Re: How can you live in a country and not speak its language?
Because English is the language in UK, and US. In the US unless you want to segregate yourself and do business with only your kind, then you can get by without knowing English. Anything else, you have to know English. Plus there is a desire to learn English by most people so that they can be part of society. Society itself in Western countries is very open and accepting.
Just from my experience in Saudi, the education system is separate for locals and non-locals. Non-locals are not required to learn Arabic. Locals go to their own public schools which are primarily Arabic and teach English as a subject. Everyone else is on their own. There are lots of private schools due to this. These schools adapt either the US, UK or some European country’s syllabus. Most of these schools are really expensive, and often school fees are part of a salary and benefit package offered to a foreigner. If you read expat forums, you will see people talking about this.
There are Pakistani and Indian embassy schools as well. Pakistani school can be either English medium or Urdu medium, and prepares students for the Pakistani education system. There is a huge difference in cost between the Pakistani school and one of those fancy international schools. Attending one of those American or British private schools is a matter of pride for many people. Not everyone can afford these schools, and not all Pakistanis are making the big dollars over there to afford this education.
Now getting to the point, you can live in any of these middle eastern countries and live in your own bubble, and never interact with any local. My experience is from Saudi, I bet in Dubai or Doha you can go the entire time without even encountering a local (that’s a joke!) At work and outside of work, even the locals will speak in English with you (or not speak with you at all).
It’s not exactly an integrated society that you are used to in UK. Locals lead their own life, expats lead their own.