This is a list of some of the questions that we most often are asked.  For any other questions, please write to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

1.  What qualifications are teachers required to possess?

Typically, we recruit teachers who have a valid teaching certificate and at least two years of teaching experience.  Beyond that, we are looking for teachers who are highly motivated, are interested in expanding their own learning as well as that of their students, and are willing to take on important responsibilities outside of the classroom.

2. When do new teachers begin  and end work?

Teachers work a 190-day contract, with new teachers arriving in the first week of August to participate in an orientation program.  Returning teachers report for work during the second week of August.  Three to four days are set aside for professional learning and classroom preparation before students return in the middle of the month.  Some changes to this schedule can be expected due to Islamic holidays.

3.  Which International Recruiting Fairs will AIS-R representatives attend?

AIS-R is registered with International School Services (ISS), Search Associates, and the University of Northern Iowa (UNI), and will have representatives in attendance at several recruiting conferences from November through February.  These include:

• Search Associates Bangkok, Thailand (November)
• Search Associates Sydney, Australia (January)
• ISS Bangkok, Thailand (January)
• Search Associates Bangkok, Thailand (January)
• Search Associates London, UK (January)
• Search Associates Toronto, Canada (January)
• Search Associates Cambridge, USA (February)
• University of Northern Iowa, USA (February)
• ISS Boston, USA (February)
• ISS San Francisco, USA (February)
• Search Associates San Francisco, USA (February)

More information can be found on the ISS, Search Associates, and UNI websites:

• www.iss.edu
• www.searchassociates.com
• www.uni.edu/placement/overseas/

4. What benefits do you offer overseas-hired faculty?

AIS-R offers a competitive employee benefits package that includes, but is not limited to the following:

• A competitive salary
• A spacious, fully-furnished villa in a gated community
• All utilities paid for by the school
• A fully equipped, late-model sedan or SUV
• An allowance for the shipment of personal items
• An allowance for the storage of personal items
• A yearly allowance for professional development
• Medical insurance from an international provider
• Round-trip airfare to Paris during the first year
• Round-trip airfare to home-of-record after first year
• Retirement savings plan with a matching 5% contribution from the school
• Severance accrual per host-country law
• Reimbursement for unused sick and personal leave
• Annual bonus for exemplary attendance

5. What is it like to live in Riyadh?

Riyadh is a vibrant and interesting city of 5 million souls.  Compared to other posts around the world, there is very little in terms of material goods that the expatriate must do without.  Modern shopping malls, supermarkets, coffee shops and restaurants cater to most needs.  Those in search of Old Arabia would do well to wander the various souqs located in and around the city.  AIS-R faculty and staff live on a well-established, expatriate compound (gated community) that contains a restaurant, pool area and recreation complex.  Villas are bright, spacious, and fully furnished.  Via one's school-provided vehicle, the school is roughly 10 minutes drive from the compound.  Check the "Life in Riyadh" tab for more information.

6. Come vacation time, are there travel opportunities within the Kingdom?

The answer is most definitely yes!  Because Saudi Arabia is still closed to general tourism, you can derive a great deal of satisfaction from seeing sights that even the most adventurous of tourists will never lay eyes on.  There is Mada'in Saleh, Saudi Arabia's first UNESCO World Heritage Site, a Petra-like city of tombs built by the Nabateans around 2,000 years ago; Jeddah, "the bride of the Red Sea", the Kingdom's second city and an important commercial hub in the Gulf region; and the Farasan Islands in the country's southwestern corner, a gateway to the fantastic riches of the Red Sea.  In addition, you can venture less than an hour outside of Riyadh to enjoy an overnight camping trip or just a few hours of solitude in splendid desert landscapes.