Do you intend to work as a qualified, experienced medical professional in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)? Working as a doctor in the UAE provides fantastic career opportunities and a high standard of living. But the immigration procedure can be complicated.
This guide will take you step-by-step through the process to help you immigrate to the UAE as a doctor, covering all necessary details, requirements, and advice to make the process easier.
Can Foreign Doctors Work in the UAE?
A foreign physician is permitted to immigrate to the UAE as a doctor and practice in the country. Foreigners must fulfill certain conditions, acquire the required licenses, and obtain a work visa. They must check with the relevant UAE health authority for the most recent information, as specific steps may vary. Some employers might offer help with the license and visa applications for working in the UAE as a doctor.
Is There a Demand for Doctors in the UAE?
Yes. In the UAE, there is a demand for doctors. The nation actively recruits medical professionals from other nations to meet its healthcare needs. But the question is “how to work as a doctor in the UAE.”
Requirements for Doctors to Work in UAE
To immigrate to the UAE as a doctor, a foreign medical professional typically needs to fulfill the following requirements:
Qualifications. Doctors must possess legitimate medical degrees and credentials.
Licensing. Obtaining a legitimate license from the appropriate UAE health authority, such as the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP), the Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD), or the Dubai Health Authority (DHA).
Language proficiency. Demonstrating fluency in English or Arabic, which are the two languages most frequently used in UAE medical settings.
Visa and work permit. Obtaining a work visa and work permit to work legally in the nation.
Medical fitness. Doctors must take a medical fitness test to ensure they are healthy enough to work.
How to Immigrate to the UAE as a Doctor?
There are various steps and requirements to immigrate to the UAE as a doctor. Here’s a general outline of the process:
Step 1. Qualifications Check
Make sure that the UAE will accept your medical credentials and degrees. Your credentials will be evaluated and verified by the UAE’s health authorities.
Step 2. Research Visa Options
Choose the best visa option for a doctor like you. An employment visa, an investor visa (for those wishing to invest in medical practice), a freelance visa (for independent practitioners), or a dependent visa (if you have relatives who are UAE citizens) are examples of common visa types.
Step 3. Obtain a Job Offer
Obtain a job offer from a hospital, clinic, or other healthcare organization if you intend to practice medicine in the UAE. Your employer will sponsor your work permit and visa.
Step 4. Licensing
Obtain a legitimate medical license from the appropriate UAE health authority. Exams, evaluations, and document verification may be a part of the licensing process.
Step 5. Medical Fitness Test
To make sure you meet the health requirements for immigration, take a medical fitness test.
Step 6. Visa Application
Depending on your reason for immigrating (employment, investment, etc.), apply for the appropriate visa. Most of the time, your employer or sponsor will help you with the visa application.
Step 7. Residence Visa
You must apply for a residence visa after entering the UAE to stay and work there for an extended period. Your employer typically sponsors this.
Step 8. Accommodation and Other Formalities
Make arrangements for appropriate housing and finish any other formalities that are needed, like registering for an Emirates ID and purchasing health insurance.
Step 9. Relocation
Immigrate to the UAE as a doctor, relocate to the desired city, and start working there.
UAE Doctor License to Immigrate to the UAE as a Doctor
For a foreign who wants to immigrate to the UAE as a doctor and start to practice medicine in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), they must have a doctor’s license from the UAE, also known as a medical license. It is issued by the relevant health authorities in each emirate, such as the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP), the Abu Dhabi Health Authority (HAAD), or the Dubai Health Authority (DHA).
Foreign doctors, including those from the UK, must fulfill specific eligibility requirements and adhere to the licensing procedure established by the relevant health authority to obtain a doctor’s license in the UAE.
Typically, this procedure includes:
Document verification. Ensure the UAE’s health authorities recognize and accredit your medical training and degrees.
Assessment or exam. You might need to go through an assessment or pass a licensing exam to prove your knowledge and competency, depending on your medical specialty and experience.
