The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has a large private school sector, with many schools that follow British, American, IB and other curricula. Before you can teach there, two things must happen. You need a teaching licence from the federal Ministry of Education (MOE). And the education regulator in your emirate must approve your appointment at one specific school.
This guide explains both steps, the minimum qualifications, the background checks and the rules on changing schools. It is general information for teachers from any country. Rules were checked on the official UAE government, MOE, KHDA, ADEK and SPEA pages in October 2026. Your school’s HR team will guide you through the details, but it helps to know the rules before you sign.
Two layers: the licence and the school approval
| Layer | Who | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| National licence | UAE Ministry of Education (MOE) | The “Education Professional licence”. You get it by passing tests in the Teachers Licensing System (TLS). |
| Approval in Dubai | Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) | An Appointment Notice for one teacher at one private school. |
| Approval in Abu Dhabi | Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) | Registration and vetting in PASS, ADEK’s staff licensing portal, then an appointment letter. |
| Sharjah | Sharjah Private Education Authority (SPEA) | SPEA is “the local authority responsible for regulating private education in the emirate” (SPEA). |
In the other emirates, ask your school which authority approves teacher appointments. We could not confirm this on an official page.
The MOE teaching licence
The UAE government portal says the “Education Professional licence” is “a mandatory requirement for education professionals in the UAE. Teachers must hold a teacher’s licence to work legally” (u.ae).
How it works, from the same page:
- You get the licence by passing tests for your category in the Teachers Licensing System (TLS).
- You have three attempts. After three failed attempts, you can take the test again after six months.
- The MOE also has a service to apply for a transitional licence and a service for the recognition of an international licence. Both service pages load only with JavaScript, so we could not read their conditions. Check them on the MOE website or ask your school.
ADEK’s policy explains how the two kinds of licence are treated in Abu Dhabi. A “valid licence” is a “Certified License” issued by the MOE, including an MOE-recognised international licence. The MOE “Transitional License” is not considered a valid licence, but ADEK accepts it “where certified licenses are not yet available” (ADEK Staff Eligibility Policy).
Licence fees
The MOE announced the licence fees in June 2020 (MOE):
| Item | Fee (AED) |
|---|---|
| All tests, first time | 250 |
| Each retest or single evaluation | 100 |
| Issuing the licence | 50 |
| Portfolio assessment at renewal | 100 |
The MOE said the total for a first licence is AED 300 for people who do not hold an international professional licence. These are the figures in the 2020 announcement, checked October 2026. We found no newer official fee table, so confirm the current fees in the TLS before you pay. Pay only through the official system, never to an agent.
Minimum qualifications and documents
The UAE government portal lists these requirements for teachers in public and private schools (u.ae):
- “a minimum qualification of a bachelor’s degree or a 4-year university degree or higher in the required field”
- a criminal clearance record
- a medical fitness report from the UAE
- original educational certificates
- if you studied outside the UAE, certificates attested by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFAIC) and by the embassy of the country where you studied
Attestation can take several weeks. Start early, and ask your school which documents it wants attested and in what order.
Dubai: the KHDA Appointment Notice
KHDA regulates private schools in Dubai. Its Technical Guide for Appointing Teaching Staff sets the rules. The guide page was last updated on 25 September 2026 (KHDA).
To work as a teacher in a Dubai private school, you need an Appointment Notice from KHDA. It is valid for one school only and you cannot transfer it. A teacher can hold only one at a time. If you move schools, the old notice becomes invalid and the new school must request a new one. A contract with the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) does not replace it (KHDA FAQ).
KHDA minimum qualifications
| Role | Minimum qualification | Minimum experience |
|---|---|---|
| Nursery teacher (45 days to 35 months) | Level 3 (QF Emirates) in early childhood education | None, but a new teacher needs 6 months of close supervision |
| Pre-KG / Foundation Stage teacher | Bachelor’s in education or early childhood education, or a bachelor’s in any subject plus a Level 3 in early childhood education | 1 year of recent experience in early childhood, or 6 months of supervised teaching practice |
| Primary teacher | Bachelor’s in education (for example a B.Ed), or a bachelor’s in any subject plus 6 months of close supervision | 1 year of recent experience in this phase, or 6 months of supervised practice |
| Specialist (subject) teacher | Bachelor’s degree relevant to the subject taught, for example a BSc in physics to teach physics | 1 year of recent experience in the subject, or 6 months of supervised practice |
KHDA says it often accepts closely related degrees, such as engineering to teach physics or mathematics. All new teachers need at least a bachelor’s degree, except those working with children under 36 months.
Teachers already in Dubai who stay at their current school must meet these thresholds by 1 September 2028 (or 1 April 2029 for schools whose year starts in April). The rules apply at once to new teachers and to teachers moving schools.
KHDA checks
Before the interview, the school must at least (KHDA guide):
- check that you are not on KHDA’s Deregistration List
- get two written professional references, one from your most recent employer (new graduates can give two references from their university)
- do safeguarding and criminal checks in each country where you worked in the last five years, and in your home country if you lived there in the last ten years
- check your online and media presence
- check your CV and ask you to explain any gaps
- check the attestation of your qualifications
Before you start, you need a valid UAE residence visa, fully attested qualifications that meet UAE equivalency rules, a contract, a UAE police clearance certificate, police clearance from each country you lived in during the previous five years, and from your home country if you lived there in the previous ten years. You must also sign the KHDA Code of Conduct and complete induction courses on the code of conduct, safety, child protection and safeguarding, and working with Students of Determination.
