Contracts for the Middle East Teachers applying for jobs in...

Is there any harm in signing the contracts before going to the country in which you will be working .

There's no harm in it, but don't give you your job based on it as it is NOT a contract. There are exceptions. If your employer is a UK company and NOT the university, then you will be more or less safe. However, be sure that any company will DUMP you if there's the slightest problem in paperwork before you start. I don't there was much doubt in my post. Caveat emptor!

Signing any form of pre-employment contract is at best a waste of time, at worst a dangerous commitment to make. In all seriousness anything other than a formal job offer - for a specific position, salary etc. - is something to avoid. Additionally I recommend that you avoid any circumstance when your employer insists on holding your passport. I had an experience of this and it is very unsettling to be nearing the end of a "trial" period and still not have your passport available. In this case the passport was returned just a day after my employment was terminated for non-compliance with a sudden, short-notice implementation of an "all black" dress code. The notice was issued two days before I was "fired".