Dubai Healthcare Workforce: By the Numbers
99,520UAE-Licensed (Dubai) Professionals · Data as of 2026-04-03
A comprehensive statistical overview of Dubai's healthcare workforce, sourced from the official DHA Sheryan Medical Professional Registry. This page covers category breakdowns, specialty rankings, facility staffing, license distribution, geographic analysis, and specialist vs. consultant ratios.
99,520
Total licensed professionals
5,505
Healthcare facilities
1:151
Physician-to-population ratio
73
Specialties tracked
Workforce by Category
Physicians & Doctors
24,186
24.3% of total workforce
Dentists
7,713
7.8% of total workforce
Nurses & Midwives
34,733
34.9% of total workforce
Allied Health Professionals
32,888
33.0% of total workforce
Top 20 Specialties by Professional Count
| # | Specialty | Count | % of Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Registered Nurse | 28,552 | 28.7% |
| 2 | Pharmacist | 9,388 | 9.4% |
| 3 | General Practitioner | 6,922 | 7.0% |
| 4 | Assistant Nurse | 5,725 | 5.8% |
| 5 | General Dentist | 5,102 | 5.1% |
| 6 | Physiotherapist | 3,563 | 3.6% |
| 7 | Medical Laboratory Technologist | 2,372 | 2.4% |
| 8 | Aesthetician & Beauty Therapist | 2,142 | 2.2% |
| 9 | Optometrist | 1,851 | 1.9% |
| 10 | Radiography Technologist | 1,591 | 1.6% |
| 11 | Obstetrics & Gynecology | 1,510 | 1.5% |
| 12 | Pediatrics | 1,228 | 1.2% |
| 13 | Medical Laboratory Technician | 1,211 | 1.2% |
| 14 | Family Medicine | 1,100 | 1.1% |
| 15 | Dermatology | 1,072 | 1.1% |
| 16 | Anesthesiology | 1,056 | 1.1% |
| 17 | Internal Medicine | 984 | 1.0% |
| 18 | Orthopedic Surgery | 917 | 0.9% |
| 19 | Dental Assistant | 841 | 0.8% |
| 20 | Pharmacy Technician | 832 | 0.8% |
Top 20 Facilities by Staff Count
License Type Distribution
the UAE healthcare regulator issues two primary license types: FTL (Full Trade License) for professionals operating under their own license, and REG(Registered) for professionals working under a facility's license. License type reflects the employment arrangement, not the skill level of the professional.
FTL (Full Trade License)
69,427
69.8% of total
REG (Registered)
30,000
30.1% of total
Other
92
0.1% of total
Geographic Distribution by Area
Healthcare professionals mapped to Dubai areas based on facility location. Areas with fewer than 10 professionals are excluded.
| Area | Professionals |
|---|---|
| Oud Metha | 5,057 |
| Al Barsha | 4,766 |
| Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) | 3,739 |
| Deira | 2,355 |
| Al Safa | 1,697 |
| Al Garhoud | 1,428 |
| Al Qusais | 1,340 |
| Al Jaddaf | 1,023 |
| Jumeirah | 826 |
| Al Nahda | 611 |
| Mirdif | 606 |
| Al Mamzar | 543 |
| Bur Dubai | 446 |
| Hatta | 427 |
| Dubai Marina | 229 |
| Al Karama | 169 |
| Jebel Ali | 167 |
| Al Warqa | 133 |
| Al Rashidiya | 131 |
| Motor City | 113 |
| Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT) | 85 |
| International City | 63 |
| Al Mankhool | 54 |
| Umm Suqeim | 54 |
| Al Wasl | 50 |
| Palm Jumeirah | 41 |
| Dubai Silicon Oasis | 38 |
| Al Sufouh | 38 |
| Al Quoz | 38 |
| Al Satwa | 36 |
| Business Bay | 24 |
| Dubai Sports City | 23 |
| Downtown Dubai | 16 |
Specialist vs. Consultant Comparison
In the UAE healthcare regulator system, Specialists are physicians who have completed specialty training and hold board certification. Consultants are senior specialists with additional experience, typically 5+ years post-specialty certification. The table below shows specialties that have both levels of seniority.