The 90-day rule
KHDA wants teachers to change schools only between terms. To move to another Dubai school without a wait, you must:
- resign and serve your full contractual notice period,
- leave on the last day of a term (or semester in US-curriculum schools), and
- complete the KHDA Exit Survey.
If you miss any of these, KHDA will not issue a new Appointment Notice for 90 days. The Exit Survey is not needed for your first job in Dubai.
Abu Dhabi: ADEK and PASS
ADEK’s Employment Policy says schools must register every staff member on ADEK PASS and get an appointment letter or work permit before the person starts. ADEK vets all candidates, “e.g., background checks, and police clearance”. Qualifications must be attested by the relevant authority, with evidence of UAE equivalency. Until the attestation is provided, the appointment letter is only temporary.
ADEK’s Staff Eligibility Policy (version 1.3, September 2024) gives several “eligibility profiles” for each role. Some examples:
| Role | Example profiles |
|---|---|
| Class teacher (KG and Cycle 1) | Bachelor’s in early childhood or primary education; or a bachelor’s in another subject plus a valid teaching licence or teaching diploma in early childhood or primary education; or a bachelor’s in another subject plus a general teaching licence or diploma and 2 years of teaching in early childhood or primary |
| Subject teacher | Bachelor’s in the education of the subject (for example a B.Ed in mathematics); or a bachelor’s in the subject plus a valid teaching licence or a teaching diploma; or a master’s in the subject plus 1 year of teaching it |
| EAL / ESL teacher | Bachelor’s in any subject plus a qualification to teach English as an additional language, “e.g., TEFL/TESL/TESOL, CELTA/DELTA, Trinity, or equivalent” |
ADEK says an EAL teacher is a support role. An English subject teacher must meet the subject teacher rules.
Other ADEK rules in the same policy:
- English level. If you completed your education in another language, you need at least the equivalent of IELTS 5.5 to teach non-core subjects in English, IELTS 6 to teach core subjects in English, and IELTS 7 to teach English as a subject. EAL teachers educated in another language need IELTS 7.
- Kindergarten. “Only female Class Teachers are authorized to teach in Kindergarten.”
- Arabic. Only native Arabic speakers may teach Arabic for native speakers.
Visa, fees and your contract
KHDA lists “a valid UAE residence visa” as a condition to teach in Dubai, and its FAQ refers to the teacher’s MoHRE work contract. Ask your school how it arranges your visa and work permit.
The UAE government is clear about fees:
- “Job seekers are not required to pay money to any recruitment agency as the onus to pay such fees lies with the employers” (u.ae).
- “If the hiring company or the agency asks you for money to process the visa or medical test, it is not a genuine company.”
- “Charging recruitment fees to prospective employees is illegal in the UAE” (u.ae).
- “The confiscation of workers’ passports is prohibited.”
- “The terms and provisions of your employment contract must be consistent with the job offer you have signed in your country.” Keep a copy of your signed offer.
The official fees you may pay yourself, such as TLS test fees, go to the government system, not to a person.
A simple checklist
- Check that your degree matches the subject and phase you want to teach, using the KHDA or ADEK tables above.
- Collect police certificates for every country you lived in during the last five years (KHDA), and your home country if you lived there in the last ten.
- Start attesting your degree and teaching qualification early.
- Ask the school which licence route applies to you: TLS tests, a transitional licence or recognition of a licence you already hold.
- Find jobs on the school’s own careers site and apply there. On this board every job links to the school’s own page.
- Never pay anyone for a job offer, a visa or a medical test.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a teaching licence to teach in the UAE?
Yes. The UAE government portal says the Education Professional licence is a mandatory requirement and teachers must hold it to work legally. You get it by passing tests in the MOE Teachers Licensing System. In Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the regulator must also approve your appointment at a specific school.
How many times can I take the UAE teacher licensing test?
The UAE government portal says you have three attempts. After three failed attempts, you can take the test again after six months. The MOE’s 2020 fee announcement set AED 250 for all tests the first time and AED 100 for each retest. Confirm current fees in the TLS.
What is a KHDA Appointment Notice?
It is KHDA’s approval for a teacher to work at one private school in Dubai. It is valid only for the school that requested it, cannot be transferred, and becomes invalid when you leave. A teacher can hold only one at a time, and a MoHRE contract does not replace it.
What is the KHDA 90-day rule?
To move between Dubai private schools without waiting, you must serve your full notice, leave on the last day of a term and complete the KHDA Exit Survey. If you miss any of these, KHDA will not issue a new Appointment Notice for 90 days.
Can I teach English in Abu Dhabi with a TEFL or CELTA?
For an EAL or ESL support role, ADEK accepts a bachelor’s in any subject plus a TEFL, TESOL, CELTA, DELTA, Trinity or equivalent qualification. An English subject teacher must meet the stricter subject teacher rules, such as a degree plus a teaching licence or teaching diploma.
Should I pay an agency to get a teaching job in the UAE?
No. The UAE government says job seekers do not have to pay recruitment agencies, because employers pay those fees, and that charging recruitment fees to candidates is illegal. A company that asks you to pay for the visa or the medical test is not genuine.