Application. Submit the necessary paperwork and application forms for review to the appropriate health authority.
Visa sponsorship. Have your work visa and work permit application processed by an employer in the UAE, such as a hospital or healthcare facility.
Medical fitness test. Take a medical fitness test to ensure you’re healthy enough to work.
Note:
The appropriate health authority of the particular emirate where the doctor intends to practice handles applications for licenses to practice medicine in the UAE. Each emirate has a separate health authority in charge of regulating the registration and licensing of medical professionals.
For example:
Dubai: Dubai Health Authority (DHA)
Abu Dhabi: Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD) (now known as Department of Health – Abu Dhabi)
Umm Al Quwain: Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP)
Sharjah: Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP)
Ajman: Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP)
Fujairah: Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP)
Ras Al Khaimah: Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP)
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The website of the relevant health authority in the emirate where they intend to work should be visited by foreign doctors who wish to apply for a doctor’s license in the UAE. The licensing procedure, requirements, and forms that must be completed during the application process are all described in great detail on the health authority’s website.
Best Visa Options to Immigrate to the UAE as a Doctor
To immigrate to the UAE as a doctor and start working as a doctor in the UAE, you will need to obtain a valid visa. The most common visa categories for doctors are the Doctor’s Residence Visa and the Employment Visa.
Doctor’s Residence Visa
Medical professionals who want to work in the UAE but are not sponsored by an employer are given the Doctor’s Residence Visa. With this visa, you can start a private medical practice or work as a consultant.
Employment Visa
Your employer will typically sponsor your Employment Visa if you accept a position with a healthcare facility in the UAE. With this visa, you can practice medicine in a hospital, clinic, or other medical facility.
Documents Required for a UAE Visa for Doctors in Dubai
Certain papers and documents are required for any doctor to be granted a work visa in the UAE’s healthcare industry. The most crucial ones for doctors to apply with are the following:
A valid passport. It must have a minimum validity of six months.
Passport-size photos
Police clearance certificate from your home country.
Professional license or registration certificate from the home country.
Good standing certificate from the medical council in the home country.
Educational certificates and degrees (attested by the UAE embassy in your home country).
Offer letter or employment contract from a UAE-based healthcare facility.
Evidence of health insurance coverage.
How Much is the Cost of a UAE Visa for Doctors?
The cost of a UAE visa for doctors can differ depending on several factors, including the type of visa, the duration of stay, and the specific UAE emirate. Here are some general guidelines for the cost of UAE visas for doctors:
Employment Visa
Usually, the employer will pay for a doctor’s employment visa. With this visa, doctors can legally work in the UAE.
Residence Visa
The doctor will require a residence visa to enable them to stay in the UAE once they arrive there. Although the price of a residence visa can change, it typically ranges from AED 3,000 to AED 5,000 (roughly $800 to $1,400) per year.
Medical License and Processing Fees
To practice medicine in the UAE, one must pay fees to process the required paperwork and obtain a medical license. The licensing body and the emirate can have an impact on these prices.
UAE Golden Visa for Doctors
The UAE Golden Visa is a long-term residence permit allowing international students to pursue their education while receiving special treatment. As this visa offers unique benefits to its holder, it has recently become both a wish and a necessity for anyone who wants to lead a happy life characterized by luxury and perfection.
The experienced doctors whose skills are recognized by the state are among the very few and specific numbers of people eligible to apply for golden visas; every doctor has the chance to get a golden visa so they can live and work in the United Arab Emirates.
The UAE golden visa requirements for doctors must be met to be granted a golden visa, valid for 10 years without a sponsor and can be renewed. These conditions and requirements include:
Copy of sponsored residency.
Have a copy of the labor contract.
A copy of the labor card of the holder.
UAE Medical License Exam for Foreigners
The appropriate medical license exam is typically required for foreign doctors who want to work in medicine in the UAE. The medical license examination is a significant stage in the licensing procedure that ensures foreign doctors have the standards and credentials required to practice medicine in the nation.
