09/08/2018
GETTING A MEDICAL LICENSE FOR DOCTORS, DENTISTS AND NURSES IN DUBAI
In Dubai, if a company or individual wants to pursue a professional practice, they will need to obtain a professional licence. Like a trade or industrial licence, a professional licence is provided by the Department of Economic Development. Unlike a trade or industrial licence, which requires the use of capital to do business, a professional licence allows companies or individuals to provide services that utilize trained skills. Individuals that require professional licences include accountants, advertising professionals, architectural consultants, auditors, teachers, lawyers, and doctors and nurses. The long list of trades that require a professional licence can be picked up from any Department of Economic Development office. You can also use the Activity Search feature on the Department of Economic Development website to determine whether or not your trade requires a professional licence. Like trading and manufacturing companies, professional companies require a local service agent to practice in the emirate. Holders of professional licences can employ a limited number of workers who will also be covered under the professional licence.
Those physicians wishing to start a clinic within Dubai can also take advantage of the services of Dubai Healthcare City, which assists in both obtaining a permit and setting up a healthcare practice within its free zone.
Medical professionals in Dubai must obtain their license through Dubai Health Authority (DHA), Ministry of Health or Health Authority of Abu Dhabi (HAAD). The procedure involves payment of fees, training courses, exams and ministry approvals. Doctors must obtain specific licenses depending on whether they are interns, general practitioners, specialists, consultants or resident doctors. Similarly, dentists must obtain specific licenses depending on whether they are interns, general dentists, specialists, consultants or resident dentists. Nurses too must obtain their license depending on whether they are applying for registered nurse, registered midwife, nurse practitioner, mental health nurse, paediatric nurse, community nurse or assistant nurse. It is to be noted that even alternative medical practitioners such as ayurveda, chiropractic medicine, homeopathy, naturopathic medicine, osteopathic medicine, traditional Chinese medicine and Unani medicine must obtain the required license.
From October 2016, medical licenses have been recognized across the UAE, allowing medical professionals to work in any emirate. This means that doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals with licenses from Health Authority of Abu Dhabi (HAAD), DHA and Ministry of Health can now practise in any emirate without any additional tests or exams.
From October 2017, health-care professionals can transfer their license from one facility to another without having to wait for the earlier 6 months period. This gives them greater flexibility and will allow such professionals to switch to facilities with better perks or to a facility with greater demand for their services.
All health-care professionals including doctors, technicians, dentists, pharmacists and traditional practitioners; especially outside the UAE can now apply online for a medical license to work in the UAE. They can apply for the fully operational online Examination & Evaluation System (EES), in their own country, thus reducing costs and time, with even the fee being paid electronically.
