We have previously shared about the best pharmacies in Dubai. These are the places where you can buy prescription medicine, first aid kits, vitamins, health supplements, and even essential grocery products. Today, we are going to talk about the people behind them: pharmacists.
If you are a pharmacist and you are planning to come and work in Dubai, you’re probably wondering how much the monthly salary is. In this article, we will discuss the average salary of pharmacists in Dubai, the different types of pharmacist jobs available, and other related topics.
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Monthly Salary of Pharmacist in Dubai
Before anything else, let’s talk about the roles of a pharmacist first. What exactly do pharmacists do? Here is a quick overview of their roles and responsibilities:
- Pharmacists specialize in the proper way of storing, dispensing, and using medicine.
- They fill prescriptions that are issued by doctors and other healthcare specialists.
- They guide people on how to use medications correctly, informing them about proper dosage and possible side effects.
- They help ensure that a person’s medications do not interact negatively with each other.
- Some pharmacists work for pharmaceutical companies, food and beverage companies, research institutions, and laboratories.
As you can see, the work of a pharmacist is not limited to retail pharmacies or hospital pharmacies. They may also be involved in other industries that are related to health and nutrition.
Pharmacist License Exam in Dubai
If you are a pharmacist and you’d like to come to Dubai for work, take note that you will have to take a pharmacist exam administered by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), which is the government entity that oversees the health system in the emirate.
Taking the DHA exam is an essential step towards becoming a licensed pharmacist in Dubai. In fact, all healthcare professionals — including doctors, nurses, and dentists — have to take a DHA exam to be able to practice their profession in the emirate.
Typically, the pharmacist exam is computer-based, with around 100 multiple-choice questions that must be answered within two (2) hours. To pass the exam, you need to get at least 60 percent of the answers correct. If you don’t pass the first time, don’t worry because you’ll have two (2) more chances to take the exam.
Before you take the DHA exam, there is one important condition: you should have at least two (2) years of work experience as pharmacist, in your home country or in another country outside the UAE. Do keep this in mind!
Average Salary of Pharmacist in Dubai
When it comes to salary, a quick online research shows that the average monthly earnings of a pharmacist in Dubai is around AED 4,000 to AED 6,000. Of course, this would depend on the specific job position and type of company that the pharmacist works for.
Different Types of Pharmacist Jobs
After passing the DHA exam and getting your license, you can practice as a pharmacist in Dubai. But you might be thinking, what are my career options as a pharmacist? Here are some of the most common pharmacist jobs that you’ll find:
1. Retail Pharmacist
Many pharmacists work in retail pharmacies. They dispense medicine to people in the community and fill prescriptions issued by doctors and other healthcare professionals. Hence, they are sometimes called “community pharmacists.”
2. Hospital Pharmacist
As the term implies, this type of pharmacist is based in a hospital. He/She usually interacts with nurses and doctors, with regard to recommending and dispensing medications to patients.
3. Long-term Care Pharmacist
Some pharmacists work in long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes or homes for the elderly. Their job is quite similar to working in a hospital, with focus on patients that require long-term care.
4. Specialty Medicines Pharmacist
A specialty pharmacy focuses on specialty medicines or those that aren’t typically found in most retail pharmacies or hospital pharmacies. These include medicines that require special handling or administration, along with some high-cost medications.
These are just some of the different types of jobs that a pharmacist may have. As mentioned earlier, pharmacists are not limited to working in pharmacies only. Some of them may be working as researchers or specialists in pharmaceutical companies or even food companies.
Where to Find Jobs for Pharmacists in Dubai
Now that you have a better idea about the DHA pharmacist exam and the different types of pharmacist jobs, let’s talk about where you can apply! Here are some suggestions for jobseekers in Dubai:
1. Apply directly with the company.
There are quite a number of retail pharmacies in Dubai. You can check out their websites or listings to see if they have any job openings. If you know someone who is already working as a pharmacist here, you could also ask if his/her company is hiring.
Notably, here are some of the top pharmacies in Dubai. Some of them are affiliated with a clinic or healthcare company, while others are standalone retail pharmacies in the community.
- Al Manara Pharmacy
- Aster Pharmacy
- BinSina Pharmacy
- Boots Pharmacy
- Life Pharmacy
- Medicina Pharmacy
- O2 Pharmacy
- SEIF Pharmacy
- Supercare Pharmacy
- Thumbay Pharmacy
2. Apply with the hospital directly.
If you are interested in working as a hospital pharmacist, you could apply directly with the hospital. Here’s a list of hospitals in Dubai, so you can check out their websites and career pages.
3. Post your resume on LinkedIn.
LinkedIn is a global network that focuses on connecting job seekers with companies or recruiters. It is free to join, and all you have to do is create a profile stating your educational background, work history, skills, and other job-related information. You can use it to search for pharmacist job openings; companies also use it to find suitable candidates.
4. Search online.
Aside from LinkedIn, there are several job sites that you can use to find pharmacist jobs in Dubai. Check out the following websites and simply enter your preferred job and location to make a search. In some of these sites, you can also upload your resume for easy application!
If you are keen on coming to Dubai and working as a pharmacist, be it in a retail pharmacy, hospital pharmacy, or other companies, we hope that this guide can help you reach your goals. We can certainly say that working in this emirate would be great experience. Good luck!
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