The United Arab Emirates is a country of contrasts. The reflective skyline of Dubai boasts of the capital’s wealth and innovation, while the timeless chants from the mosques serve as a reminder of a country steeped in proud tradition. With the growth of the nation’s affluence comes the demand for more Western-trained veterinarians, who provide high-end services to a range of companion animals.
Agata, an RCVS-qualified Veterinary Surgeon from Poland, met me after work in the awe-inspiring Mall of the Emirates, which also featured a large cinema and an indoor ski resort. We chatted about her experiences living and working in Dubai over the past 6 years.
What is it that attracted you to Dubai?
I was seeking adventure. Sunny weather all year round seemed attractive. Different cultures and climate, all this was very exotic to me after living in Poland and England. And there is progress all the time in Dubai, it brings an uplifting and optimistic spirit- everything is the biggest or the best. Things that are built can be breath-taking, there is ‘The Palm’ for example (a man-made archipelago), and the Burj Khalifa (the world’s tallest building) and now work has began on the Hyperloop prototype, a super modern way of transportation. There is a constant state of innovation.
Do you find this attitude for innovation is the same in veterinary medicine?
When it comes to the customer service, yes, absolutely. As for veterinary equipment, I would say it is comparable with other countries.
Tell me a little about your background.
I studied to be a vet in my home country of Poland, and after one year I moved to the UK where I worked for the PDSA Hospital in London for 7 years.
What was it like transitioning into work in Dubai after working in the UK?
The first two weeks were not easy. It was a difficult transition. Things seemed much simpler when I moved from Poland to England. In the UAE there is the wait for a job permit. It can be unnerving when you are new in a country with no family or friends to support you.
What is your role at your current workplace?
I am a small animal vet, dogs and cats really. Even rabbits we don’t see much. There are specialist vets who treat for exotics including birds, and for those there is a lot of work from local clients. [NB: Dubai has its own specialist falcon vets]
Which languages do you speak in the clinic?
We speak English. Arabic would be an advantage, but is not required.
Describe a typical day of work at your current practice. Is it similar to work in the UK?
My hours are similar, but that is exceptional in Dubai. I am lucky to work at a very good hospital with well established structure and great management. This is my third clinic in Dubai and I am certain this one is the best. In previous places I’ve worked 6 days a week,30 calendar days of holidays per year. Both employers were not willing to split those holidays to take for example 4 separate weeks per year, they wanted me to take all 30 days at once… meaning you end up with 1 month holidays once a year. Currently, I work 5 days a week. Some days I work all day from 8am till 5pm, but some days I need to work split shift and have a 4hr break in the middle of the day.
Some days I do surgeries in the morning and consults in the afternoon. Other days only consults or only surgeries, it all depends on the rota made by the manager. We also attend house visits, because there is a lot of clients asking for it. Especially euthanasia is often requested to be done at home.
Are you expected to work weekends or evenings on-call?
Yes I do on-call, but this clinic shares on-call with 2 other hospitals. So one vet will do on call maybe one day in 10. This is a good scenario, in past clinics I’ve sometimes had to work one entire week out of two. And as you can imagine, working 6 days a week and on-call one in two weeks, you have no life.
Are there any common medical or surgical conditions in the UAE that you didn’t see so much in Europe?
I’ve been working here so long now… it’s hard to say. When I came over to Dubai I expected lots of heatstroke, and lots of rabbits too- but no, we don’t see any more of those than elsewhere.
What about different breeds- are there more toy breeds here?
Yes I’d say more toy breed dogs and brachycephalics, you know those salon cats you get? We get salon dogs. Some of them stay in the apartment and never go out… like indoor dogs.
Are there any cultural differences that can create challenges working here?
Sometimes a female vet is requested because a client is sending their wife. Communication can sometimes be a challenge because their pets are brought for a visit by drivers or maids, and the driver may not speak English or not know the history. So then you have to call the owner, which takes time and presents additional challenges like incomplete history. And the clients have high expectations, there are plenty of clients like that. Or you may need to send an email with all the details and instructions when the client themselves does not come to the appointment.
Are there any laws that apply to being a vet here that may seem unusual elsewhere?
Euthanasia is not illegal, but you meet clients who refuse to put to sleep their pet even in critical cases. We are definitely limited with drugs- all medications are coming from overseas and have to be regulated by local authorities, some drugs are still not licensed here therefore not available. Like phenobarbital for example (a drug commonly used to control seizures)– we can’t have it and we are forced to search for alternatives. Authorities are very strict regarding expiration of products, both medicines and food. Regulators may turn up unexpectedly and check items on the shelves. This is very strictly implemented and violation results in huge fines.
