4
votes
As a nurse, which Gulf country has the best salary and conditions — UAE, Qatar, or Saudi?
JobsI'm a registered nurse in Sri Lanka with 4 years of experience in a teaching hospital. I'm strongly considering going to the Gulf. My specialization is ICU/Critical Care.
I have received preliminary offers from UAE (DHA), Qatar (HMC), and Saudi (a private hospital in Riyadh). Which country would you recommend for a nurse in 2024–2025? Looking at salary, work conditions, family-friendliness, and career growth.
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Nadeeka Fernando
21 days ago
192 views
2 answers
2 Answers
Accepted Answer
38
I'm a lab tech at HMC Qatar and I have nurse colleagues — here's an honest comparison:
QATAR (HMC) — Best overall for ICU nurses IMO:
• Salary: QAR 5,000–8,500 + allowances (total package QAR 8,000–13,000)
• Housing: Provided by HMC (very good quality)
• Transport: Provided or allowance given
• Career: World-class facility, JCI accredited, research opportunities
• Work culture: Demanding but fair; good equipment; team-based
• Family: Can bring family, good international schools
UAE (DHA/MOH) — Great location, good lifestyle:
• Salary: AED 6,000–10,000 + allowances
• Housing: Allowance given (may or may not be sufficient for Dubai)
• Career: Dubai is growing fast in healthcare; private hospitals also hiring
• Lifestyle: Best for social life, travel, entertainment
SAUDI (Private hospital):
• Salary: Depends heavily on the hospital — could be SAR 4,000–9,000
• Private hospitals in Saudi vary hugely in quality — research the specific hospital thoroughly
• Tax free but cost of living rising
MY RECOMMENDATION for ICU/Critical Care: Qatar (HMC) first, UAE second. HMC is a genuinely world-class healthcare system and the ICU departments are outstanding for career growth. Qatar has also genuinely improved worker conditions recently.
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Sanduni Gunawardena
20 days ago
24
Thank you all! I'm going with HMC Qatar. They've confirmed my ICU placement. For anyone reading this in future — the HMC recruitment is done through proper channels (HMC Careers website or authorized recruitment agencies in Sri Lanka). Don't pay anyone to get you the job — it's free!
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Nadeeka Fernando
19 days ago
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