Nanny Life In Dubai, the UAE and the Middle East
With its sunny weather, western feel and large expat communities, Dubai has been welcoming Nannies Incorporated nannies for many years now. Other popular placement destinations for our nannies are Abu Dhabi and the wider UAE. We also place nannies throughout the Middle East.
Working as a nanny in Dubai can be a highly rewarding and exciting experience. The city is known for its luxury lifestyle and many families in Dubai are keen to hire a professional nanny for their children. As a nanny in Dubai, you will have the opportunity to work with families from all over the world, and gain valuable experience in child care while earning a great salary.
What can one expect when working as a nanny in Dubai or the Middle East?
With direct flights that take as little as 7 hours, a vibrant multicultural lifestyle on offer and a number of western approaches to education and curriculums now adopted, you may not find Dubai as different to nannying in the UK or Europe as you might have imagined! Although the climate is of course very different, although usually quite a welcome change from the British winter, several aspects are now strikingly similar. In recent years, the weekend in Dubai has moved from Friday and Saturday to Saturday and Sunday, just one change that expat nannies will recognise from home.
When working as a nanny in Dubai, you will be responsible for all the usual nanny duties, including the care and well-being of the children in your charge. This includes tasks such as feeding, bathing, dressing, and playing with the children. You will also be responsible for keeping the children safe and ensuring that they are well-behaved and acquiring good manners. You will likely be required to keep the children's room and play area clean and organized, many families in the middle east also employ household helpers who will be responsible for the heavy housekeeping tasks. Some may also employ a chef for the family or drivers. Many families hire Western nannies to assist with their children’s language acquisition and to liaise with the children’s international schools.
International schools have been commonplace in Dubai for a number of years, families can choose from a number of settings that follow the British curriculum, American curriculum, German, French or Spanish speaking schools to name just a few. There really is an approach for everyone in this city and nannies can expect prospective parents to be familiar with different approaches to child rearing and be on the lookout for those with training in different approaches such a Montessori and Gerber. English is widely spoken in Dubai which helps new nannies to acclimatise and make friends. With a strong expat nanny community there are a number of new people to meet during your time off, who understand your life in a way others may not be able to, many families encourage their nannies to arrange playdates with other English or European speaking nannies and their charges.
Travel can be a big part of nanny life in Dubai. Many of our clients in the Middle East and Dubai plan to be travelling for the hottest summer months of the year, it is commonplace for the family to ask their nanny to travel and work with them whilst away. We ensure that our families understand that this is still their nanny’s working days and that our nannies are compensated accordingly for any extra hours worked or given time off in lieu.
To prepare for any difference in nannying in Dubai or the Middle East, we suggest our nannies spend as much time as possible researching the school or nursery their new charges attend, reading up on their ethos and curriculum approach in order to be able to support their new charges as efficiently as possible.
Where possible we advise our nannies to ask their new nanny family if they have any travel booked for the next few months and to use this to plan their activities with the little ones accordingly.
Specific benefits of nannying further afield in Dubai or the Middle East
Many candidates choose to work in Dubai and the Middle East because of the financial benefits. The salary you earn for a nanny position in Dubai and the Middle East is tax-free and many of our clients offer other benefits too including; medical insurance, separate accommodation nearby, a return flight home once a year and 4-5 weeks annual leave. There is also the opportunity to travel with your nanny family and work in some fantastic locations.
Another benefit of working as a nanny in Dubai is the opportunity to experience a different culture. Dubai is a melting pot of nationalities, and working as a nanny allows you to immerse yourself in a different way of life, learn a new language, and experience new traditions and customs. This can be a great opportunity to broaden your horizons and gain a new perspective on the world.
To work as a nanny in Dubai, you will need to have a valid work visa, which will be obtained by the family you will be working for, who will be able to sponsor the visa. You will also need to have a good level of English or another European language, as well as relevant qualifications or experience in child care. A background check and a health examination may also be required.
It's also important to note that, like in any other job, there are some drawbacks to working as a nanny in Dubai. Many candidates working abroad for the first time find that living in a foreign country can be quite isolating. One of the best ways to settle in to a new nannying position can be to put yourself out there, join some nanny groups for Dubai based nannies online, sign up for some classes or local activities and commit to meeting some of the childcare community to build up your connections. This helps to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Just as in any job, it's important to find a good employer that respects your rights and well-being. We develop great working relationships with the families we assist and use our many years of experience in the industry to determine the correct nanny-family match.
What languages are sought after in Dubai and the Middle East?
We have always found English speaking nannies easy to place in Dubai and the Middle East but we have also noticed more recently an exciting trend of nannies being sought with other language skills. As more and more expats relocate to the Middle East for work from other European countries many families are keen on their children hearing their native tongue as well as English from their nanny. We welcome applications from nannies speaking all languages and particularly find that German, French, Mandarin and Spanish speaking nannies are being increasingly sought after in the Middle East.
Overall, working as a nanny in Dubai can be a fantastic opportunity for those who are passionate about child care and are looking for an exciting and challenging career. With the high salary and benefits, the opportunity to experience a new culture, and the chance to make a positive impact on the lives of children and their families, it's an experience that is well worth considering. If you are considering making the career move to nannying in the Middle East, do fill in our candidate registration form or send us an email if you are already registered. We would be happy to help you with your move.