through payroll and Taaleem does not enrol you, so it is every employee's personal responsibility to make sure they are subscribed and that they renew on time. Sort it once your Emirates ID arrives.
What it costs
Your category depends on your basic salary, not your total monthly package.
| Category | Basic salary | Premium | Maximum payout |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | AED 16,000 or below | AED 5 + VAT / month | Up to AED 10,000, up to 3 months |
| B | Above AED 16,000 | AED 10 + VAT / month | Up to AED 20,000, up to 3 months |
You can pay monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually in full.
What you'd receive
60% of your average basic salary over the six months before the job loss, for up to three months — provided you've been subscribed for at least twelve consecutive months, and capped at the figure for your category above.
To subscribe or renew
You need your Emirates ID or Unified Number and a valid UAE mobile number. Note that your Emirates ID number and Unified Number are the same — it appears as the EID on your Emirates ID and as the UID on your visa. The scheme is open to Emiratis and residents working in the private and federal government sectors.
- Go to iloe.ae and choose Subscribe Here under Involuntary Loss of Employment.
- Choose Non-Registered in MOHRE — not Private. This is the option that applies to Taaleem employees.
- Sign in with the OTP. Don't use the Registered User option.
- Enter your basic salary only, not your full monthly income. Your basic salary is shown on your payslip.
- Complete the payment.
- Download the insurance policy from your registered email and save it as a PDF.
You can also subscribe through the ILOE mobile app, exchange centres including Al Ansari, your telecom bill, SMS, bank apps, business centres, kiosks and ATMs.
Send HR your receipt. Save the policy or receipt as a PDF and email it to your HR representative for your file.
Downloads
- Step-by-step guide (PDF)Screenshots of each stage of subscribing and renewing, including which options to select.
- Information flyer (PDF)Categories, premiums, payout limits and the full list of ways to subscribe.
Downloads
Everything you may need to keep, print or refer back to, in one place. Documents are also linked from the sections they relate to.
Available now
- Unemployment insurance — step-by-step guidePDF How to subscribe to and renew the ILOE scheme, with a screenshot of each stage and the options to select. Unemployment insurance
- Unemployment insurance — information flyerPDF Categories, premiums, payout limits and every way to subscribe. Unemployment insurance
Shared during your first week
Taaleem's internal documents aren't published on this site. They are shared with you during your first week in country and are then available to you through StaffRoom and Taaleem OneDrive — including the Employee Handbook, the safeguarding policy, the Code of Conduct, the Leave Policy, the Oracle Employee Self Service manual, your medical insurance guide and your school calendar.
If you can't find something once you've joined, ask your HR representative rather than assuming it doesn't exist yet.
About Taaleem
The second largest private education provider in the UAE, and a workplace of more than 88 nationalities.
People are, and always will be, our greatest asset. Alan Williamson, CEO
Vision and mission
Our vision is to be the most respected provider of early childhood, primary and secondary education in the Gulf region.
Our mission is to inspire students to identify their passions and talents, and to develop the holistic skills that let them compete on the global stage and become responsible world citizens. We place as much emphasis on emotional, social, moral and physical development as on the academic.
Our values
Pioneering
Visionary · authentic · aspirational · focused
Professional
Skilled · principled · insightful · creative
Spirited
Courageous · determined · engaging · adaptable
Nurturing
Inclusive · respectful · compassionate · communicative
Our schools
Taaleem operates British, American and IB curriculum schools across Dubai and Abu Dhabi, alongside public-private partnership schools spanning six emirates, plus a group of nurseries. Whichever school you're joining, your Principal will introduce it properly when you arrive.
School counts, student numbers and every individual school page are maintained on the main Taaleem website.
Ask a question
Nobody expects you to get through this from a website alone. Here's who does what.
Your HR representative
Your main contact from offer through to your first weeks at school. Documents, visas, insurance, accommodation and anything you're unsure about.
Your buddy
Your school will match you with an appropriate colleague who can help you settle in, answer questions and navigate your first few weeks.
Your Line Manager
Once you've joined, the first person to raise anything about your role, your timetable or your probation with.
Teams
There may be groups for new joiners, so you can get to know a few names before you arrive.
Before you join
Before you join, you may receive pre-arrival information, online calls, meetings and briefings from Taaleem and/or your school. Please make every effort to attend and engage with these sessions, as they are designed to help you prepare for your arrival and first days at work.
Where these sessions run, they typically cover:
| Topic | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Your school | An introduction to your school from the Principal, meeting the Senior Leadership Team, an overview of the academic programme, and open Q&A. |
| Onboarding with HR | The visa process, medical insurance, what your first days look like, policies and work culture, and your benefits — accommodation or housing allowance, flights where applicable, and admissions for your children. |
There will be a lot of information to take in. That's normal, and you're not expected to hold all of it in your head — this guide isn't going anywhere.
