Dubai

[Mel]

Hi can anyone give me information about Physiotherapy jobs in Dubai? I'm shifting there at some stage this year as my husband has a job lined up and friends there.
It seems all the hospitals are asking for 3 years post graduate experience, is there anyway around this? For registration only a minimum of a 2 year diploma and 1 years experience is required (correct me if I'm wrong). I am a New Zealander having completed a 4 year bachelors degree and currently have 13 months post graduate experience. I want to stay in a hospital setting so any advise would be much appreciated.
Can anyone give me a guide of physiotherapy salaries in Dubai? Also is there much scope for cardiorespiratory physio's there?
Thanks.

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[Aisha_kb]

Hey there NewZealander!

Well, as you planning to live in Dubai, you will have to first register with the DOH (Dubai Ministry of Health) where you will be interviewed and accordingly registered. If you plan to apply at the government hospitals in Dubai, you will need to register with the MOH (Ministry of Health, AbuDhabi) and that involves a written test after which if you pass you will go through an interview and after that you get registered or not.

Each of the registration requires 2 years post qualification experince and there is no other way about it.
Previously, there were bends to the rules, but lately they have become more stern on the rules.

Hope the information helps somehow.

:-)

[Mel]

Hi, thanks for your reply. I'm quite confused because I'm looking at 2 different websites that both give different information.
On the Ministry of Health UAE website it says only 1 years post graduate experience is required.
http://www.moh.gov.ae/moh_site/techn...siotherapy.htm
But on the Department of Health & Medical Services website it says a minumum of 2 years.
http://eapp.dohms.gov.ae/mpt/main/Intro.htm
I have tried to email for clarification but have recieved no reply yet. Can anyone explain this to me or does anyone have the contact details of who I should talk to?
Thanks

[emad]

I do not think they will reply to emails at the MOH , the physiotherapy society in UAE replies you can cotact them for clarification .

Cheers
Emad

[Aisha_kb]

Hey,

Emad is right. The ministries will not reply and clarify your quiries, and its pointless for you to try and call from there.
The first site is of the MOH of Abudhabi and the second one is of Dubai.
It is as i told you earlier, each emirate has its own rules and regulations regarding this matter.
For the DOH/DOHM you definately need 2 years experience.

Where as for MOH, i would not rely solely on the site information as they donot update it that often.

Do, contact the Emirates Physiotherapy Society. They may be able to help you further.

Good luck.

[emad]

Hello Aisha :

I think the contact of the Physiotherapy Society is ,http://www.uaephysio.org/contact_us/

Correct me if it is wrong .

Cheers
Emad

[Aisha_kb]

Yup. That is the right one.

[Mel]

Thanks for your help

[emad]

Mel ;

You need to think and re-think before taking the decision . As , I believe the system there is not like what we usually expect , e.g. you can not apply for registration while you are overseas in NZ , as well you can not apply legally except there is a national Emirates Responsible for you ,as well if this Resposible get angry at you ,he has all the right legally to declare non-supporting of you ,in that case you have to search for another responsible . However , I think huge hospitals are working in good way , thus what I explained may be in private local small investments .

I have before declared my objection for advertising male/female jobs which i think was advertised from UAE at its time 2 weeks ago , i saw it as non -equality and basing to basic human rights , as well another advertisment i remember i see its typical advertising searching for physiotherapists with New Zealanders and Australian passports ......This was the condation /requirment of the job ...... Another type of basing ...Which is really reaches the level of discrimination when paying salaries on the basis of nationalities ...THey give the Indian Physiotherapist and Philipnes too too too little salaries than European one .....Acually, i am NOT sure if the salary is competence-based or not .

Hope I am not offending anyone ...I am just critising non-human equality .

Cheers
Emad

[Mel]

I hear what you're saying. I've also noticed similar job ads and huge inconsistencies in salaries. And at the moment I'm getting frustrated at the lack of information and help available for foriegn physio's wanting to work over there. If it wasn't for my husband I would have given up on the idea by now because there's plenty of opertunities here. But he has been wanting to go over there for a couple years now, he has close friends and a brother living there. My husband has a job lined up so it's my understanding that he will be able to sponsor me but I don't want to get there and find out I can't register. I've tried emailing Emirates Physiotherapy Society but my emails have been returned saying that the email addresses are no longer active. They also have a forum but most of the enquires on it have not been answered. So it looks like I will have to go over for a visit before we make a final decission.

