Private and concierge physician appointments in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar for GMC-registered doctors, engaged by private families — and with the family across Europe and on international travel. Family medicine, longevity and travelling appointments. This page covers the question every GMC-registered doctor asks first: what happens to my registration and licence to practise?
How an appointment is structured
- Live-In or Rotational. You live in the residence, or share a rota with a second physician so that cover is continuous, and report to the principal or the head of the private office. The family’s own office and advisers arrange the local set-up: visa, licensed entity and coordination with local clinics.
- Travelling. You live in and travel with the family, following their calendar between residences and on Mediterranean yachts. What each trip requires locally is settled by the family’s office and advisers before departure. See The Clinician in Transit.
Your GMC registration
The GMC’s guidance is that a doctor working wholly overseas for longer than twelve months does not need a licence to practise, because the licence confers rights in the UK only. Many doctors in this position keep their registration but give up the licence, which carries a reduced annual retention fee. Registration without a licence still binds you to Good medical practice. Your position is a decision to make with the GMC and your own advisers before you commit.
Local arrangements
Medical Staff Talent introduces and verifies clinicians. The engagement is contracted directly between the family and you, and all local arrangements (visa, licensed entity, coordination with local clinics) remain with the family’s own office and advisers. We do not process licences, DataFlow or visas.
A household physician is judged on continuity, discretion and clinical autonomy. The registration question is settled first so that nothing else has to wait for it.
What households ask physicians to do
Family medicine and continuity of care for the principal and family across residences. See A Resident Physician for a Travelling Family Office.
Longevity and preventive medicine, coordinating specialist input rather than replacing it.
The five deployment models, Live-In, Rotational, Fixed-Term, Travelling and Locum, all live-in and single-status, are compared in Live-In, Rota or Travelling? The contract is signed directly between you and the family; we introduce and verify, and the family pays our fee.
Standing registers for physicians
- Dubai
- Abu Dhabi
- Riyadh
- Jeddah
- Eastern Province
- Doha, Qatar
- Locum cover for Private Families (2–12 weeks)
The Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Jeddah, Eastern Province and Doha pages list the named mandates open now, each with its own remuneration.
Questions GMC-registered doctors ask
Do I need to keep my GMC licence to practise?
The GMC says a doctor working wholly overseas for more than twelve months does not need a licence, and many keep registration without it. Confirm your position with the GMC before you decide.
How does the Gulf regulator receive my Certificate of Good Standing?
The GMC sends it directly to the medical regulator you name, usually within ten working days of your request. It is valid for three months from issue.
Who arranges the licence and visa?
The family’s own office and advisers arrange all local requirements, including visa, licensed entity and coordination with local clinics. We introduce and verify; we do not process licences or visas.
Who employs me, and who pays your fee?
The family, under a contract you sign directly with them. We introduce and verify, and our fee is paid by the family.
What every family asks of you
- Availability to start within six weeks of offer.
- Complete flexibility around the family’s calendar.
- The ability to relocate alone and to travel with the family, often at short notice: every role is live-in and single-status.
Register confidentially
Send us your CV in confidence. Nothing is shared with a family without your agreement. See also our Private & Concierge Physicians practice and all current mandates.