Hospitals and clinic groups across the United Arab Emirates are actively recruiting podiatrists. A scan of current vacancies on regional job boards shows openings ranging from general podiatrist roles to senior, consultant and sports podiatry posts in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and beyond.
What the adverts ask for
- Western-trained qualifications. Many adverts specify podiatrists trained in the UK, Ireland, Australia, Europe or North America. One consultant role in Abu Dhabi asks for a UK Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT).
- Diabetic foot experience. With diabetes widespread across the Gulf, high-risk foot assessment, ulcer management and multidisciplinary working feature strongly.
- Sports and biomechanics. Mediclinic Middle East has advertised for a sports podiatrist, reflecting growth in sports medicine, running and gait analysis services.
- Seniority. Alongside general roles there are senior podiatrist and consultant posts in premium hospitals and multispecialty groups.
Licensing comes first
Every podiatrist must hold a licence from the right regulator before starting work. The UAE has three: the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) for Dubai, the Department of Health Abu Dhabi (DOH) for Abu Dhabi, and the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) for Sharjah and the northern emirates. Each requires primary source verification of qualifications and experience, and most require an assessment or exam. Employers often support candidates through the process, but verification can take several months.
Where the work is
Roles are concentrated in hospitals with diabetes centres, orthopaedic and sports medicine departments, and private multispecialty clinics. A growing number of standalone foot clinics also offer nail surgery, custom orthoses and gait analysis to a large and health-conscious expatriate population.
IMEA POD Perspective
The UAE is one of the most open labour markets for podiatrists in the region, and employer demand is outpacing the local training pipeline. That creates opportunity for international podiatrists, but also a strategic question for the UAE: how to build home-grown training so that diabetic foot services do not depend on overseas recruitment. For practitioners across IMEA and India, the clear message from employers is that diabetic foot competence, sports biomechanics and a recognised qualification open doors. IMEA POD will publish licensing guides for each emirate and list UAE vacancies weekly on our jobs board.
Sources and further reading
- GulfTalent: Senior Podiatrist, UAE
- Foundit Gulf: Sports Podiatrist, Mediclinic Middle East
- Dubai Health Authority
- Department of Health Abu Dhabi
- Ministry of Health and Prevention