Search
People also search for:
our services:
quick contact:
were on social media:
Orthodontics
Eligibility Comparison – GCC Specialist Orthodontists
Specialized support for Orthodontists pursuing Gulf exam success.
Get focused study resources, clinical insights, and structured mock tests designed to reflect the unique demands of orthodontic licensing across the
Gulf—so you’re prepared, confident, and exam-ready.
Basic educational Requirement is a recognised Postgraduate speciality program in Orthodontics — To be accepted as a specialist, your dental specialty certificate must come from one of the following full-time programs:
- A 3-year clinical residency
- A 2-year clinical master’s degree MDS / M.Sc (Qatar & UAE requires 3 years)
- A 3-year clinical Ph.D. (PhD or research-only degrees without clinical training do not qualify as specialty credentials.)
- UK: Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training (C.C.S.T.) + listing in the UK Dental Council Specialist Register .
- Australia: Doctor of Clinical Dentistry or recognized specialty certification (3+ years)
- Canada: Fellowship of the Royal College of Dentists of Canada or equivalent specialty program
- Arab Board: Orthodontics Board Certification (3+ years clinical training) recognized in GCC
Many GCC countries have licensing exemptions or streamlined processes for graduates from certain approved countries/universities (e.g., Australia, UK, Canada, USA, EU countries. ).
English language proficiency tests typically are not mandatory but may be required indirectly as part of exam preparation.
Experience requirements differ based on nationality and country of degree as follows : –
| Authority | Experience Requirements |
|---|---|
| DHA – Dubai |
Varies by nationality Tier 3:
DHA Gap in practice requirements:
DHA : Training requirements based on gap duration:
|
| MOHAP – UAE |
Varies by nationality Tier 3:
|
| DOH – Abu Dhabi |
Varies by nationality Tier 3:
|
| NHRA – Bahrain | 3 years clinical experience |
| SCFHS – Saudi |
Foreigners: 5 years Resident : < 2 years of clinical experience after post graduation Registrar : > 2 years of experience after post graduation Senior registrar : additional training or fellowship beyond registrar level. + 5 or more years of post-specialty clinical experience. |
| QCHP – Qatar | GCC graduates with Arab Board – – No experience needed Non-GCC Arab graduates with Arab Board – 2 years' experience required Asian graduates – 3 years' experience required |
Salary Comparison – GCC Specialist Orthodontists
DHA – Dubai
| Approximate Monthly Salary Range (AED) | 15000 – 70,000+ |
|---|---|
| Notes / Source Details |
Average orthodontist salary ~11,770 AED/month (Indeed). Specialist/consultant roles can earn AED 55,000–70,000/month in private or premium clinics Flexibility - Ability to have 1 full time license and 2 part time license. Salaries are tax-free. Dubai offers some of the highest tax-free salaries for orthodontists in the region, especially in private luxury clinics and corporate healthcare groups. Dubai also has the advantage of allowing Orthodontists , subject to respective training to “Add Title” of (1) Implantology privilege (2) Botox and fillers privilege Opportunity for golden visa if salary >30,000 AED monthly DHA license can be converted to MOHAP license without exam |
MOHAP – UAE
| Approximate Monthly Salary Range (AED) | Comparable to DHA/DOH |
|---|---|
| Notes / Source Details |
MOHAP salaries generally align with DHA; specialists in government hospitals earn competitive packages but exact figures vary by facility and experience. Opportunity for golden visa if salary >30,000 AED monthly. |
DOH – Abu Dhabi
| Approximate Monthly Salary Range (AED) | Comparable to DHA/MOHAP |
|---|---|
| Notes / Source Details |
Salaries for specialists in Abu Dhabi are competitive and in the same or sometimes higher range as Dubai, often slightly higher in government sector. Flexibility : can hold one full-time license plus up to two part-tfacility. Opportunity for golden visa if salary >30,000 AED monthly |
SCFHS Saudi Arabia
| Approximate Monthly Salary Range (AED) | Approx. 15,000 – 40,000+ AED |
|---|---|
| Notes / Source Details |
