The majority of the Indians working in Saudi Arabia are involved in the mining and hospitality sectors. But in the last few years, there has been a considerable rise in the number of Indian doctors, nurses, and medical technicians moving to KSA. The extensively growing healthcare industry, tax-free salary, high standard of living, and multi-cultural society are some of the reasons why you can consider healthcare jobs in Saudi Arabia. 

But finding a job and actually moving to Saudi Arabia are two very different things. Right from the working conditions, average salary, living expenses, to common challenges, there are several things you should know about before making a decision.

In this guide, you will learn more about;

1. Expected Working Hours and Average Salary of Healthcare Professionals in the country
2. Lifestyle and Weather in Saudi Arabia
3. Languages Healthcare Professionals Need to Learn
4. Challenges faced by Healthcare Professionals

Working Hours and Average Salary of Healthcare Professionals in Saudi Arabia

Just like other professions, healthcare professionals like nurses, doctors, and even medical technicians are hired on a contractual basis in Saudi Arabia. The contract duration is generally 12-24 months. You can know more about the working hours in your hiring contract.

Medical staff and doctors generally work around 45-60 hours per week at most medical facilities and hospitals. The standard workweek is divided into day and night shifts. Note that the weekend in Saudi Arabia is on Friday and Saturday. Sunday is considered the first day of the week.

Talking about the average salary, 

• Registered Nurses (RNs) can earn between SAR 4,000 (Rs.77,000) to SAR 10,000 (Rs. 190,000) per month. Specialty nurses, such as critical care nurses and mental care nurses, generally earn more than a staff nurse.  
• For doctors, it can range from SAR 10,000 to SAR 18,000 based on the specialty and experience.  
• If you are a medical technologist, you can expect to earn an average monthly compensation of SAR 4,000 to SAR 8,000. Again, your education, experience, skills, and location can abundantly impact your monthly compensation.  

Most medical and nursing jobs in Saudi Arabia also come with accommodation and transport benefits. Prefer jobs with such additional benefits as accommodations can be expensive in cities like Riyadh. Also, some of the reputed hospitals offer bonuses on contract completion as well as flight tickets. 

What about the Lifestyle and Weather in Saudi Arabia?

As Saudi Arabia is home to a large number of expatriates from all over the world, it has a fairly multi-cultural society. Contrary to how KSA is generally advertised, it is actually one of the safest places to live in the world as long as you follow the local laws and customs. There is also a widespread belief among women looking for healthcare and jobs for nurses in Saudi Arabia that every woman is required to wear a hijab in Saudi Arabia. This again is untrue. 

There is no need for women to cover their faces or hair unless they want to. Just ensure that you dress modestly in public, and there shouldn’t be any problem regarding your clothes or appearance. Also, Saudi Arabia is not just a vast desert. It has beaches, malls, souks, and several historical sites that you can visit during the holidays.

Apart from some places like Asir, the majority of Saudi Arabia has a desert climate. The temperatures are high during the day and can drop significantly at night. Annual rainfall is very low and is mostly observed between October and February. The average summer temperature can be around 40°C to 45°C but can also cross 50°C. During winters, the average daily temperature is in the range of 25°C to 15°C. 

Do You Need to Speak Arabic to Get a Healthcare Job in Saudi Arabia?

While Arabic is the official language of Saudi Arabia, ex-pats don’t need to know this language. English is very commonly spoken as the majority of the population here is that of ex-pats. Moreover, in most hospitals and healthcare facilities, there are generally ward clerks and translators to help you communicate with local patients.

Some of the hospitals also offer basic Arabic language courses to their ex-pat staff. Moreover, Arabic is not really a very difficult language to learn, and you will easily pick up basic work-related words in a few days.

Challenges of Working in Saudi Arabia 

While a large number of ex-pats not just from India but several other countries like Syria, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka enjoy rewarding healthcare jobs in Saudi Arabia, there are also a few challenges you should know about. Some of the most common ones are as follows-

* Lack of Medical Staff

Just like most parts of the world, Saudi Arabia, too, is struggling with an acute shortage of medical staff. A large number of doctors regularly complain about a lack of radiology technicians, laboratory technicians, and nurse shortages.

So, while this means that this can be an excellent time to find a healthcare job in KSA, the work will be physically and mentally challenging. Your work shifts can belong, and you might be required to see several patients every day.

* Technological Infrastructure

While most of the hospitals and healthcare facilities now have high-end medical equipment and services, they are unavailable at some private hospitals. For instance, some of the facilities still do not have X-ray and ultrasound equipment or laboratory services that are now otherwise commonly available. 

If you are planning to move to Saudi Arabia, ensure that you only rely on reputed manning agencies so that you land a job at one of the well-equipped medical facilities.

The post Healthcare professionals from India relocating to Saudi Arabia: Things to know appeared first on ALM International.

For a healthcare professional who is searching for an opportunity abroad, this makes the UAE a great option. Some of the other top reasons for moving to the UAE include-

• Tax-free income
• Multi-cultural workforce
• World-class infrastructure
• Great quality of living
• Safety and security  

In this guide, you’ll learn;

1. What are the average salaries for doctors, medical technicians, and nursing jobs in Dubai? 
2. What are the common challenges faced by healthcare professionals and how to overcome them?
3.  Is it necessary to be fluent in Arabic before moving to the UAE? 