[emad]

To be honest ,Just all are knowldge and data collected through experience ,i have never met any from there ,never gonna there .

I think the finanical income is extremely high will be for you and him too , as his brother is there ,so it is very easy just take a tour . Never mind ,take it easy .

They are trying to be liberal as possible , and that is good .

Good Luck

[Aisha_kb]

He he... TRYING to be liberal is the right word here.
I am a graduated physio working in the Emirates and an expatriate.
:-) So i would be the perfect person to clarify all that is being said here.

I have been working at a private hospital for almost two years and sadly, i have not been able to be registered coz of the incompetencies of the LAW!!! :-S
I have all the necessary certificates, but unfortunately not the xperience. Thus, i am working under the title of Physiotherapy RESIDENT / TRAINEE!!!! while carrying the full work load & responsibilities of a physio department.

Mel, you really have to think it over about coming here, but with your certificate and nationality, you have a good chance to land a good job here. To be safe, i would advice you to complete your few months left to complete a full 2 years of work experience and come with a letter stating that. Coz, it might say that you need 1 year experience on the MOH site, but the story can so easily change when you are here and there will be nothing you can do about it.

There is definite salary discrepancies based on nationalities and above that, there is no REAL labour laws, what you might think is unjust will remain your opinion and unchangeable.

I am not trying to put this country down, they are trying, they have just issued a law in Dubai where they will be fixing the salary scales for each profession. They are also trying to bring up health insurance schemes (which you donot necesary have with any institution you work for) and such.

It would be better you come down and take a look around. You could go to a couple of hospitals and ask around too. As they say, Better the devil you know, than the devil you dont.

;-)

[physiobob]

I hear what you're saying. I've also noticed similar job ads and huge inconsistencies in salaries. And at the moment I'm getting frustrated at the lack of information and help available for foriegn physio's wanting to work over there. If it wasn't for my husband I would have given up on the idea by now because there's plenty of opertunities here. But he has been wanting to go over there for a couple years now, he has close friends and a brother living there. My husband has a job lined up so it's my understanding that he will be able to sponsor me but I don't want to get there and find out I can't register. I've tried emailing Emirates Physiotherapy Society but my emails have been returned saying that the email addresses are no longer active. They also have a forum but most of the enquires on it have not been answered. So it looks like I will have to go over for a visit before we make a final decission.

Why don't you look on physiobob's jobs for Jobs in the middle east. There are a few on there and a few internation recruiters have been looking for people. Especially one company from Australia. Maybe if you initially make some contact via them this would be a useful way forward?

E.g. for Saudi these guys are advertising and I know they are looking at the whole middle east http://www.physiobob.com/fulldetails.aspx?iJobID=610

[emad]

Nothing will be covered forever .The humanism ,human rights and values will reach the planet .The time is changing ,no-one will violate humans forever .we will speak .... We will say it loudly ...... We sacrificed enough .... All such acts of discrimination should be stopped .

Anyway , the suggsation of those companies and such advertisments is the best choice ,because they will obtain the licence for you Mel .

Aisha, Is your nationality hinder( causes troubles in obtaining licence ) you ? If you do not like to reply ..tHat is Okay !


Emad

[Aisha_kb]

Well, yes, i feel so.

How else could u xplain the fact i have applied to the private as well as government hospitals and got no response from them, or they tell me that they have no vacancies, when i know for a fact they r hiring physios who r brought down directly from South Africa, Austrailia, UK, and r of the same status as me.... i would be more advantageous as i know Arabic as well and am familiar with the region.

Other private clinics would offer me a much less salary than a westerner applying for the same post at the same time.

These differences was made up coz many other nationalities (specifically Indians) have been willing to work at low salaries, thus those who want to earn a decent salary get caught up coz if we dont take the job, there will always be another who will at the same pay... The companies do not feel the pressure to have to raise their pay.
As we need to earn the experience, we have no way out....

