Middle East FAQs

Do I need a work permit?
A work permit is an absolute must.  It is illegal to work in the Middle East without one. This is issued together with the residency visa once a blood test/ small medical has been done.

How long can I work there?
Work contracts generally cover a two-year period, but exceptions do exist. Almost all health related contracts are one-year contracts. You could work in these countries as long as you like, but contracts then have to be renewed when they expire. In almost all cases the employers prefer employees who are prepared to work at their company for longer periods.

Where will I live?
The employer usually provides fully furnished accommodation. This could be a villa, townhouse or a studio (flat), depending on your level of seniority. Some hospitals' nursing staff could be expected to share a two-bedroom flat. Many companies (employers) have their own ‘compounds’ where their staff live. A compound normally consists of the various types of accommodation mentioned, a grocery store, restaurant, dry cleaner, gymnasium, tennis courts and of course a swimming pool.

Can I bring my family with me?

This depends on the employment contract – this could be either Married Status or Single/Bachelor Status.

The status of a contract is directly related to the seniority of the position. A Bachelor/Single status contract includes the employee only. Employees on a single status contract will be in shared accommodations with other hospital employees of the same sex, but will have their own room.

A Married Status contract includes the whole family. The employer is paying for suitable family accommodation, air tickets, medical cover and normally school fees. In practice, employees would approach their employer after working for a few months, requesting permission for the family to join the employee. Permission might be granted, but on the condition that the employee carry all costs. The best time to negotiate a Married Status contract is when your contract is up for renewal.

Can my family visit me?
Family can of course visit. It is quite a long process to arrange such a visit to Saudi Arabia (up to three months), but a visit to the UAE (Dubai) can be arranged within a few days. For employees in Saudi Arabia, it is advised to meet their families in Dubai. It is easier to arrange and also much cheaper.

Can I get permanent residence in UAE or Saudi Arabia

Although you could work in the UAE and Saudi Arabia for many years, you can never become a citizen of these countries.

In Saudi Arabia, Residence permits or ‘Iqamas’ are issued to the worker and the family of professionally qualified employees. Dependents are given residence visas, which don't allow them to seek employment.

Exit visas to leave the Kingdom are required for holders of residence visas. Are there schools for my children?

Due to the cosmopolitan nature of the workforce, schools for almost every nationality can be found in most of the cities, for example Abu Dhabi or Dubai. Two types of private English schools exist, firstly those following the British curriculum and secondly those following the American curriculum.

Can I drive and buy a car?
Any employee can buy and drive a car in the UAE. In Saudi Arabia females are not allowed to drive.

Will I be paid in US$?
Although salaries are normally negotiated in US$, you will in almost all instances be paid in the currency of the respective country.

Can I send money home?
Money can be sent home by electronic transfer, either through a bank or a transfer agency. It normally takes two working days to have the money transferred into your home account. Transfer costs depends on the facility used, banks are generally more costly than transfer agencies.

What are the working hours like?

The standard 'official' week in the UAE now is Sunday through to Thursday although many companies also open on a Saturday as well, ie a 6 day week.

The standard working week is 44 hours. The number of hours in a shift vary from department to department but generally do not exceed 8 hours a day and 4 hours on Thursday (except nurses).

Do I need to know Arabic to work in healthcare in the Middle East?

 It is necessary that candidates have good English language skills and although Arabic language skills are viewed favourably, they are not necessary. English is widely understood throughout the Middle East.

How long will the process take?
There is no set time frame as some hospitals move faster than others with the HR process. You should allow up to 3 months from the time you contact us to the time you are required to leave for the Middle East.