What is the Average Salary for Healthcare Professionals in the UAE?

The average salary of ex-pat doctors in the UAE abundantly depends on their specialization. For instance, a Physician could earn anywhere between AED 12,000 to AED 20,000 in private clinics and hospitals. Someone like a Cardiologist or a Neurologist could earn between AED 20,000 to AED 35,000. 

Talking about the Indian nurses in the UAE, their monthly salary is mostly between AED 4,000 and AED 10,000. For medical technicians, the monthly income can range from AED 2,000 to AED 7,000. Specialization and work experience could significantly impact the monthly income of nurses and technicians too.   

Also, many of the healthcare jobs in UAE come with additional benefits such as accommodation, travel allowance, and even bonus on contract completion. Such benefits are mostly available when you work at top private clinics and healthcare facilities.  

Is Arabic a Requirement in the UAE?

While Arabic is the official language in the UAE, English is very popular as more than 80% of the people here are foreigners. Indians make up for around 27% of the population of the UAE as per a news report on Gulf News. 

For healthcare and nursing jobs in Dubai, you can appear for OET (Occupational English Test) to increase your chances of landing a job. There are now professional OET training centres which most of the healthcare professionals rely upon for clearing the exam.

Top Challenges of Working and Living in the UAE for Healthcare Professionals 

While millions of Indians enjoy a rewarding career in the UAE, there are also some challenges one should know about before making a decision. Some of the most common ones are as follows-

1. Rising Healthcare Competition

As the UAE is aiming to become a global healthcare leader, newer and larger healthcare facilities are being opened very rapidly. This has significantly increased the competition for smaller independent clinics. In fact, many of them have already shut their shops in the past few years.

Medical zoning is currently being considered to reduce the competition. But Indians looking for doctor or nurse vacancy in Dubai or other parts of the UAE should select their employer carefully. 

2. Challenging Eligibility Requirements

The eligibility requirements for healthcare jobs are known to be very challenging in Dubai. For instance, nurses are required to have a professional bachelor’s degree in nursing with adequate documentation proof. They should also have at least one year of nursing experience in India. In the past, even nurses with a diploma in nursing were able to get a job in the UAE. 

Moreover, to become a licensed nurse in the UAE, you will have to gain at least two years of working experience in the UAE and appear for licensing exams. Due to the complex eligibility requirements, most people searching for healthcare jobs in the UAE prefer working with reliable manning agencies. 

3. High Cost of Living

The UAE, especially places like Dubai, are known to be very expensive. Right from the accommodation, food, electricity, taxi fare, internet, to other necessities, you will need decent savings every month to live a comfortable life. 

Even phone calls to India are expensive and most internet-based free calling services are banned in the UAE. But as mentioned above, some employers do offer free accommodation and other incentives. Also, most of the UAE has an excellent bus and metro network that is highly affordable. 

4. Multi-Cultural Workforce

The multi-cultural workforce can be an advantage for some but also a major disadvantage for many. Not everyone looking for healthcare jobs in UAE will be comfortable working with people from different parts of the world. 

More than 80% of the population in the UAE is that of ex-pats from many different parts of the world like the Philippines, Pakistan, Sri Lanks, Egypt, China, and more. So, your workplace would mostly have a strong mix of people who have different religions, beliefs, and ethics. However, as long as you are fluent in the English language, you should be able to sail through with ease.

5. Limited Socialization

Social gatherings are not very common in the UAE, even though the majority of people here are foreigners. Most of the places do have large Indian communities, and even most of the festivals like Diwali are celebrated with a lot of fanfare.   But things are not as social as what you find back in India. 

Most ex-pats prefer keeping to themselves, and chances are you might not even know who your neighbours are.

6. Summers are Very Hot

The UAE is well-known for its summer temperatures. During the summer season (May-October), the temperature can easily cross 45°C. While accommodations, offices, hospitals, and almost everything, including metro and bus stations, are air-conditioned, summers are generally not known to be very comfortable. 

Also, in winters, the temperature during the night can fall up to 12°C to 15°C. This again is not very comforting for someone not used to the chilly weather and looking for healthcare jobs in UAE. But most accommodations do have adequate heating facilities as well. 

Shifting to the UAE for a Rewarding Career in the Growing Healthcare Industry   

The healthcare industry in the UAE is rapidly growing and evolving. This means there are adequate opportunities for deserving candidates. If you are a nurse, doctor, or technician looking for a professional opportunity in a foreign country, several valuable reasons make the UAE a great choice. 

Just like other countries, there are some challenges of shifting and living in the UAE. But as long as you are eligible, hard-working, open to changes, and working with a reputable employment agency, you are bound to succeed in the thriving healthcare industry of the UAE. 

Land the Perfect Healthcare Job in Dubai

For more than three decades, we have been helping Indian healthcare professionals find rewarding opportunities in the UAE. Our expert career consultants are with you at every step of the process to help you-

• Understand eligibility, qualification, and visa requirements for healthcare jobs in the UAE
• Submit job applications
• Provide OET training 
• Land jobs at top hospitals and healthcare facilities 

Contact us today to know more about our services and take the first step towards building a better tomorrow.

The post Living and Working in UAE – A Quick Guide for Healthcare Professionals appeared first on ALM International.