Asalam alaikum wa rahmutallhi wa barakatu!
Can anyone give me advice on how to move to an arabic country, all countries considered. My husband and I want to learn arabic and feel the best way to do this is to move to an arabic country, we also have 3 children and would like them to learn arabic. The only problem is how to get a job when neither of us speak arabic and the procedure of moving to an arabic country, i.e visas, medicals etc...
Any information would be greatly appreciated insh'allah
Masalam
Maryam:tti_sister:
Salaam alekoum sister,
Firstly, are you learning Arabic for better understanding of the Qur'an or just out of interest? If you want to learn Qur'anic Arabic specifically, then it might not be enough to simply up and move, since you'll find a WIDE variety of Arabic dialects across the many countries, none of which are necessarily faithful (orally or in writing) to the Arabic used in the Qur'an. So if it's for the better understanding of the Qur'an, you'd probably still have to take some classes or something (which can be taken anyway, without moving!).
If you'd like to learn Arabic to communicate on a daily basis, and plan to implement the "modern" varieties of the language, then yes, moving might be a good idea (although again, Arabic classes aren't exactly hard to come by in any country).
As for moving...The only Arab country I'm familiar with in regards to immigration policies is the UAE.
A work visa for your husband is the easiest way to get into UAE, and he can then sponsor you and your children. BUT, he has to earn a minimum of US$1000 a month to be able to sponsor his family. Also, as a woman, the situation can't be reversed...Except for in some occupations (medical?), a woman can't sponsor her husband and children's visas. If you wanted/needed to work though, you can switch your immigration category before or after finding a job.
But if he got a work visa, there's a few things worth bearing in mind...
1) Living costs are generally low, but accommodation (especialy in Dubai and Abu Dhabi) can be extremely expensive indeed. A single person would expect to pay around 40,000dh ($11,000) per year for a small apartment in Dubai, so imagine how much a family home would cost to rent?! Some jobs will pay some - if not all - of your accommodation costs, but your husband would have to be a pretty valuable employee indeed, as this practice seems to be dying out a little.
2) You can never become an Emirati citizen, no matter how long you stay in the UAE.
3) Dubai is the only emirate in which non-Emiratis can buy property. I believe that's due to be changed to include other emirates though.
4) Workers are paid in accordance to their nationality, with American, European, and other Gulf State nationalities attracting more money than their Asian, African, and other Arab counterparts.
5) In shops, restaurants, hotels, taxis, etc., you might not even hear much Arabic. Most of the labour in these kinds of occupations is imported from India, Pakistan, Malaysia, The Phillipines, etc., so many people you encounter in day-to-day life won't be able to speak Arabic, so not much opportunity to practice your new language!
6) There is no such thing as an "inbetween", average-paying job. You do the manual labour (not enough money to sponsor a family on), or you do the 'good' work, attracting a decent income, but needing university degrees (again, "Western" educations are preferred by employers).
7) Anybody who's children were conceived or born BEFORE they were married should not even consider trying to get a UAE visa, as it is illegal.
8) Schooling is expensive (again something that may, or may NOT, be included as part of your husband's work contract).
9) Locals and foreigners rarely mix
10) If you retired in the UAE, your husband would have to have a decent enough pension to see you guys through the winter of your lives, as there is no state assistance available to foreigners.
Again on the Arabic dialects thing...Bear this in mind...I have a number of Arab friends, who have to resort to English to speak to one another, as they can't understand each other's dialect of Arabic. I once witnessed a Bahrani girl, a Lebanese girl, a Lebanese guy, a Syrian guy, and a Jordanian guy unable to communicate together in their mother tongue if Arabic.
There is no medical required to enter the UAE, although specific employers might demand one from your husband, or you, if you planned to also work. However, people with HIV will be imprisoned and deported (most probably doesn't apply to you, insha'allah!!!).
By the way, you don't need to be able to speak Arabic to get a job in UAE (though it may be preferred/liked in some professions), as most business is conducted in English.
Your husband should go about getting a work visa by approaching companies directly about vacancies, as they handle the visas on your behalf. You can contact their local offices in the country you currently live in (if there are any), OR, you can take a short trip to UAE to see for yourselves (30-day visa is issued free of charge at the airport for Americans and Europeans, which can be extended to 60-days).
Hope this helps. As you can see, living in UAE can prove to be difficult, at least initially, getting past the red-tape, etc...however, it is a wonderful place masha'allah.
PS: I have contacts in the UAE who might be able to answer any more questions you have, so feel free to ask.