Saudi Arabia has a high demand for dermatologists partly fuelled by the popularity of aesthetic skin treatments provided by the private sector and yet there is a shortage of dermatologists in both public and private sector. This article explains how to find a dermatologist job in Saudi Arabia and the working conditions you can expect.

Saudi Arabia's healthcare system has expanded hugely over the last 30 years to provide a decent quality of emergency and elective medical care for its fast growing population. The public sector has grown substantially but in recent years the focus has switched to the private sector which forms a key role in securing the healthcare goals of Vision 2030, the Saudi Arabian Government's strategic plan for economic development and diversification. The private healthcare sector is expanding throughout the country with new hospitals and clinics offering specialist services.

Dermatologists are sought for their expertise in managing the common skin conditions as well as the soaring demand for aesthetic dermatological treatments, an area the private healthcare sector is keen to command.

Dermatologists are employed at three levels:

• residents - trainee junior doctors specialising in dermatology and preparing for the Saudi Board Certification in Dermatology (posts open only to Saudi citizens and medical graduates)
• specialists - dermatologists who are within 3 years of board certification and completion of residency or who are otherwise not eligible for consultant jobs
• consultants - dermatologists who have 3 years full time experience after board certification and who hold specialist qualifications in dermatology accepted by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialities for registration as a consultant and a licence to practice as a consultant.

Consultant and specialist jobs are open for applications from international medical graduates unless the employer specifically restricts applications to Saudi Arabian citizens only. This process is termed Saudization whereby employers must employ specific percentage of Saudi Arabian citizens.

Requirements for Consultant Dermatologist Jobs

Consultant Dermatologists are fully trained specialist dermatologists who work independently and lead teams of doctors which usually include specialists and residents. Private sector hospitals may not have residents and the consultant will have to manage the patients with less input and support from junior doctors. In some smaller hospitals and clinics, the dermatologist may be a sole practitioner.

To qualify for a consultant dermatologist job you will need:

• A Medical Degree from a approved school listed in the new World Directory of Medical Schools officially launched in April 2014 managed by both WMFE and FAIMER. 
• Internship completed either as part of your medical degree or immediately following graduation
• Residency in Dermatology completed in a western country;  USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand , France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark
• Board Certification/Specialist Registration in Dermatology with the medical regulatory authority of the country of specialist training
• Minimum 3 years experience as a Consultant after board certification for specialists trained in USA, UK , Canada, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand and 5 years experience for all others. This must be in full time, independent practice.
• A clean medical practice license in the jurisdiction of practice
• Language proficiency: English is essential for all jobs and Arabic is essential for some and preferred, although not essential, for others
• Skills in aesthetic dermatology including aesthetic procedures is advantageous in this market.

Requirements for Specialist Dermatologist Jobs

To qualify for a specialist dermatologist job you will need the requirements listed above with the modifications detailed below:

• Specialist board certification in Dermatology that is accepted by the Saudi Council for Health Specialities for professional registration as a specialist.
• A clean medical practice license in the jurisdiction of practice
• A minimum of three years’ experience in dermatology (this includes residency training)
• Language proficiency: Fluency in English essential, and a knowledge of Arabic is advantageous and may be a requirement with some employers.

Job Description of a Dermatologist

Most dermatologists are employed by hospitals or polyclinics on a full time contract with a usual duration of 1-3 years.

The working week is typically 48-50 hours with a standard working week of Sunday - Thursday in the government sector. In the private sector, weekend clinics are usual and you will normally be expected to work at least a half day on one day of the weekend. Dermatologists do not normally do on call duties.

In the private sector, the role of a dermatologist is almost exclusively clinical; the provision of a clinical service and the leading of a team of dermatologists. This may involve the design of clinical protocols, service quality audits and preparation for and participation in Joint Commission International inspections, as well as the usual clinical duties of clinics. Aesthetic dermatology forms a large volume of the clinical work.

In the public sector the dermatologist role is both clinical and educational. The consultant is responsible for the education, supervision and mentoring of junior dermatologists in training in addition to the usual duties associated with the provision of a clinical dermatology service. The practice of aesthetic dermatology is minimal in the government sector which is focused on the management of dermatological disorders.

Standard duties include:

• assessment and treatment of dermatological disorders in patients attending clinics or referred by other physicians
• performance of diagnostic or treatment procedures
• maintenance of detailed clinical records
• attendance at continuing medical education (CME) events to maintain professional licence status
• ward rounds for review of in patients (occasional)
• participation in audits and service quality assessments
• participation in hospital / department inspections by international hospital accreditation organisations.

Specialist dermatologists work under the supervision of consultant dermatologists and perform essentially the same clinical duties assessing and managing patients but with the benefit of support and advice readily available. Consultants delegate duties to the specialist according to their perception of the capabilities of the specialist.

Remuneration Packages

Remuneration varies by employer and the private and public sectors often have different terms, with the former frequently offering some form of activity or fee for service based pay scheme, often called an "incentive scheme". You can read a detailed evaluation of remuneration packages in our article but as a general indication, you can expect the following:

• A tax free salary in the range of SAR 30,000 - 100,000 per month depending upon level of experience, qualifications and employer (larger hospitals, JCI accredited hospitals and highly rated "brand names" tend to pay more)
• Tax free performance related bonuses AKA "incentive schemes" (private sector)
• Flights to and from your home destination (point of hire) at start and end of employment contract
• Some employers will offer housing, or an allowance towards accommodation costs
• Healthcare insurance cover for you and your family
• Malpractice insurance provided by hospital
• End of service award paid as a lump sum at the end of the employment contract
• Education allowances for children under the age of 18 are paid by some employers (this is usually restricted to 2-3 children who attend schools within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)

Applying for Dermatologist Jobs in Saudi Arabia

Candidates interested in working as a dermatologist in Saudi Arabia should register a CV and contact us to discuss opportunities. Advertised jobs are displayed on our website, updated regularly and applications can be made by uploading a recent CV with appropriate copies of credentials (see below). Further information about obtaining a professional registration and licence to practice with the Saudi Commission for Health Specialities can be read in our article and general information about working in Saudi Arabia is available on the dedicated country page and associated blog posts.

Copies of the credentials listed below will be required and should be scanned, preferably as pdf files and labelled appropriately;

• qualifications - medical degree, specialist qualifications
• professional licence to practice in current practice jurisdiction
• passport (ensure sufficient validity for a visa application)
• DataFlow report if you have this
• Certificates of Experience from employers where you have worked for the last 5 years
• 3 professional referees