2025 Gulf Dentist Salary & Licensing Guide

By Prometric Dental Learning

🌍 Why Work as a Dentist in the Gulf?

The Gulf region — including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait — has become a top destination for dentists from countries like India, Egypt, the Philippines, and Pakistan.

With high salaries, tax-free income, and modern healthcare facilities, many qualified dentists are eager to move to the Gulf.

But before you can begin practicing, there’s one major step: passing the Prometric or national licensing exam (like DHA, HAAD, SLDE, or MOH). This guide helps you understand both the earning potential and the licensing process.

📝 Example: Licensing Process for UAE (DHA Exam)

To work legally in Dubai, dentists must pass the DHA exam. Here’s a step-by-step overview:

1. Create a Sheryan account (DHA’s portal)
2. Upload your documents:
   • Degree certificate
   • Internship completion
   • Professional license (if applicable)
   • Good standing certificate
3. Undergo Primary Source Verification (via DataFlow)
4. Pay the exam fee and schedule your Prometric test
5. Pass the DHA exam (minimum 60–70% to qualify)
6. Receive Eligibility Letter
7. Start applying to clinics and hospitals in Dubai

💡 Similar steps apply for SCFHS, QCHP, and MOH exams in other Gulf countries.

🧠 Prometric Exam Tips

• Use updated MCQs matching real exam patterns
• Practice time-based mock exams
• Focus on clinical cases, dental pharmacology, and radiology
• Don’t skip ethics and regulatory questions
• Review your mistakes regularly to improve accuracy

🎯 Your best chance of success comes from studying smart — not just hard.

🚀 Prepare with Prometric Dental Learning

Prometric Dental Learning helps dentists pass with confidence by offering:

• 💻 Over 3,000 up-to-date exam-style questions
• 📚 Topic-wise practice with detailed explanations
• 🧪 Question Banks that simulate the real exam
• 🎯 Licensing tips and country-specific guides
• ✅ Trusted by hundreds of dentists preparing for Gulf exams

💡 What Employers Look for in Gulf Dentists

Securing your license is just the first step. To actually land a job in the Gulf, employers look for:

• ✅ Valid eligibility letter or license from DHA, MOH, or SLDE
• ✅ Fluency in English (Arabic is a bonus)
• ✅ Clinical confidence and modern dentistry skills
• ✅ Strong communication and chairside manner
• ✅ Relevant experience — especially in private practice or hospitals
• ✅ Ability to handle high patient loads and work in multicultural teams

💬 Tip: Having your exam passed already gives you a major edge in the hiring process.

🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates (Dubai & Abu Dhabi)

• General Dentists:
  • Dubai: ~AED 10,000–18,000/month (USD 2,700–4,900)
  • Abu Dhabi: AED 10,000 median; ranges from AED 4,000 to 18,500
  • Indeed reports:
    • Average dentist salary at AED 7,415/month
    • Abu Dhabi (AED 10,753) > Dubai (AED 6,957)
  • High-end or specialist clinics: AED 15,000–30,000+
  • Expat dentists in top clinics: AED 25,000–45,000+
• Specialists:
  • Orthodontists: AED 9,200–40,000+/month
  • Periodontists: AED 25,000–45,000
  • Oral Surgeons: AED 30,000–50,000
  • Pediatric dentists & prosthodontists fall in similar specialist ranges

🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia

• Average salary: SAR 10,500/month (~USD 2,800)
• Range: SAR 4,000–16,500
• This is approximately 14% higher than UAE averages

🇶🇦 Qatar

• GP dentists: QAR 12,000/month (~USD 3,300)
• Western-trained specialists earn significantly more

🌍 Other Gulf Countries

• Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait: Data is limited
• Salaries expected to be similar or slightly lower than UAE/Saudi

💡 Factors Influencing Dentist Salaries

1. Location & Emirate: Abu Dhabi generally pays more than Dubai, which pays more than Sharjah or Ajman.
2. Specialization: Specialists (orthodontists, oral surgeons) earn significantly more.
3. Experience & Qualifications: Western-trained/experienced dentists may earn up to USD 500,000/year (~AED 170,000/month) in elite clinics.
4. Type of Employer:
   • Private/specialty clinics may offer commissions (35–65%)
   • Government hospitals offer stable packages with possible allowances
5. Employment Model: Some dentists earn low base salaries (AED 4,000–12,000) with commission based on patient flow

🎯 Final Thoughts

The path to becoming a licensed dentist in the Gulf may seem complex — but with the right preparation and guidance, it’s absolutely achievable.

Whether you’re aiming to work in Dubai, Riyadh, Doha, or Muscat, Prometric Dental Learning is here to support your journey — every step of the way.