GP Jobs in Dubai: DHA Licence, Salary and How Clinics Hire
GP jobs in Dubai: DHA General Practitioner requirements, the GEN5331 exam and exemptions, where GPs work, where jobs are posted and cited salary ranges.
To work as a GP in Dubai you need a DHA licence with the General Practitioner title: a medical degree of at least five years, a one-year internship and two years of clinical experience, DataFlow verification and the DHA GP exam (code GEN5331, 150 questions, USD 280, pass mark 60%) unless you hold an exempt qualification such as PLAB, USMLE Step 3, AMC or LMCC. Most GP jobs are in private polyclinics, hospital outpatient and urgent care, and home healthcare. Survey and recruiter data put GP pay at roughly AED 15,000 to 45,000 a month.
Last checked: 26 October 2026
The DHA GP licence requirements
DHA uses the UAE's unified Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR). For the General Practitioner title:
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Degree | MBBS, MBChB or equivalent from an accredited medical school, with at least five years of study (internship year not counted) |
| Internship | One year (12 months) after graduation. Without proof of internship, two extra years of experience are needed |
| Experience | Two years of clinical experience after internship |
| Accepted experience | Cardiology, critical care, emergency medicine, family medicine, general surgery, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, or paediatrics |
| Licence at home | A valid licence in your home country or country of last employment |
| Gap of practice | Over three years needs extra CPD and supervised training (80 credits and six months for a three to four year gap). Non-UAE nationals generally cannot apply with a gap over five years |
UAE nationals and graduates of UAE medical schools are exempt from the experience requirement within three years of finishing internship.
The DHA GP exam
From DHA's CBT guideline, updated September 2026:
| Exam | Code | Questions / time | Fee | Pass mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Practice | GEN5331 | 150 / 3 hours | USD 280 | 60% |
| Specialist Family Medicine | FAM5871 | 150 / 3 hours | USD 280 | 60% |
| Laser Hair Reduction (privilege) | LHR6103 | 70 / 2 hours | USD 180 | 60% |
The GP paper covers chronic disease, acute medical problems, paediatrics, women's health, emergencies, common surgical, psychiatric, eye, ENT and skin problems, epidemiology and evidence-based medicine, family medicine concepts and screening. DHA's reading list includes Toronto Notes, Davidson's, Harrison's and Kumar and Clark. Results show only Pass or Fail. You get three attempts across all UAE authorities. See our DHA exam guide for booking at Prometric.
Who skips the GP exam
The PQR exempts GP applicants with a valid pass in one of these:
- UK: PLAB 1 and 2, or GMC-accredited UK medical degree, or valid GMC registration for non-UK graduates whose PLAB is past its five-year validity
- USA: USMLE Step 3 (listed as Part III)
- Australia: both parts of the AMC exam, or an AMC-accredited Australian degree
- Canada: Licentiate of the Medical Council of Canada (LMCC)
- Ireland: both parts of PRES, or an Irish Medical Council accredited degree
- New Zealand: NZREX, or an accredited New Zealand degree
- UAE: Emirates Medical Residency Entrance Examination (EMREE)
The exemption covers only the exam. Verification and experience rules still apply.
The licensing path, step by step
- Complete the free self-assessment in Sheryan to confirm GP eligibility. See our Sheryan login guide.
- Start DataFlow verification of your degree, internship, licence and experience letters. See DataFlow for DHA.
- Pass the GP exam, unless exempt.
- Receive your DHA registration (eligibility). It is valid for one year from issue, per the DHA licensing manual.
- Accept an offer. The employer activates your licence in Sheryan, for one, two or three years, and you need malpractice insurance. See our malpractice insurance guide.
- Complete the work permit and visa medical.
Full fees are in our DHA licence guide. To renew, physicians need 40 CPD points a year. See DHA licence renewal.
