In the glitzy world of Dubai, where opulence knows no bounds, a 25-year-old private tutor and academic governor shares insights into their extraordinary experiences working with some of the city’s wealthiest families. Granted anonymity to speak openly, this tutor reveals a world of extravagance and privilege beyond imagination.
Since relocating to Dubai in 2020 to join an international tutoring agency, this tutor has had the privilege of educating children from some of the most affluent families in the city. These families, comprised of millionaires and billionaires, have amassed their fortunes through various avenues such as oil investments, tech startups, and other entrepreneurial ventures.
The settings in which these tutoring sessions take place are nothing short of extravagant. One family resides in a lavish apartment boasting amenities like an art room, a massage room, a gym, and even a private cinema, spread across five floors. With private elevators and guard dogs stationed at the door, these residences epitomize luxury living. Moreover, these families often employ a multitude of staff, including security personnel, maids, drivers, cooks, nannies, and, of course, tutors.
While the parents of these affluent households are frequently absent, the tutor notes that those encountered are invariably amicable. However, the tutor’s interactions primarily revolve around the nannies, who cater to the children’s every whim. They extend hospitality by cooking meals and serving drinks, fostering a sense of belonging akin to being part of the family—a dynamic akin to that of a big brother.
The level of privilege extends to the education of these children, with one young pupil having their own dedicated classroom within the family’s residence, equipped to rival any traditional school setting. However, this unparalleled access to resources sometimes leads to remarkable demands. For instance, after a lesson on birds in biology, one student insisted on acquiring an owl for further observation. True to form, the next visit revealed an owl perched on the kitchen counter, a testament to the boundless resources at their disposal.
Such instances of extravagance and entitlement are not uncommon. Another student, influenced by their sibling, shirked academic responsibilities, confident that their father would intervene. In a bizarre turn of events, the tutor was paid a substantial sum to complete the student’s homework—an occurrence that, in the world of Dubai’s ultra-wealthy, is considered routine.
Indeed, in a city where extreme wealth is the norm, these anecdotes offer a glimpse into a world where luxury knows no bounds and where the expectations of the affluent shape the everyday experiences of those in their employ.