How to Get a Midwife Job in the UAE, Saudi Arabia or Qatar in 2026: Registered vs Assistant Midwife, Licensing and the MID5104 Exam, Maternity Hospitals That Hire, CV, Interview, Salary and Visa, Step by Step
A step-by-step plan for midwives who want to work in the UAE, Saudi Arabia or Qatar in 2026: which qualification gets the Registered Midwife or Assistant Midwife title, DHA, SCFHS and QCHP licensing and the MID5104 Prometric exam, maternity hospitals and women's health centres that hire, CV and interview tips, salary in AED, SAR, QAR, INR, PKR and PHP, and the visa process.
The Gulf has high birth rates, large maternity hospitals and a growing preference for midwife-led care in low-risk births. Registered midwives are hired continuously, and the licensing route is the same Prometric sequence nurses use, with a midwifery-specific exam. This guide covers the title, the licence and the job.
Step 1: Know which title your qualification gets
| Qualification | Usual Gulf title | Exam |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's or diploma in midwifery with registration, or a nursing degree plus a recognised midwifery qualification, with about two years of midwifery experience | Registered Midwife | MID5104 |
| Auxiliary or assistant midwifery qualification (for example ANM with midwifery component) | Assistant Midwife | MID5101 |
| Registered nurse with labour-ward experience but no midwifery registration | Registered Nurse (maternity unit), not midwife | RNT0312 |
Direct-entry midwives and nurse-midwives are both accepted, provided the midwifery registration and experience are documented. Run the eligibility check; the exam detail is in the midwives and assistant nurses guide.
Step 2: Get licensed in your target country
| Country | Route | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| UAE (Dubai) | DHA: Sheryan, DataFlow, Prometric midwifery exam; you can finish before an offer | DHA nursing and midwifery licence |
| UAE (Abu Dhabi, Northern Emirates) | DOH (Pearson VUE) or MOHAP (Prometric) | DOH, MOHAP |
| Saudi Arabia | SCFHS: Mumaris+ classification, DataFlow, midwifery classification exam | Saudi nursing and midwifery licence |
| Qatar | QCHP/DHP: employer-opened file, DataFlow, Prometric exam | Qatar nursing and midwifery licence |
| Kuwait | MOH: employer-opened file, attestation, DataFlow, Prometric exam | Kuwait MOH midwife exam |
The midwifery paper is 100 to 150 MCQs in 2.5 to 3 hours on antenatal care, labour, obstetric emergencies, postnatal and newborn care, with a pass mark of about 50 to 60% by authority. Prepare with the Registered Midwife bank, about 7,500 questions, and the midwife sample questions.
Step 3: Know who hires midwives
| Employer | What they want |
|---|---|
| Government maternity and women's hospitals (for example Latifa Hospital in Dubai, Corniche Hospital in Abu Dhabi, Women's Wellness and Research Center in Doha, maternity hospitals across Saudi Arabia) | Labour ward, antenatal and postnatal experience; NRP and BLS; high-volume units |
| Private hospitals with obstetric units | Labour ward and postnatal care; customer-facing; often faster hiring |
| Midwife-led and birth centres | Growing in the UAE and Qatar; independent practice skills, normal birth expertise |
| Antenatal clinics, primary care and home care | Antenatal education, breastfeeding support, postnatal visits; regular hours |
| Neonatal and special care units | Nurse-midwives with NICU experience |
Join the midwife talent pool with your target countries, and watch the jobs board. Saudi government hospitals recruit through approved agencies; UAE and Qatar hospitals hire directly and through agencies.
Step 4: CV and interview
- Lead with licence status, then annual births attended, delivery types, labour-ward and postnatal volumes, and certifications with dates: NRP or newborn life support, BLS, CTG interpretation, breastfeeding counselling.
- Expect scenario questions on CTG classification, postpartum haemorrhage sequence, shoulder dystocia, cord prolapse, pre-eclampsia and newborn resuscitation (interview questions).
- Female midwives are universally required for labour-ward posts in the Gulf; state your gender clearly on the CV.
A template is in CV for Gulf hospital jobs.
Step 5: Understand the salary
| Country | Monthly (local) | USD | INR | PKR | PHP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UAE (AED) | AED 5,000–9,000 | USD 1,360–2,450 | INR 120,000–215,500 | PKR 381,000–686,000 | PHP 77,500–139,500 |
| Saudi Arabia (SAR) | SAR 4,500–8,000 | USD 1,200–2,130 | INR 105,500–187,500 | PKR 336,000–597,500 | PHP 68,500–121,500 |
| Qatar (QAR) | QAR 5,500–9,500 | USD 1,510–2,610 | INR 133,000–229,500 | PKR 423,000–731,000 | PHP 86,000–149,000 |
Salaries are approximate 2026 monthly, tax-free ranges for a mid-experience (3–5 year) hire, blended from published pay scales, recruiter ranges and offers our placement team has seen. Home-currency figures use fixed rates (USD 1 = AED 3.67, SAR 3.75, QAR 3.64, INR 88, PKR 280, PHP 57). Always go by the offer letter.
Government maternity hospitals pay at the top of each band with housing or an allowance, tickets and gratuity; senior and specialised midwives earn 20 to 30% more. Compare with nursing bands in nurse salary comparison, and check the offer against what to check before accepting.
Step 6: Visa and arrival
After the offer, the employer activates or links your licence and issues the work visa; you complete the medical and residence permit within a few weeks of arrival (onboarding steps). Family sponsorship depends on salary thresholds, which midwives in UAE government posts often meet (family visa rules).
Frequently asked questions
Can a nurse with labour-ward experience get a midwife licence in the Gulf?
Only with a recognised midwifery qualification and registration. Otherwise you are licensed as a registered nurse and can work in maternity units under that title.
What is the salary of a midwife in the Gulf?
Roughly AED 5,000 to 9,000 in the UAE, SAR 4,500 to 8,000 in Saudi Arabia and QAR 5,500 to 9,500 in Qatar a month, tax-free, for a mid-experience registered midwife.
Which exam do midwives sit?
MID5104 Registered Midwife, or MID5101 for assistant midwives, delivered by Prometric (Pearson VUE for DOH).
Which country is easiest for midwives to get licensed in?
The UAE (DHA) and Bahrain, where you can open your own file and pass before an offer.
Are male midwives employed in the Gulf?
Labour-ward posts are for female midwives across the region; male nurse-midwives are usually employed in other nursing roles.
Practice banks for this exam
Chapter-wise MCQs with written reasoning on every question, and timed mocks at the real pass mark.