Depending on the emirate (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, etc.) and the healthcare regulatory body supervising the licensing process, such as the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD), or the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP), the specific medical license exam and its requirements may differ.
For foreign medical professionals who want to become UAE residents, the licensing examination typically entails the following steps:
Eligibility
To be eligible to take the exam, doctors must fulfill the educational, experience, and qualification requirements set by the UAE health authorities.
Application
Physicians must apply through the appropriate health authority to sit for the medical license exam. Documents attesting to education, certificates of work experience, and other supporting documentation are usually required for the application process.
Exam Format
The exam format may change depending on the medical specialty or practice area. The examination may comprise written, practical, and oral components to appraise the physician’s expertise, abilities, and clinical proficiency.
Preparation
Physicians can typically choose to self-study or enroll in courses offered by different institutions to prepare for the exam.
Exam Date
The health authority will arrange for the doctor to examine the patient after the application has been reviewed and approved.
Exam Results
The exam results will be sent to the doctor, who will decide whether to retake any particular sections or pass overall.
How Much is a Doctor’s Salary in UAE in 2023?
Based on the industry, job location, and candidate profile, the average monthly salary for a doctor in the UAE ranges from AED 18,000 to AED 35,000. Healthcare is the sector that pays doctors the most in the United Arab Emirates. In the UAE, salaries are tax-free.
Related Jobs Salaries in Dubai
Medical Doctor: AED 24,000 per year
Medical Officer: AED 4,500 per year
Physician: AED 31,500 per year
Resident Physician: AED 5,500 per year
Highest Paying Cities for Doctors in UAE
Abu Dhabi: AED 17,133 per month
Dubai: AED 15,115 per month
Fujairah: AED 14,720 per month
Ras al-Khaimah: AED 14,257 per month
Jumeirah: AED 11,651 per month
Ajman: AED 11,290 per month
Al-Ayn: AED 10,489 per month
Sharjah: AED 7,978 per month
Accommodation and Living Arrangements to Immigrate to the UAE as a Doctor
You must find suitable housing in the UAE to make a smooth transition. You must find suitable houses in various housing choices, including condos, villas, gated and expat communities.
Plan your budget taking into account the UAE’s cost of living.
The cost of living may change depending on the emirate and your lifestyle choices.
Healthcare Insurance to Immigrate to the UAE as a Doctor
In the UAE, having complete health insurance is required.
All residents of the UAE are required to have health insurance.
As part of your employment beMakeequate health insurance.
You have the option to add as part of your employment benefit extra coverage for particular medical procedures or services to your required health insurance.
Working as a Doctor in Dubai from the UK
To practice medicine in Dubai from the UK, you must:
Make sure the UAE will accept your credentials.
The Dubai Health Authority’s medical license.
Obtain a work permit and an employment visa from your Dubai employer.
Take Arabic and English language skills into consideration.
Undergo a medical fitness examination.
Look for employment opportunities with medical facilities or staffing firms.
Advantages and Challenges of Working in the UAE as a Doctor
Pros
Competitive salaries and benefits
Modern healthcare infrastructure
Opportunities for career advancement
Cons
Cultural adjustments
Challenging weather conditions
Conclusion
It will be a rewarding and enriching experience if you can immigrate to the UAE as a doctor and start working as a doctor in the UAE. By following the guidelines outlined in this blog, you can navigate the immigration process confidently and embrace the unique opportunities the UAE offers.
FAQs
What are the educational requirements to work as a doctor in the UAE?
To work in the UAE as a doctor, you must have earned a recognized medical degree from an accredited institution.
Is health insurance mandatory in the UAE?
Yes, health insurance is compulsory for all residents in the UAE.
How can I find suitable accommodation in the UAE?
There are various housing options available in the UAE. You can explore online listings or seek assistance from a real estate agent.