What is HZA's recruitment process?

To apply for a position you can call us, sign up on our website, or email us a copy your resume, and one of our recruiters will be in touch to discuss the details of our positions.

The recruitment process varies depending on the hospital to which you apply, your profession, and the visa/licensing rules of the country.

Are interviews required?

Yes! We will interview you via Zoom, WhatsApp, FaceTime, or Microsoft Teams. Additionally, an interview with the hospital in the UAE is required.

Why do you ask so many personal questions?

During our introductory call, you will discover that we ask some extremely personal questions. The reason is: we don't want to put you through the lengthy application process if some personal factors may later exclude you from an employment visa in the Middle East.

Do I need a visa to go to the UAE?

Individuals from several Western countries (including Canada and the United States) do not require a visa to enter the UAE to visit.

However, employees relocating on a one- or two-year contract are required to enter the country on an employment visa/work permit. These are sponsored by the hospital. As your recruitment company, Helen Ziegler & Associates will request your visa from the hospital. After being approved for a position at one of our client hospitals in UAE, it can take up to 3 months to obtain immigration clearance for an employment visa/work permit. You will be given a copy of your employment visa/work permit prior to your departure for Abu Dhabi.

How long will it take to get my residency status?

Like many other things in the UAE, obtaining your residency status will require plenty of paperwork and typically takes 10-15 business days. You will also be required to undergo medical screening as soon as you arrive in UAE, which will be organized by your employer.

I read somewhere that I will have to relinquish my passport to the hospital once I arrive in UAE, which makes me very nervous — why do I have to do this?

The hospital will need your passport to apply for your residency permit and it will be returned to you once your residency permit has been issued. This process typically take 10-15 business days. There is no reason to be anxious about relinquishing your passport to the hospital since it is standard procedure. However, as an added precaution, we recommend that you keep a photocopy of your passport on-hand, and either register in advance with the US State Department's Smart Traveler Enrolment Program or the Government of Canada's Registration of Canadians Abroad Program.

You can also register in person at the embassy in Abu Dhabi, or the consulate in Dubai.

I have friends and family members not listed in my contract who would like to visit me while I am overseas – how can they get visas?

The hospital is not responsible for family members and friends who are not listed in your contract. Citizens of most Western countries do not have to apply for a visitor's visa to enter UAE. These individuals will be granted a visitor's visa upon arriving in UAE free-of-charge and can stay in the country for 30 days. (Note: One's passport must be valid for more than six months and one must have a round-trip airline ticket or a ticket to a non-UAE destination.) The visitor's visa may be extended for an additional cost.

Citizens of countries who require a visa in advance, will have to make their own visa arrangements.

Do I have to have a UAE license to work?

You will need to be licensed in the Emirate in which you work, e.g., by the Abu Dhabi Department of Health (DOH, formerly HAAD), the Dubai Health Authority, etc.

Licensing requires that applicants meet both the specific education requirements (e.g., name of degree, length/type of program) and specific experience requirements for the position in which they will be licensed, in addition to meeting the requirements set by the actual hospital.

The credential verification and licensing process will be completed as part of the application process, and can take up to 60 days.