Physiotherapy in Dubai!

Fancy working in a land of desert, riches and Arabian nights?!
Well Dubai has all this and much more to offer!

Dubai is a city in the United Arab Emirates located in the Middle East. Home to the tallest building in the world (The Burj Khalifa), this city thrives on innovation to improve its business and tourism industries. The official language spoken here is Arabic but English is also widely used. The city is a highly cosmopolitan city with a large community of expatriates and a high quality healthcare system. The Dubai Healthcare city (DHCC) was launched to meet the demand for high-quality, patient-centred healthcare. Today, DHCC is home to two hospitals, over 120 outpatient medical centres and diagnostic laboratories with over 3700 licensed professionals occupying 4.1 million square feet in the heart of Dubai.

In order to work as a physiotherapist in Dubai, physiotherapy graduates must have at least two years experience working as a physiotherapist. Senior physiotherapists require minimum 7 years work experience, or 5 years with a Masters degree.

The requirements for registration with the Dubai Health Authority are as follows:

• Bachelor degree in physiotherapy
• Proof of work experience (minimum 2 years)
• Licence to practice – obtained through the Dubai Health Authority online
• Completed Dubai Health Authority assessment (An online application for professional licensure must be completed in order to book an exam)
• Certificate of good standing – application may be filled in through the Dubai Health Authority online
• Sponsorship is required to work in Dubai – a hospital may act as a sponsor once employment has been gained
• Dubai working visa

The total cost of the registration process is €525 and the breakdown of costs can be found below:

Licensing Assessment Fee: €50
Credentialing fee: €40
New Licence fee: €205
DHA assessment test: €130
Certificate of good standing fee: €100
Total: €525


The assessment can be a computer based exam or an oral exam. The results are valid for one year after completion of the assessment and it can be sat a maximum of three times. Further information can be found on:http://www.dha.gov.ae/EN/SectorsDirectorates/Directorates/HealthRegulation/MedicalComplaint/Documents/Chapter6-DHA%20Assessment.pdf

The salary of a physiotherapist varies depending on one's nationality and university of study. European degrees are highly regarded and you could earn up to €8,275 per month. 

The working week is on average between 40 and 48 hours, with Friday as the Muslim day of rest.
Although Dubai has a very diverse society, Islam is the predominant religion. This must be respected and expatriates must be mindful of local traditions.

Some useful websites include The Dubai Health Authority: http://www.dha.gov.ae/EN/SectorsDirectorates/Directorates/HealthRegulation/HealthProfessionals/Alliedhealth/Pages/AlliedHealth.aspx
The Dubai Healthcare City: http://www.dhcc.ae/
Definitely Dubai: http://living.definitelydubai.com/facts-a-figures

 

So when you've got your two years experience, consider moving to Dubai for an incredible adventure and sun all year round!

SOF