Specialist orthodontists in Saudi Arabia earn between SAR 15,000 to SAR 40,000+ monthly (~AED 14,600–39,000), depending on experience and sector (public/private). Include benefits like housing and transportation. Private sector tends to pay more for non-Saudis. Saudi Arabia’s SCFHS data indicates a significant number of non-Saudi specialists work in the private sector with higher pay compared to Saudi nationals in public sector roles |
NHRA – Bahrain
| Approximate Monthly Salary Range (AED) | Approx. 8,000 – 20,000 AED |
|---|---|
| Notes / Source Details |
Specialist orthodontist salaries in Bahrain vary; government sector offers competitive packages, while private clinics may offer higher pay. Exact figures less publicly available. |
QCHP Qatar
| Approximate Monthly Salary Range (AED) | Approx. 15,000 – 35,000 AED |
|---|---|
| Notes / Source Details |
Qatar offers tax-free salaries; specialist orthodontists earn competitive salaries in this range, often with additional benefits. |
KDLE Kuwait
| Approximate Monthly Salary Range (AED) | Approx. 10,000 – 25,000 AED |
|---|---|
| Notes / Source Details |
Kuwait government and private sector pay orthodontists within this range; private sector tends to offer higher salaries. |
OMSB Oman
| Approximate Monthly Salary Range (AED) | Approx. 8,000 – 18,000 AED |
|---|---|
| Notes / Source Details |
Oman specialist orthodontist salaries are generally lower compared to UAE and Saudi Arabia but include benefits like housing and transportation. |
Additional Notes:
Salaries vary widely depending on experience, employer (public vs private), and city.
Benefits such as housing, transport allowance, health insurance, and annual flight tickets are commonly included in Gulf region packages but vary by employer.
Job portals like LinkedIn, Indeed.ae, GulfTalent, and Careerlink HR are good sources for up-to-date salary and vacancy information.
Required Documents Checklist – GCC Specialist Orthodontists
- Recent passport size photograph (colored, white background)
- Valid passport copy
- Recognized specialty qualification in Orthodontics (e.g., specialty board certification, Master’s degree, or equivalent)
- Evidence of successful completion of an approved dental education program (primary dental degree)
- Valid professional license/registration to practice dentistry or orthodontics from the country of graduation or last employment
- Certificate of Good Standing issued by the licensing authority/professional body from the country of last employment or where the applicant holds a current license (must be issued within last 6 months)
- Experience letters signed and stamped by the Medical Director or HR department confirming clinical experience relevant to the specialty
- Dataflow Credential verification/evaluation report – verifying degrees, licenses, and certifications
- Evidence of professional liability/malpractice insurance (required before license issuance)
- Evidence of continuing medical education (CME) or professional development activities – required for yearly license renewal
- Completed online application form via respective licensing portal linked with Primary Source Verification (PSV) and payment of applicable fees
Exam format Comparison – GCC Specialist Orthodontists
DHA – Dubai
| Exam Format | CBT – MCQs, conducted by Prometric |
|---|---|
| Exam Structure - Questions & Duration | 150 MCQs, 170 mins |
| Passing Criteria | ≥65% |
| Oral / Viva Exam | None required |
| Practical Exam | None required |
| Ease of Exam | Most accessible |
| Validity of Exam Results | Exam results Valid for 5 years ; Eligibility letters are valid for one year. |
| Exam attempts allowed |
Three attempts allowed across authorities. Failure after three attempts requires: 1.Certificate of additional training in recognized specialty 2. Application for higher title only (cannot apply for same or lower title) |
| Documentation Process & Duration | Streamline Fast (1–1.5 months) |
MOHAP – UAE
| Exam Format | CBT – MCQs, conducted by MOH followed by an Oral exam |
|---|---|
| Exam Structure - Questions & Duration | 150 MCQs, 3 hours + Oral Exam |
| Passing Criteria | ≥65% |
| Oral / Viva Exam | Required |
