How much a clinic in Dubai usually pays a medical director, and what the role costs the owner in total. The ranges below are market estimates that we use when advising clinic owners; the real figure depends on the specialty, the DHA title and on whether the director also treats patients.
Talk to usMonthly package in AED, market estimate for Dubai. There is no personal income tax on salaries in the UAE, so the amount in the contract is what the doctor receives.
| Role | Typical setting | Salary, AED/month |
|---|---|---|
| Practising physician with the medical director title | Small clinic, the director keeps a full patient list | 40,000 - 60,000 |
| Full-time medical director | Multi-specialty clinic or day surgery centre | 60,000 - 90,000 |
| Group medical director | Several clinics or a hospital group | 90,000 - 130,000+ |
Two medical directors can differ by tens of thousands of dirhams a month. The difference usually comes from the following.
The fixed salary is only one way to pay a medical director. These are the models we see most often; write the formula into the contract.
Doctors compare whole packages. These are the usual parts.
A worked example helps to plan the budget: a full-time medical director on 75,000 AED per month, of which 45,000 AED is basic salary.
Gratuity accrues at 21 days of basic salary per year, which here is 31,500 AED a year or about 2,600 AED a month. On top of that come malpractice insurance, health insurance, visa and work permit costs spread over the visa term, licence renewal if the clinic pays it, and the bonus if targets are met. Premiums and visa amounts depend on the specialty, the insurer and the company category, so ask your broker, PRO or accountant for the figures for your clinic.
The title changes the pay, so decide first which role you need. A medical director is a licensed physician responsible for clinical governance: policies, incident reporting, infection control, doctors' privileges and inspections. A clinic manager runs the business side and does not replace the medical director. DHA requirements for the medical director depend on the facility type and change over time, so check them for your licence before you agree the role.
TLNT is a hiring consultancy. We help clinic owners hire medical directors: we search among DHA-licensed physicians and those eligible for a licence, check licence status and title, assess candidates on real cases (an inspection finding, a serious incident, a conflict between doctors) and introduce those who meet the criteria agreed at the start. You make the hiring decision and agree the terms with the candidate directly; we advise on the market package and on the pay model. The doctor is employed directly by your clinic, and you sponsor the visa; we give you a step-by-step checklist.
Our fee is fixed for each role and agreed before the search starts. A 10% prepayment of the fee starts the search, the rest is due once the person has started work. If it does not work out, we find a replacement free of charge; the period is set in the contract. Consulting and CRM projects are priced after a free review.
Market estimate: about 40,000 - 60,000 AED per month for a practising physician who holds the medical director title, 60,000 - 90,000 AED for a full-time medical director and 90,000 - 130,000 AED or more at group level. Specialty, DHA title and patient time move the figure.
Not always. DHA-licensed facilities need a licensed physician responsible for clinical matters, and in many small clinics this is a practising doctor who holds the title. The exact requirement depends on the facility type, so check it with DHA for your licence.
Malpractice insurance is mandatory for practising in the UAE, and the law places the premium on the facility. Set it out in the offer and the contract and do not deduct it from the salary.
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