The contractual obligation is normally for a fixed two year term (renewable by mutual consent). There is however a 4 month probationary period during which either party can terminate the contract without having to give a reason - if you join us and hate it, there is the option to leave by the end of the first term!

For expatriate staff (i.e. those recruited outside Qatar), the contract includes an annual airfare between Qatar and the country you were recruited from and free furnished accommodation in Qatar.

All staff are paid in Qatar Riyals at the end of each calendar month. Qatar has no personal taxation, so salaries are paid without any deductions. Qatar has no exchange controls, so money can be transferred out of the country easily.

You are paid from the date you fly out from your home country or, for locally employed staff, the first day in school. Your first month's salary is therefore calculated on a pro-rata basis.

All holidays are paid, with term dates approximating to the UK calendar (modified to also take in Islamic holidays) - also see the section on working hours.

Do not be put off by the fact the contract specifies 60 days paid leave per year. We are required to specify a number - in practice your annual leave allowance is more than this, as dictated by the term dates.

Additional Leave

The leave allowance is generous. We therefore ask that staff do not ask for additional holidays. It is difficult to find substitute teachers in Qatar, so such absences would place an unfair burden on your colleagues.

That said, we do make exceptions for once-in-a-lifetime occassions involving direct family (birth of a grandchild, daughter's wedding, family bereavement etc.). Such leave is unpaid.