| Practical Exam | None required |
| Ease of Exam | Oral Exam difficulty ; most intense |
| Validity of Exam Results | Valid for 5 years |
| Exam attempts allowed |
Three attempts allowed across authorities. Failure after three attempts requires: 1.Certificate of additional training in recognized specialty 2. Application for higher title only (cannot apply for same or lower title) |
| Documentation Process & Duration | Slightly longer (1.5–3 months) Slightly complex |
DOH – Abu Dhabi
| Exam Format | CBT – MCQs, conducted by Pearson Vue |
|---|---|
| Exam Structure - Questions & Duration | 100 MCQs, 120 mins |
| Passing Criteria | ≥70% |
| Oral / Viva Exam | None required |
| Practical Exam | None required |
| Ease of Exam | More competitive |
| Validity of Exam Results | Valid for 2 years. License Renewal: Every 2 years DOH Registration Validity Post-Exam: 3 months |
| Exam attempts allowed |
Three attempts allowed across authorities. Failure after three attempts requires: 1.Certificate of additional training in recognized specialty |
| Documentation Process & Duration | Slightly longer (1.5–2.5 months) Slightly complex |
NHRA – Bahrain
| Exam Format | CBT – MCQs, conducted by Prometric |
|---|---|
| Exam Structure - Questions & Duration | 150 MCQs, 3 hours |
| Passing Criteria | ≥60% |
| Oral / Viva Exam | None required |
| Practical Exam | None required |
| Ease of Exam | Lower pass score requirement - hence easier. |
| Validity of Exam Results | Not specified |
| Exam attempts allowed |
Four consecutive exam attempts allowed within 3 years ; After 4 failures: 6-month retraining (Remediation) under supervision of a consultant of the same specialty. |
| Documentation Process & Duration | Slightly longer (1.5–2.5 months) Slightly complex |
SCFHS Saudi Arabia
| Exam Format | CBT – MCQs, conducted by Prometric |
|---|---|
| Exam Structure - Questions & Duration | 200 MCQs, 4 hours (2 parts of 100 Qs) |
| Passing Criteria | >65% for Registrar, >70% for Senior Registrar |
| Oral / Viva Exam | None required |
| Practical Exam | None required |
| Ease of Exam | Longest exam duration, more intense |
| Validity of Exam Results | Valid for 2 years |
| Exam attempts allowed |
Three attempts allowed - after which new experience and Mumaris re- classification is needed, and then you get additional 3 attempts |
| Documentation Process & Duration | Slightly longer (1.5–3 months) Lengthy and detailed |
QCHP Qatar
| Exam Format | CBT – MCQs, conducted by Prometric |
|---|---|
| Exam Structure - Questions & Duration | 150 MCQs, 3.5 hours |
| Passing Criteria | >65% |
| Oral / Viva Exam | None required |
| Practical Exam | None required |
| Ease of Exam | Accessible |
| Validity of Exam Results | Valid for 3 years |
| Exam attempts allowed |
3 attempts only, and any further attempts will not be considered by DHP/QCHP |
| Documentation Process & Duration | Streamline Fast (1–1.5 months) |
Exam syllabus – GCC Specialist Orthodontists
- 1. Growth and Development
- 2. Etiology of Malocclusion
- 3. Cephalometric Analysis
- 4. Biomechanics and Biology of Tooth Movement
- 5. Interceptive Orthodontic Treatment
- 6. Comprehensive Treatment in Preadolescents and Adolescents
- 7. Adult and Adjunctive Orthodontics
- 8. Orthognathic Surgery
- 9. Craniofacial Deformities
- 10. Special Considerations in Orthodontics
- 11. Retention and Stability
- 12. Ethics and Professionalism & Patient Safety
Books to refer – GCC Specialist Orthodontists
Recommended reference textbooks include:
- Contemporary Orthodontics by William Proffit, Henry Fields, David Sarver (Latest Edition)
- Orthodontics: Current Principles and Techniques by Lee Graber, Robert Vanarsdall, Katherine Vig (Latest Edition)
- Radiographic Cephalometry from Basics to 3-D Imaging by Alexander Jacobson (2nd Edition, 2006)
- Esthetics and Biomechanics in Orthodontics by Ravindra Nanda (2nd Edition)
- Professionalism and Ethics, Handbook for Residents by Prof. James Ware, Dr. Abdulaziz Fahad Alkaabba, Dr. Ghaiath MA Hussein, Prof. Omar Hasan Kasule, SCFHS (Latest Edition)
- Essentials of Patient Safety, SCFHS (Latest Edition)
- Understanding Patient Safety by Robert Wachter and Kiran Gupta (Latest Edition)
