Embarking on Your Medical Career in the Middle East: A Step-by-Step Guide

 This exciting journey can be transformative, but it requires patience and careful planning. The process from submitting your resume to starting your new role typically takes 3 to 9 months, depending on various factors such as hospital needs, credentialing processes, and visa requirements. Let’s break down this journey into manageable steps.

 Understanding the Timeline: The duration of your journey is influenced by several factors. Hospital needs play a significant role, as does the complexity of the credentialing process. Visa requirements can also impact the timeline. It’s important to approach this process with patience and a clear understanding of what lies ahead.

 Step 1: Crafting Your Professional Resume. Your resume is your first impression, so it’s crucial to make it count. Include comprehensive details about your qualifications, listing the full name of the institution, the country where you obtained your degree, and the date of attainment. When describing your experience, provide the name of each institution you’ve worked at, along with start and end dates, your position title, department, and a detailed description of your duties. Don’t forget to mention the size of the hospital or unit, whether it was public or private, and its specialty. If you have any relevant publications or research work, be sure to include those as well.

 Step 2: Initial Consultation. After we receive your resume, we’ll reach out to arrange a confidential chat. This conversation is an opportunity for us to understand your personal and professional goals in depth. We’ll use this information to discuss potential opportunities that align with your criteria, ensuring that we’re on the same page about your career aspirations.

 Step 3: Application and Interview Process. Based on our discussion, we’ll move forward with submitting your resume to chosen hospitals. If we don’t have an immediate position that meets your requirements, we’ll keep your application on file and contact you when a suitable opportunity arises. The response from hospitals can vary. Some may extend a direct offer based solely on your impressive resume, while others may request an interview. These interviews are typically conducted via Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or telephone, allowing you to showcase your expertise and learn more about the position.

 Step 4: Offer Acceptance and Document Collection. Once you’ve accepted an offer, whether it came directly or after negotiations, we’ll begin the process of collecting necessary documents for credentialing and visa arrangements. This paperwork includes copies of your qualifications such as medical degrees, residency certificates, and fellowships. You’ll also need to provide your current medical license, employment and reference letters, a copy of your passport, and a recent photograph.

 Step 5: The Credentialing Process. The credentialing process is thorough and typically takes around 8 to 10 weeks. It begins with the verification of your paperwork, conducted by a third party retained by the relevant health authorities. This verification process covers your qualifications, licenses, and employment history. Once verified, your file is submitted to the Health Authority of the country where the position is located. This part of the process can take 1 to 4 weeks. At the conclusion, the health authority will issue an approval confirming that you can practice as a physician in the country. Depending on where you obtained your qualifications, you may be required to sit for an additional exam, either oral or written.

 Step 6: Mobilization. After your application receives approval, the mobilization process begins. The hospital will issue an official contract of employment, and we’ll collect the necessary visa paperwork. This typically includes various forms for you to complete, as well as arrangements for a background check and medical examination.

 Step 7: Employment Visa Processing. The visa process varies depending on the country. For positions in Saudi Arabia, we manage the work visa application process, which usually takes 1 to 2 weeks after receiving all required documents. We also arrange your travel, inform the hospital of your arrival, and coordinate your orientation, housing, and airport reception. For positions in the UAE and Qatar, the relevant hospital handles the visa processing upon receiving the necessary documents from you.

The journey from submitting your resume to starting your new role in the Middle East is multi-faceted and can span several months. However, with thorough preparation and our dedicated support, you’ll navigate this process smoothly, ensuring a successful transition into your new professional chapter.

It’s crucial to remember not to submit your resignation from your current position until you’re explicitly told that the process is complete and you’re ready to travel. This precaution helps ensure a smooth transition without any gaps in your employment.

We’re here to guide you every step of the way, making your wish of working in the Middle East a reality. Start your journey today and open the door to an exciting new chapter in your medical career!