Salary in the Middle East is generally low, and this has led to many doctors emigrating to other countries where salaries are higher.
Salaries Depending on Nationality
Salaries for doctors depend on their nationalities; expatriate doctors (Westerners) tend to get paid more than Arabian doctors do. Their yearly income remains fairly static throughout their careers because of a lack of any real increments.
Salaries Depending on Location of Qualifications
Doctors who possess Western qualifications earn substantially more than those with Middle Eastern qualifications, therefore it makes sense for Middle Eastern students aspiring to become doctors to study abroad. Of course, they will then need to work abroad as well if they want to earn enough money for an adequate living.
A doctor’s salary in the Middle East is expected to remain fairly static throughout his career because of a lack of any real increments.
Qualification in the Middle East and Abroad
Education for doctors in middle east countries is similar to Europe, US, or Canada. On completion of high school, students usually apply to medical schools. After obtaining the M.D. They register with the local university hospital and go through two years of internship before being allowed full practice licenses.
Middle Eastern training programs are structured similarly to European ones; upon completion, trainees can then seek licensure in their respective country’s governmental licensing agency.
Oftentimes it is necessary for Middle Eastern doctors to spend time abroad if they want further specialization. This allows them to gain experience working in different healthcare systems at different hospitals, which can help them get a better understanding of what different patients require.
Doctors in the Middle East are usually able to specialize after spending six years training.
Middle Eastern doctors are generally trained at local universities and hospitals, but they also can go to hospitals abroad for further education/training if they wish.
Something that is unique about middle eastern countries is that their doctors are usually educated in multiple languages; this allows them to communicate with more people when they get out into the community.
Middle Eastern licensing procedures for foreign-educated physicians vary from country to country. It is difficult to obtain licenses without starting over again at square one, although some countries have made it easier for qualified physicians to be licensed.
Oftentimes it is necessary for middle eastern doctors and other healthcare professionals to spend time abroad if they want further specialization. This allows them to gain experience working in different healthcare systems at different hospitals, which can help them get a better understanding of what different patients require.
| Specialist | Salary |
| Advanced Nutrition Aide | 27,700 AED |
| Advanced Practice Provider | 26,900 AED |
| Allergist | 37,700 AED |
| Behavioral Health Specialist | 22,100 AED |
| Chiropractor | 24,900 AED |
| Clinical Psychologist | 63,800 AED |
| Correctional Treatment Specialist | 38,400 AED |
| Counseling Psychologist | 47,900 AED |
| Dermatologist | 58,500 AED |
| Dietitian | 40,900 AED |
| General Doctor | 52,500 AED |
| Emergency Department Physician | 44,600 AED |
| Exercise Physiologist | 48,400 AED |
| Forensic Pathologist | 51,600 AED |
| General Medical Practitioner | 38,100 AED |
| Genetic Counselor | 34,000 AED |
| Internist | 66,600 AED |
| Interventionist | 59,400 AED |
| Invasive Cardiologist | 81,700 AED |
| Mental Health Therapst | 36,000 AED |
| Naturopathic Physician | 60,900 AED |
| Neurologist | 64,400 AED |
| Neurophysiology Technologist | 18,000 AED |
| Nuclear Medicine Physician | 55,000 AED |
| Obstetrician / Gynecologist | 56,500 AED |
| Occupational Health Safety Specialist | 27,000 AED |
| Ophthalmologist | 44,700 AED |
| Optometrist | 43,900 AED |
| Pediatrician | 48,700 AED |
| Physical Therapist | 33,800 AED |
| Physical Therapy Director | 36,300 AED |
| Physician – Anesthesiology | 70,400 AED |
| Physician – Cardiology | 77,500 AED |
| Physician – CCU | 44,700 AED |
| Physician – Dermatology | 59,000 AED |
| Physician – Emergency Room | 45,300 AED |
| Physician – Endocrinology | 59,700 AED |
| Physician – Family Practice | 42,400 AED |
| Physician – Gastroenterology | 53,700 AED |
| Physician – Generalist | 44,100 AED |
| Physician – Geriatrics | 39,000 AED |
| Physician – Hematology / Oncology | 51,000 AED |
| Physician – Immunology / Allergy | 61,700 AED |
| Physician – Infectious Disease | 54,000 AED |
| Physician – Internal Medicine | 61,300 AED |
| Physician – Maternal / Fetal Medicine | 50,300 AED |
| Physician – Nephrology | 63,500 AED |
| Physician – Neurology | 65,200 AED |
| Physician – Nuclear Medicine | 51,300 AED |
| Physician – Obstetrics / Gynecology | 55,800 AED |
| Physician – Occupational Medicine | 44,100 AED |
| Physician – Ophthalmology | 38,500 AED |
| Physician – Otolaryngology | 37,100 AED |
| Physician – Pain Medicine | 35,500 AED |
| Physician – Pathology | 46,600 AED |
| Physician – Pediatric Cardiology | 53,700 AED |
| Physician – Pediatric Neonatology | 52,700 AED |
| Physician – Pediatrics | 48,900 AED |
| Physician – Physiatry | 54,800 AED |
| Physician – Podiatry | 46,700 AED |
| Physician – Pulmonary Medicine | 37,700 AED |
| Physician – Radiation Therapy | 64,000 AED |
| Physician – Radiology | 65,700 AED |
| Physician – Rheumatology | 53,900 AED |
| Physician – Sports Medicine | 54,800 AED |
| Physician – Urology | 73,200 AED |
| Physician Assistant | 31,300 AED |
| Physiotherapist | 36,000 AED |
| Podiatrist | 39,300 AED |
| Preventive Medicine Physician | 46,300 AED |
| Psychiatrist | 55,100 AED |
| Psychololgist | 53,400 AED |
| Psychometrician | 46,900 AED |
| Radiologist | 53,700 AED |
| Registered Respiratory Therapist | 32,000 AED |
| Skin Care Specialist | 31,400 AED |
| Urologist | 72,000 AED |
| Vision Rehabilitation Therapist | 33,100 AED |
The information given above is authentic which is taken from the informational platform salary explorer for the year 2021.
Countries where Middle Easterners go for Medical Education
Some examples of countries where Middle Easterners go for their education are as follows:
- United States (US)
- Canada
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Germany
- Denmark etc.
Countries that lack well-organized medical training programs often have limited numbers of health care providers, who may also face shortages in the future. Middle Eastern doctors are required to serve in the armed forces for a certain amount of time, usually one or two years. Middle Eastern doctors generally work long hours because there is a shortage of healthcare professionals in their countries.
Saudi Arabia has a 25% doctor-to-patient ratio, and only 40% of that number are qualified medical personnel.
Generally speaking, doctor salaries in Middle East countries compared to other countries such as the US, UK, etc. tend to be low due to many factors such as: higher than average rates of unemployment and living costs and lack of government funding for local hospitals and healthcare facilities because most of the money comes from charities and donations.
