Dubai is a country that attracts many American people every year. They often wish to change their living environment in this first country of the United Arab Emirates.
Good news, if you are a nurse, you have a good chance of finding a job in a Dubai hospital. In addition, you can enjoy an attractive salary.
Indeed, the nurse’s salary in Dubai varies between $1,000 to $4,000. It all depends on your experience and the structure that welcomes you. All the explanations are in the following lines.
The Salary of a Nurse in Dubai
Generally speaking, for the same positions, salaries are higher in Dubai than in the United States. For example, a nurse can earn up to $4,000 per month.
The salary is set according to the experience level and the employee’s specialty. As a nurse, the salary can also vary depending on the structure for which you work (American Clinic, public hospital, private practice, etc.).
Through this table, discover the average nurse’s salary in Dubai.
| Employment | Monthly salary in United Arab Emirates dirham (AED) | Equivalence of monthly salary in dollars |
| Nurse in a private hospital | Between AED 4,000 – 8,000 | Between $ 1,000 – 2,000 |
| Nurse in a public hospital | Between AED 6,000 – 15,000 | Between $ 1,500 – 4,000 |
| Home Care Nurse | Between AED 5,000 – 9,000 | Between $ 1,200 – 2,300 |
| Nurse in aesthetics | Between AED 7,000 – 15,000 | Between $ 1,800 – 4,000 |
| Dental Nurse | Between AED 6,000 – 9,000 | Between $ 1,500 – 2,300 |
| School Nurse | Between AED 4,000 – 9,000 | Between $ 1,000 – 2,300 |
Working as an American Nurse in Dubai: What You Need to Know Before You Start
Generally, nursing positions in the United Arab Emirates are filled by people from Southeast Asia. However, Americans can also hope to get a job there.
As an American, you can apply for jobs in hospitals and clinics, but you will have to show your added value and stand out from the competition.
As a nurse, your profession entitles you to sponsor your spouse and children. Thanks to family reunification, you will have no problem obtaining visas for your entire family.
Once there, you can sign a full-time or part-time contract. Depending on the structure, you may have to work nights or days. Working hours vary depending on the facility. Generally, you could get hired for eight, nine, or twelve hours shifts.
Becoming a Nurse in Dubai in Practice: Two Options
To become a nurse in Dubai, you have two options:
- Study directly in Dubai
- Obtain an equivalence if you have received your diploma in a different country.
1. Study in Dubai
The first option to become a nurse in Dubai is to study locally to obtain a Dubai diploma.
In this case, you can take a bachelor’s degree in nursing (also called BSN). It takes two to four years and costs an average of AED 20,000 per semester.
You can take face-to-face classes at the university or opt for online courses (with a minimum of hours of classes at the university). In the latter case, you will be required to complete an internship at the end of your academic career to validate your studies.
2. Achieve Equivalency
If you are already a nurse in the United States and have an American diploma, you can also obtain an equivalence.
You must contact the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) to do so. The DHA is the health authority of Dubai. The structure defines the country’s health policies and strategies.
To pass your equivalency, you must meet certain conditions. In this case, you must:
- Hold a nursing degree obtained after three years of study
- Hold a certificate that validates your knowledge of first aid techniques
- Have two full years of experience as a nurse.
If these three conditions are met, you can fill out your file to obtain your equivalence. Equivalence’s application costs between 1,000 and 1,500 AED (between $250 to $300).
You will be asked for different documents to apply for your equivalence:
- Your passport
- Passport photos
- Your diploma
- Your first aid certificate
- Two professional recommendations from previous employers.
Once all the documents have been checked and validated by the Dubai administration, you must take an exam. The exam is a multiple choice test to check your knowledge. To obtain the validation of your equivalence, you will have to bring at least 60% correct answers. This test costs 250 AED (between $50 to $70).
The whole process can take between three to six months. At the end of this process, you will obtain a certificate of qualification that allows you to work as a nurse in Dubai.
Now you know how to work as a nurse in a hospital in Dubai. Since the process is relatively long, it is best to prepare this project well in advance.
