The highest-paid medical roles in Dubai in 2026 and how their pay is built

Where the numbers come from

The Dubai Salary Index 2026 covers 155 roles and quotes monthly gross ranges in AED. Below are the medical roles with the highest entry point for the senior level, taken from the index. The full table is open data: see the press and data page or download the files at https://tlnt.ae/data/.

The top of the medical table

Monthly gross ranges for the specialist level and the consultant level:

• Plastic surgeon: 60,000 - 90,000 AED for a specialist, 90,000 - 150,000+ AED for a consultant (plastic surgeon)
• Medical director: 60,000 - 90,000 AED full-time, 90,000 - 130,000+ AED for a group medical director (medical director)
• Radiologist: 45,000 - 65,000 AED specialist, 65,000 - 95,000+ AED consultant (radiologist)
• Anesthesiologist: 45,000 - 65,000 AED specialist, 65,000 - 100,000+ AED consultant (anesthesiologist)
• Orthopedic surgeon: 40,000 - 60,000 AED specialist, 60,000 - 95,000+ AED consultant (orthopedic surgeon)

The monthly figure is only one part

For surgeons the index also lists a model with a fixed salary plus a share of revenue for a doctor who brings their own patient base. Anesthesiologists and radiologists can work sessionally, per case or per report, and the rate is agreed for each list or each report.

So two offers of the same size can mean very different things. Before comparing, ask what is fixed, what depends on revenue and who carries the cost of the licence and the insurance.

What this means for a clinic owner

A senior hire is a decision about the whole clinic, not a line in the payroll. The index helps to set a realistic budget before you open the search, and to see which part of the package can be variable.

The employer decides on the terms and employs the doctor directly. We help find and assess candidates and give a market view of the package; the conditions you agree yourself.

How to use this before you open the search

Write the role as a level first (specialist or consultant), then decide the model: fixed, fixed plus share, or sessional. Check the licensing route on our primary source verification guide so the start date is realistic, and keep a short list of two or three candidates instead of one.