Where GPs work in Dubai
| Setting | What the job looks like |
|---|---|
| Private polyclinics and medical centres | The biggest GP employer. High outpatient volume, insurance patients, often extended hours |
| Private hospitals | Outpatient GP clinics, urgent care, and emergency department roles for GPs with emergency experience |
| Government primary care | Dubai Health runs ambulatory health centres and medical fitness centres, recruiting through Dubai Careers |
| Home healthcare | Home visits and doctor-on-call services. DHA counted 249 home care facilities in the first half of 2026, up 22.7% (Khaleej Times) |
| Aesthetic and wellness clinics | Non-surgical cosmetic work. Supervising laser hair and IPL procedures needs a separate privilege, open to GPs with at least five years of non-surgical cosmetic experience |
| Corporate and school clinics | On-site occupational or school health roles |
A GP can also hold one part-time licence at a second facility, with the full-time employer's approval.
Where GP jobs are posted
- DHA Sheryan Opportunities: vacancies from DHA-licensed facilities, with a physician category.
- Dubai Health careers: government primary care and hospitals. See our DHA careers guide.
- Private hospital and clinic groups' own portals, for example Mediclinic, Aster, NMC and American Hospital Dubai. Our hospital jobs guide lists more.
- Doctor recruitment agencies. Use only firms that do not charge candidates. MOHRE says recruitment costs fall on the employer (Gulf News).
What employers ask GPs for
- DHA status. Licensed or eligible, with your registration number on page one of your CV.
- Relevant experience. Emergency, family medicine or internal medicine experience is easiest to place.
- Insurance documentation. Accurate coding and notes affect claim approvals, so clinics value GPs who know insurance workflows.
- Languages. Adverts for patient-facing roles often list Arabic as an advantage.
- Flexibility. Shift, weekend and late-evening rotas are common in walk-in clinics.
GP salary in Dubai
There is no public pay scale for private GPs. Two published sources:
| Source | Role | Monthly figure (AED) |
|---|---|---|
| Allocation Assist, Dubai Healthcare Salary Guide 2026 (recruiter) | General practitioner | 15,000 to 45,000 |
| Paylab UAE salary survey | Doctor (general medicine), middle 80% of reports | 14,580 to 38,769 gross |
Treat these as ranges, not offers. In practice, ask about:
- Basic versus total. End-of-service gratuity is based on basic salary.
- Revenue share. Many private clinics pay a fixed salary plus a percentage of collections above a target. Get the formula in writing, including how insurance rejections are treated.
- Allowances and cover. Housing, transport, flights, family health insurance, licence fees, CPD support and malpractice cover.
For specialist and consultant pay, see our doctor salary guide.
Moving up from GP
To be licensed as Specialist Family Medicine you need a recognised specialty qualification listed in the PQR, then the DHA family medicine exam unless exempt. Experience as a GP alone does not convert to a specialist title.
Frequently asked questions
How can I work as a GP in Dubai?
Get a DHA licence with the General Practitioner title: Sheryan self-assessment, DataFlow verification, the GP exam unless exempt, then registration. A Dubai employer then hires you and activates the licence.
How many years of experience do I need for a GP licence in Dubai?
Two years of clinical experience after a one-year internship. UAE nationals and UAE medical graduates are exempt within three years of internship.
What is the DHA GP exam code and fee?
General Practice, code GEN5331: 150 questions in three hours, USD 280, pass mark 60%, taken at Prometric centres.
Can I work as a GP in Dubai with PLAB?
Yes. A valid PLAB 1 and 2 pass exempts you from the DHA GP exam. You still need DataFlow verification and two years of post-internship experience.
What is the salary of a GP in Dubai?
Recruiter Allocation Assist's 2026 guide gives AED 15,000 to 45,000 a month. Paylab's survey shows most doctors earning about AED 14,600 to 38,800 a month gross.
Can a GP work in a second clinic in Dubai?
Yes, a GP can hold one part-time DHA licence alongside a full-time licence, with approval from the full-time facility.
Opening or growing a GP clinic in Dubai? Access One runs Google Ads that bring in new patients.
Sources
- Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR): Physicians and exam equivalency (PDF)
- DHA Healthcare Professional Licensing Assessment Guideline (CBT), September 2026 (PDF)
- DHA Manual for Licensing Healthcare Professionals, July 2025 (PDF)
- DHA Sheryan: Opportunities
- Dubai Health: Careers
- Allocation Assist: Dubai Healthcare Salary Guide 2026
- Paylab: Doctor salary, United Arab Emirates
- Khaleej Times: Dubai health sector figures, H1 2026
- Gulf News: MOHRE warns of fake job offers
Published 26 Oct 2026 · Access One
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