FAQ
Forty questions medical professionals ask about Dubai
Short answers, each consistent with the rest of this site and with its sources. Grouped: professionals, Golden Visa, buying and investing, clinics and commercial, renting and living, pets.
Forty questions, six groups, one set of figures: DHA licensing typically 8 to 16 weeks, Golden Visa property at AED 2 million DLD-assessed, DLD transfer fee 4%, gross yields commonly 5% to 8%, clinic valuations typically 3 to 5 times EBITDA. Last reviewed 22 October 2026.
Professionals
Can a UK dentist or doctor work in Dubai without re-qualifying?
In most cases yes. UK-qualified dentists and doctors apply through the DHA Sheryan portal: primary source verification (DataFlow), the DHA assessment or Prometric exam where required, then a facility sponsor. Timelines of 8 to 16 weeks are typical; the DHA is the authority.
How long does DHA licensing take?
Timelines of 8 to 16 weeks are typical; the DHA is the authority. DataFlow verification is the usual bottleneck, so start before you fly and attest documents in the UK first.
Do I need the Prometric exam?
It depends on profession, qualification and register. Specialists on a UK specialist register are often exempt; many general dentists, nurses and some GPs sit it. The DHA's current criteria on Sheryan decide.
Is a DHA licence valid outside Dubai?
No. Abu Dhabi is the Department of Health, the northern emirates are MOHAP, and the Dubai Healthcare City free zone has its own authority.
Who licenses vets and pharmacists?
Vets: MOCCAE, through the sponsoring clinic. Pharmacists: the DHA for most mainland Dubai employers, MOHAP for some operators. See the vets and pharmacists pages.
What should a first contract say?
The basic salary, the commission percentage and the target that triggers it, who pays licensing and visa costs and any clawback, malpractice cover, hours, probation and notice. Ask before you sign.
Can I apply for jobs before I am licensed?
Yes. An eligibility letter from the DHA is what most employers want to see; the facility does the final activation.
Does Dubaiesque find jobs?
No. I am a property broker, not a recruiter. I explain how clinics hire and introduce where appropriate; the licence, the job and the negotiation are yours.
Golden Visa
What is the Golden Visa property threshold?
A 10-year renewable UAE Golden Visa is available to owners of property valued by the DLD at AED 2 million or more. Since the February 2026 ICP circular, mortgaged and off-plan properties can qualify on the DLD-assessed value with no minimum paid-in amount; a bank NOC is required for mortgaged property. Rules change; eligibility is confirmed at the time of application.
Does a mortgaged or off-plan property qualify?
Yes, since the February 2026 ICP circular, on the DLD-assessed value with no minimum paid-in amount; a bank NOC is required for mortgaged property. Source. Rules change; eligibility is confirmed at application.
Does the value of a clinic business count?
No. Only the DLD-assessed value of real property counts toward the threshold.
Is there a professional route for doctors?
Yes, the ICP's specialised-talent category includes doctors and specialists, with criteria set and confirmed by the ICP. I broker the property route.
Who can I sponsor?
Spouse, children and domestic staff, with attested marriage and birth certificates.
How long is it valid?
Ten years, renewable while you hold a qualifying property, and not tied to an employer.
Buying and investing
What are the costs of buying?
DLD transfer fee 4%; DLD trustee office fee (fixed, ask for the current figure); title deed fees; brokerage 2% plus VAT on secondary purchases, paid by the party engaging the broker, usually paid by the developer on off-plan; mortgage registration 0.25% of the loan; developer NOC fee on resale; 5% VAT on commercial property only.
What are rental yields in Dubai?
Gross rental yields in Dubai commonly fall between 5% and 8% depending on area and property type (DLD and DXB Interact data, October 2026).
Is Dubai property really free of tax?
There is no UAE personal income tax and no capital gains tax on personal property. Your home-country rules may still apply to you (UK and US residents in particular). UAE corporate tax at 9% can apply to business and short-let income above AED 375,000. The Dubai Land Department charges a 4% transfer fee on purchases.
Can a non-resident get a mortgage?
Non-residents can typically borrow up to 50% of the property value; terms vary by bank.
Off-plan or ready?
