WORKING OVERSEAS
United Arab Emirates

We guide you through the whole move, and the UAE is a market we know particularly well. It starts with a conversation about the roles and emirates that interest you, followed by tailored matching and interview preparation.
Because UAE licensing can take several months, we’ll help you get that underway early through our dedicated UAE Licensing Service, and we support you through your visa and residency permit, the offer stage and your relocation, right up to your first day.

Yes, and in the UAE this is a real strength of ours. Vets must be licensed by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE), which involves an application, proof of qualifications and an exam.
We offer an exclusive UAE Licensing Service to help veterinarians through the process, which can take several months, so we’d recommend starting it before you begin applying for roles. Get in touch and we’ll talk you through how it works.

Finding a role through GVC is free for veterinary professionals, as our recruitment fees are paid by the employers we work with. The one thing to be aware of in the UAE is our specialist UAE Licensing Service, which helps you through the MOCCAE licensing process; that’s a separate, optional service, and our team can provide a quote if it’s something you’d like help with.

Based on our most recent salary review, the average veterinarian in the UAE earns around AED 170,000 a year, with entry-level roles starting near AED 120,000 and experienced vets earning up to AED 400,000. Veterinary nurses earn around AED 48,000 on average, rising to about AED 72,000 with experience. A major draw is that these earnings go further, as the UAE has no personal income tax.

To work as a vet or veterinary nurse in the UAE you must be licensed by the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE). The process involves submitting an application, providing proof of your qualifications, and passing an exam that combines multiple-choice questions on veterinary science and animal health with an oral assessment of your communication skills.
Alongside your licence you’ll need a residency visa and work permit, which your employer usually sponsors. The process can take several months, so we’d recommend starting early, and our UAE Licensing Service is designed to help.

To work in the UAE you’ll need a work visa and residency permit, which your employer usually sponsors. The process typically takes a few weeks to complete, and the visa can be valid for up to three years, after which it can be renewed. We can connect you with our migration partner to make the process as straightforward as possible.

Browse our live UAE vacancies or upload your CV, and one of our consultants will get in touch to discuss what you’re looking for. We work with employers across the Emirates and match you to roles that suit your experience and goals. Because licensing takes time here, we’d usually recommend speaking to us early so we can line up the MOCCAE process alongside your job search and make your move as smooth as possible.

This is one of the UAE’s biggest attractions for veterinary professionals: there is no federal or personal income tax, so you don’t pay a percentage of your earnings to the government. There is a value-added tax (VAT) of 5% on most goods and services, including veterinary services, but your salary itself is not taxed.