| Specialty | Specialists | Consultants | Ratio (S:C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obstetrics & Gynecology | 1,140 | 361 | 3.2:1 |
| Pediatrics | 916 | 306 | 3.0:1 |
| Family Medicine | 511 | 578 | 0.9:1 |
| Dermatology | 957 | 115 | 8.3:1 |
| Anesthesiology | 741 | 315 | 2.4:1 |
| Internal Medicine | 754 | 229 | 3.3:1 |
| Orthopedic Surgery | 595 | 322 | 1.8:1 |
| Orthodontics | 713 | 43 | 16.6:1 |
| General Surgery | 453 | 274 | 1.7:1 |
| Ophthalmology | 432 | 176 | 2.5:1 |
| ENT (Otolaryngology) | 409 | 151 | 2.7:1 |
| Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery | 316 | 202 | 1.6:1 |
| Diagnostic Radiology | 372 | 100 | 3.7:1 |
| Emergency Medicine | 302 | 119 | 2.5:1 |
| Cardiology | 264 | 129 | 2.0:1 |
| Radiology | 255 | 110 | 2.3:1 |
| Psychiatry | 200 | 161 | 1.2:1 |
| Urology | 179 | 133 | 1.3:1 |
| Endodontics | 290 | 13 | 22.3:1 |
| Prosthodontics | 245 | 21 | 11.7:1 |
| Gastroenterology | 127 | 129 | 1.0:1 |
| Neurology | 137 | 117 | 1.2:1 |
| Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery | 225 | 24 | 9.4:1 |
| Pediatric Dentistry | 227 | 20 | 11.3:1 |
| Endocrinology | 90 | 128 | 0.7:1 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many healthcare professionals are licensed in Dubai?
As of 2026-04-03, there are 99,520 healthcare professionals licensed by the UAE healthcare regulator (Dubai). This includes 24,186 physicians, 7,713 dentists, 34,733 nurses and midwives, and 32,888 allied health professionals.
What is the physician-to-population ratio in Dubai?
With 24,186 licensed physicians serving an estimated population of 3.66 million, Dubai has approximately 1 physician for every 151 residents. This is one of the highest ratios in the MENA region.
How many healthcare facilities operate in Dubai?
There are 5,505 healthcare facilities with licensed staff in Dubai, according to the DHA Sheryan Medical Registry. These range from large government hospitals like Rashid Hospital (2,675 staff) to specialized clinics and pharmacies.
What is the largest hospital in Dubai by staff count?
Rashid Hospital is the largest healthcare facility in Dubai by licensed staff, with 2,675 UAE-licensed (Dubai) professionals. It is followed by Dubai Hospital (1,638 staff) and American Hospital Dubai (1,107 staff).
What are the most common medical specialties in Dubai?
The most common specialties among Dubai healthcare professionals are General Practitioner, Registered Nurse, Pharmacist, General Dentist, and Physiotherapist. Among physician specialties specifically, General Practitioner, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Pediatrics, Family Medicine, and Dermatology are the most prevalent.
Where does this healthcare workforce data come from?
All data in this report is sourced from the UAE healthcare regulator (Dubai) Sheryan Medical Professional Registry, the official licensing database for healthcare professionals in Dubai. Data was last scraped on 2026-04-03.
Explore the Directory
Physicians & Doctors
24,186 professionals
Dentists
7,713 professionals
Nurses & Midwives
34,733 professionals
Allied Health Professionals
32,888 professionals
Source: the UAE healthcare regulator (Dubai) Sheryan Medical Professional Registry. Data scraped 2026-04-03. Population estimates based on Dubai Statistics Center data. This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Verify professional credentials directly with the UAE healthcare regulator before making healthcare decisions.