Opening a private clinic in the UAE

Source: ?Gulf News?, 10 February 2006

Friday Supplement

A reader asks: “I am a medical doctor working in the UK. I want to open a private clinic in Dubai but was told that I need to be sponsored by a UAE national, which I do not have. How could I go around this, is there any other way?”

Answer by Salah Mohammad Kamal Al Bakri of Advocates Without Frontiers.

No, you cannot go around this requirement. An expatriate may open a clinic in the UAE. The procedures are as follows:

– UAE national to set up a national service agent.

– Authentication of the applicant's certificates through diplomatic channels.

– A passport copy plus four photographs of the applicant.

– Not less than four years' experience in the applicant's home country.

– Registration certificates of the applicant from the medical council/association in his/her country.

– Dh200 in application fees (prescribed fees are subject to change).

– The applicant must undergo an interview.

– All foreign documents must be duly notarised, authenticated through diplomatic channels.

– Approval of the Department of Health and Medical Services.