In general, do residents of this country abide by a similar level of animal welfare as you have experienced in the UK?
You can observe real extremes. In this clinic I’ve never seen so many clients who would go to that level to help their pets. We have had dogs that had five blood transfusions in one month- you can imagine the expense and the determination of the owners. And we have one cat [who had fallen from a high-rise building] that has had seven surgeries on both legs now- the owners don’t give up. Imagine the persistence and patience of those owners. I don’t know where else this would be possible. In the UK there is pet insurance, but it only covers you up to a certain level.
Here, some owners don’t have limits- the care is like nowhere in the world. So it really depends on the clients and the clinic. Our practice is considered as a referral place, and there are not many specialists to refer to in the UAE. Veterinary care is very expensive in Dubai, therefore when people commit to keep a pet, they are already prepared and dedicated.
And on the other end of the story you have plenty of stray animals wandering on the streets…
Does your clinic employ professionally qualified vet nurses? What kind of roles do they perform?
Yes, they work in the same way as in the UK. They are trained and the majority has a diploma degree, they often do that online through [a college] in Australia. The examiners visit our hospital twice a year and conduct practical exams for our nurses. This is how they get their degree. Some nurses are actually veterinary doctors qualified in their home countries.
And the nurses are excellent. Nurses give consultations, they advise on weight loss programs, perform second vaccinations, admit and discharge animals. They are expected to work independently [from the vets], we hold them accountable and we rely on them a lot.
What are your favorite things about living and working in Dubai?
I like the sun and the cosmopolitan culture. You can find anything that you dream of in Dubai. I like that I have the opportunity to see all the great things in Dubai and witness the city transforming in such a short period. And I like working 6hrs a day in Ramadan. This is the holy month- and by law you can work no more than 6 hours per day for the 30 days.
Do clinics tend to provide any assistance when you emigrate to work here- for example is it common to receive a vehicle or house as part of your contract?
It really depends on the clinic and job offer. I know vets working for very little, and others being paid a lot. Most of the employers include accommodation and transport allowance in the contract.
How difficult is it to get a visa to work here as a vet? Do you have any tips for others who would like to go through the visa process?
If you find a job, it’s just a matter of time [to become a Dubai resident]. There is a tourist visa, then you go onto an employment visa- once you sign a contract its all in your employers hands and you have no control over it. You can do nothing to accelerate the process. The issue is that when you come here, you will not be allowed to work until you have a veterinary license, and you can’t predict how long it will take. It took 6 months for my license to come through, but 6 years ago I was still allowed to work while getting the license was in the process. I know vets who have come to UAE and had to stay unemployed until their license was obtained. So you need money to survive for that time. This is something to discuss with your future employer before you arrive.
I’ve done some research on how to register as a vet here in Dubai, and it looks quite complicated. Is there a lot of paperwork involved?
Yes, it is complicated, you need a license and your university degree has to be authenticated by many channels – education authorities, the consulate in your home country and the consulate and ministries in the UAE. The correspondence between those institutions needs to go through official channels. And finally, you have to pass the veterinary exam- you will pass the exam eventually if not the first time, but the most frustrating part is waiting for the documents to be certified. Now, regulations are very strict and you can’t practice without a license. As I said earlier, it was different 6 years ago when I arrived in UAE.
Is it true that you must have 5 years of experience to become licensed here?
Five years yes, to be a fully licensed veterinary doctor. You can get a job with only two years experience, but then you’ll only be able to work as a veterinary assistant until you reach five years. So by law you would have to be supervised, and sole charge would be illegal.
You need to know that there is not many opportunities for training for younger vets. I think you would want to be very happy with your level of skill before you decide to work in Dubai.
Thanks so much for your time, Dubai sounds like such a unique and fascinating place to work!
I have one final question for you. How many rectal examinations have you performed this week?
One, just one anal gland!
Further Information
Thank you to Agata for sharing her experiences, and to her practice The Veterinary Hospital Dubai for putting us in touch. If you’d like to know more about working as a vet in Dubai, you can start your research at the website of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, or contact your potential employer for specific information about how to begin the process. You can read more about what to expect from the Dubai Vet Exam at The Nerdy Vet.com.
Or head back to the Global Vet Interviews page to read more interviews from interesting vets around the world, like Achini from Sri Lanka, or Justin and Stella in the Galapagos.
Leave a Reply