Job offer in Kuwait Mangaf
I’m considering accepting an offer for an international teaching school in Kuwait Mangaf, but honestly… I’ve seen some absolutely horrendous reviews online about the city.
Not that I’m desperate for a job in the Middle East, but that’s really where I want to be, and hopefully relocate to Saudi or be very close to it.
So I wanted to ask people who have ACTUALLY lived/worked there: is it really that bad, or are some people just not suited for Gulf countries and expecting Dubai-style life everywhere?
Some of the common complaints I keep seeing:
“It’s unsafe/uncomfortable for women”
“Sharia law makes life restrictive and annoying”
“Students are badly behaved/entitled”
“Impossible to fit in or make friends with locals”
“The work culture is exhausting”
Now, some context about me because I know experiences depend a lot on personality/lifestyle:
I’m Muslim and wear hijab already. I don’t drink or party at all. My ideal life is literally cafés, restaurants, bookstores, walks by the beach, and malls with AC. I speak some Arabic already. I have taught and lived by myself in Morocco and Malaysia, so I don’t mind a change of habits etc. I love the very hot/humid weather in Malaysia too btw.
So I’m trying to understand:
What complaints are genuinely true?
What complaints are exaggerated?
What type of person tends to struggle there? Will I probably struggle as well?
I’d also love honest opinions specifically about international schools in Mangaf, as mine as never been “named and shamed” here, I wonder if it’s because its a great school or a rather unknown one? If you could also name great schools there in terms of leadership, I had a great time during my interview and I genuinely believe it would be a great place to work in.
Would particularly appreciate also Muslims expats opinions, comparing Kuwait to other Muslim countries to live in?