Child studying/Dubai
Dubai's skyline and a stock image of a child studying.
  • A 25-year-old private tutor told BI about his experiences working in the UAE.
  • He said he had taught the children of some of Dubai's richest people.
  • One of his pupils paid him $3,000 to do his homework, he said.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with a 25-year-old private tutor and academic governor in Dubai. They were granted anonymity to speak freely about their experiences. This essay has been edited for length and clarity. The names of children have been removed to protect their identity.

I moved to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2020 to work for an international tutoring agency.

I've since taught children from some of Dubai's most elite families — millionaires and billionaires who had made their money from oil investments, tech startups, and other entrepreneurial ventures.