Quiet a hopeless situation huh

[Mel]

I have tried to go through a recruitment company (Allied Health Employment)but they said I would not be able to get work unless I had 3 years experience and said I needed 3 years to gain registration. I have heard back from the Emirates Physiotherapy Society who confirmed as you said that 2 years experience is essential in Dubai but they said they did not know the requirements for Abu Dhabi.
I may have to stick out my 2 years here in NZ but I'll try all other options first because my husbands job offer is only open for so long. He is not a Westerner like me so I know what you mean by being descriminated against by nationality. Some of his friends (they are not physios though) could earn much more in the same position in NZ but then others have some how broken through that barrier and are earning very well but it is definately easier for Westerners from what they say.
Is it actual physio's doing the hiring at the hospitals there? coz surely it will make their job much easier if they pick the best candidate for the job unstead of picking nationalities! I have been warned things like this will frustrate me but then I have heard many positive things about Dubai also.
Well I will try some more recruitment companies and see if I can make some progress with Abu Dhabi instead. Haven't given up yet :-)

[Aisha_kb]

That is good for you Mel! dont give up.
And i guess it applies to anywhere in the world, there will be good things and bad things. You need to weigh your options and decide which side of the scale would you prefer to go. right!
wise decision to complete your years there. Will be added weightage to your employment prospects. Meanwhile, if you could also do various certificate courses, would be great too, like anything from Manual therapy, hydro therapy, certain techniques.

sadly, it is not other physios who hire out here. Most physiotherapy department are headed by an orthopedician or a Doctor of Phycial Medicine (Physiatrist) this is especially true for the government hospitals. So, the ones doing the hiring are these people. infact, the ones giving the interview for the registration exams are them too!!!!!!

[Mel]

Just one more question if anyone can help. I'm considering specialising in the area of cardiorespiratory physiotherapy (although its abit too early to decide yet) I'm currently working in ICU and really enjoying it. Do physiotherapists in UAE cover respiratory also or are there seperate respiratory therapist?

[Aisha_kb]

Yes, physios here do cover CardioRespiratory. It all depends on what type of institution you work in.
Big hospitals, usually hire respiratory therapists and physios, thus dividing the duties.... Where as other hospitals hire physios and assign them in various departments and accordingly either rotate them in between the various departments or leave them there.
So if you specialise in CardioRespiratory, you can very well get assigned to handle ICU and Ward patients or work in out patient as well as in patient, according to necessity.
I do both.

[Dr. Karen George]

I am in the same situation as Mel is here...and am totally dishearted with the job prospects...foremost being an Indian and having just a year of experience...I dont have much choice and time either..will be coming to Dubai in September after my marriage on a residence visa....I think Ill be stagnant at home..just a housewife...would changing into hospital administration be advisable..? R there any courses available for the same...?

[meg55]

I'm reading all the difficulties you guys are facing being the wrong nationality, not enough experience etc etc ... just wondering if they're ageist and sexist as well as racist. I've been out of the workforce for some years. Could I hear from people who have worked in the Middle East whether they seem to employ older people? I'm a woman in my 50s.

[emad]

Well , when the culture( competence ) of the Responsible for recuriting is low they will not consider applicant's competence . Competence is not their priority in recuriting , westerns when go there get infected from them ,doing what they like to gain money ,meaning If there is westerner responsible for recuriting s/he will behave as middle east origins even more ..hahaha....But ,my view as you are NZer they often advert wanting Physios. from NZ and Australia ( Ozis) . I do not know about age ! After oil finishes they might be nice !!!
cheers
Emad

[mtv_physio]

hi guys

i am hearin u. am an indian ,nw in dubai thro visit visa.came down to write moh but unfortunately rules hav been changed and didnt announce the dates.so frustrated..cud i find a job without licence ?have got 5 years of experience.even my wife is a physio...could anyone guide me in searchin for a job.

with many thanks
thanigai

[Rephysio]

Hello everybody, I'm already in Dubai and having some problems. Like was mention before sometimes they ask for 1 year experience another for 2 years.

Mel, if you came to Dubai bring as much documents as possible, check if you do not need an embassy UAE stamp recognazing your graduation and graduation historical. The asked me all this things.

Anyway, now I'm preparing to the Minitery of Health exam.
I would like to know if anyone have some tips and clue that could help me. Some link in the internet to try, like a simulator? Is that a hard one?
And I would like to congratulate a really good and helpfull chat.
Chers

[imiraclee]

Dear Mel,

i am here in dubai from many more then 5 years...

regarding writing you MOH exam it is MCQs and most of questions are clinical based...
so if you have some exp it shouldn't be a problem...

as long as working as Cardio respiratory in the hospitals under MOH you can work but in dubai govt sectors this is done by Respiratory therapist

If you need any futher information you can write to me..

Jani