Off-plan: payment plan, developer usually pays brokerage, RERA escrow protection, no rent until handover. Ready: rent from day one at today's price. See the invest page.
What is freehold?
Full ownership of the unit and its share of the land, available to foreign nationals in designated freehold areas; most of the areas on the area guides are freehold.
How long does a purchase take?
A secondary purchase from offer to transfer typically takes 30 to 45 days when there is no mortgage; a mortgage adds the bank's valuation and approval time. Off-plan is signed and registered on Oqood in days.
Can I sell off-plan before completion?
Usually yes once the developer's resale threshold is met and with the developer's NOC; the threshold is set by the developer and stated in the sale and purchase agreement.
What is Ejari?
The mandatory DLD registration of a tenancy contract, needed before DEWA connects and for family visas.
What are service charges?
Annual per-square-foot charges set by the owners' association and approved by RERA, covering maintenance, security and common areas; check them before buying because they reduce your net yield.
Clinics and commercial
How is a clinic sold in Dubai?
Licensed clinics and polyclinics in Dubai change hands on a dual track: the premises or lease through the DLD, the licence and business through the DHA (Sheryan) and the DET. Valuations are commonly expressed as a multiple of EBITDA (typically 3 to 5 times for established polyclinics) or of revenue for small practices; every deal is different.
How long does a clinic sale take?
Seller side, typically 4 to 8 weeks to a signed letter of intent; buyer side, typically 30 to 60 days to complete. The DHA, DLD and DET set the pace of approvals.
How is a clinic valued?
Typically 3 to 5 times EBITDA for established polyclinics or a revenue multiple for small practices, with premises valued separately. See how dental clinics are valued.
Do you publish clinic listings?
Not without a RERA permit, and never a clinic that is not genuinely for sale. Enquiries are confidential and briefs are shared after an NDA.
What makes premises licensable?
Zoning for clinic use, DHA Health Facility Guidelines, civil defence approval, MEP capacity, parking; FANR for radiology. See DHA-approved premises.
What is the brokerage on a clinic deal?
2% of transaction value plus VAT, minimum by agreement, confirmed in writing before any work starts.
Renting and living
How does renting work?
Choose a RERA-registered broker, view, agree the annual rent (usually paid in one to four cheques) and a security deposit, sign the tenancy, register it on Ejari, then connect DEWA. Pay nothing before the contract.
Can my landlord raise the rent?
Only within the RERA rental index calculator, which caps increases according to how far the current rent is below the market, with 90 days' notice.
What is the cost of living?
It depends on where and how you live; I do not publish figures because they date quickly. Rent is the big number, followed by schools, health insurance and a car. Ask on the call for current figures with dates.
Do I need a car?
Most clinicians have one; the metro serves the Sheikh Zayed Road corridor and the tram serves the Marina, but clinic clusters in Jumeirah, Dubai Hills and the suburbs are car journeys.
What about schools?
British-curriculum schools are plentiful and KHDA-rated; fees vary widely and some employers contribute. Choose the school run before the house.
Is it safe?
Dubai consistently ranks among the safest large cities for personal safety; drive carefully, the roads are the real risk.
Pets
Can I bring my dog or cat?
Yes, with a MOCCAE import permit, microchip, current vaccinations, a rabies titre test from an approved laboratory and a health certificate before travel. A pet relocation agent is worth it for the first move.
Which communities are pet-friendly?
Villa and townhouse communities generally: Arabian Ranches, Dubai Hills, Emirates Living, Al Furjan, Damac Hills, JVC townhouses. Many apartment towers prohibit pets; check the building rules before signing.
Are there vets and dog parks?
Plenty of both, including specialist and 24-hour hospitals and dedicated dog parks in several communities. Merlo, my Cavapoo, approves.
Can a vet open a practice in Dubai?
A veterinary clinic is a licensed premises-based business with MOCCAE, Dubai Municipality and DET involved; possible with the right structure, and a healthcare property question I handle under NDA.
Figures are indicative, dated and sourced where shown; they are not advice and not a guarantee. Dubaiesque is a broker, not a tax, legal, immigration or financial adviser. Take independent advice before you commit.
A question that is not here?
Ask it on a call or on WhatsApp; I will probably add it to this page.