Considering starting a dental business in Dubai? You’re in the right place.
As health professionals and the general population in the UAE become increasingly aware of the impact of oral hygiene on people from all walks of life, the region is experiencing heightened demand for dental services.
There are already many dental clinics operating in Dubai that provide comprehensive general and specialized services to ex-pat communities and residents. If you’ve got the expertise and the desire to make the move to Dubai, it’s one of the most lucrative cities in the world to open a dental clinic.
Opening a dental clinic isn’t all smooth sailing. It’s one of those things that is as difficult as it sounds. There are rules and regulations to comply with, existing dental clinics to compete with, and patients to win over. But with the right information and a can-do attitude, there’s no reason you can’t set up a successful dental clinic in Dubai.
In this article, we take a look at why you should start a dental business in Dubai, the steps involved to do so, and the role inbound marketing plays in achieving dental business success.
Why start a dental business in Dubai?
The dentistry business in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is booming.
As the demand for dental services grows, technical advancements in dental devices drive new treatments and improved accessibility, and the nation’s health professionals become increasingly aware of oral health challenges, the dentistry industry is growing rapidly.
Most cities have less available dental services than other types of medical services, but dental check-ups and treatments are just as important as other medical visits that most people wouldn’t think twice about making!
For this reason, dental health professionals are typically fewer than other types of professionals operating in the health sector. This is currently the case in Dubai, where less than 5% of healthcare professionals in the city provide dental services.
Due to the strategic location and the wealthy, mostly expat population of Dubai, it’s a beneficial place to set up a dental clinic. People from all over the world travel to Dubai and the rest of the UAE due to its tax-free incentives and to access the world-class medical and cosmetic services on offer there.
More people are seeking dental services in the UAE than ever before, and the demand for these services is forecasted to increase by a whopping 156% by 2025. Despite this increasing demand, the government of Dubai never compromises on the quality of care and facilities it provides to its residents.
There’s truly no better time than the present to start a dental clinic in Dubai!
Checklist: How to start a dental business in Dubai in 6 simple steps
We’ve broken down the process of starting a dental business in Dubai into 6 simple steps, which you can use as a guide to help you create an actionable plan for opening a dental business in the UAE’s expat paradise.
1. Understand what qualifications and documentation you’ll need
There are rigid and strictly enforced rules and regulations in place for those wanting to open a dental clinic in Dubai. Dental clinics in Dubai are managed by the UAE Ministry of Health (MoH). Dentists must attain a license from the MoH to operate a clinic in Dubai or any other emirate.
That being said, recent changes to state regulations allow for internationally qualified dentists holding qualifications from select qualification boards to practice in the UAE without having to sit the previously compulsory and extensive online exam. These changes came about as a result of increasing consumer demands and developing market trends in the UAE dentistry industry, and the need to provide services without extensive wait times.
It’s always a good idea to check what qualifications and documentation you’ll need before opening a dental clinic in Dubai. Read the MoH Dental Clinic Guidelines Regulation that details the licensing and rules you’ll need to be aware of when starting a dental clinic in Dubai. Some key requirements mentioned in the regulation include:
- Dental clinics in Dubai can be established by professionals holding the required qualification/degree. Assisting personnel must also hold a qualification and be trained to carry out their specific duties.
- Detailed and accurate patient records must be kept for each patient.
- The minimum space for a dental clinic room in Dubai is 14 square meters. A dental practice must also contain a reception area, waiting area, patient record storage area, and toilets.
- The dental clinic must be equipped with the appropriate medical equipment, supplies, and pharmacological agents required to provide dental services.
- Proper ventilation is required to prevent odors or fumes.
2. Choose the type of dental business you want to start
There are many different types of dental clinics you could start in Dubai. In the same way that medical services offer a range of specialized clinics and hospitals (think: pediatrics, gynecology, dermatology, etc), there are many different types of dental clinics and dentistry specializations you might be considering.
You should conduct a market analysis that assesses the current demand and existing competition for dental services in Dubai. Once you know what’s out there, you can decide where your business is going to slot in and how you’re going to distinguish it from the competition.
Let’s take a look at what types of dental clinics currently exist in Dubai.
Types of dental clinics in Dubai
There are many types of dental clinics in Dubai, so it’s a good idea to consider whether you plan on targeting a niche market or a more general audience. Common types of dental clinics include:
- General: A general dentist offers general services for diagnosing, treating, and managing the overall oral health of patients. Their services can include gum care, fillings, root canals, crowns, veneers, teeth cleaning, etc.
- Cosmetic: Cosmetic dentists specialize in the appearance of teeth and gums for cosmetic purposes. This industry is growing as people become more conscious of their appearance and willing to spend money on such procedures.
- Pediatric: This type of dentist specializes in the oral health of children, from infancy to teenhood.
- Orthodontist: Dentist specialized in teeth and jaw alignment.
- Endodontist: Dentist specialized in treating tooth pain and performing root canals.
- Periodontist: Dental services focused on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of periodontal disease.
- Prosthodontic services: Specialized in complex dental and facial matters, services include restoring and replacing teeth with artificial devices.
3. Establish a budget
Opening any kind of business isn’t cheap. Opening a dental clinic will require you to make financial considerations and establish a budget that aligns with your current economic situation and your growth plan.
The main thing to consider when establishing your budget is the location and rental costs of your business. Dubai is the most expensive city in the UAE, and although it offers competitive salaries, this is relative to the high cost of living and renting or buying property.
The cost of leasing or buying property depends on where in Dubai you want to establish your practice. For example, downtown locations or spots near the Dubai Marina will cost more than practices in more affordable areas of the city. Be sure to do your research!
Other costs you’ll need to factor into your budget include those associated with:
- Dental devices, equipment, supplies, furniture, and IT software
- Structural fittings specific to dental practices
- Working capital (payroll, consultancy, accounting, inbound and outbound marketing, website costs, etc)
4. Outline your target patient base
Just like any other business idea, you’ll need to have a target audience in mind. The increased demand for dental services in the UAE means that dentists can leverage more control over the influx of patients.
Although it might be tempting to open your doors to anyone and everyone seeking an initial examination, consider whether you want to offer more lucrative and specialized services that cater towards a particular audience segment. This way, you can hone in on the space in the market and establish your business as an industry leader in a specific field (like pediatric dentistry, for example.)
It’s also important to consider your target audience when outlining dental marketing initiatives as this will help you create targeted campaigns and content that truly speaks to your patient base.
Note: You can use our buyer persona template and answer some simple questions about who your patients are, what they’re looking for, and how your services can help solve their problems.
5. Make a plan to attract patients
The average dental practice needs, on average, 20 new patients a month to succeed. Before establishing your practice, you should have a clear roadmap detailing how you’re going to attract patients. You’ll want to start putting the word out before the big open day. Consider hosting an opening event and inviting your friends, family, or industry professionals along.
You should also create a digital marketing strategy, or hire an agency specialized in dental marketing to do it for you. Build a professional website, and plan to market your dental clinic across a range of platforms, using the inbound methodology to grow your business organically, rather than relying solely on paid advertising and other outbound marketing techniques.
Keep reading to discover some foolproof inbound marketing tips for dental businesses.
6. Create a business plan
So, you have an idea. Now, you need to turn that idea into something tangible, actionable, and achievable. It’s time to create a business plan.
A business plan is a written document that details all the ins and outs of your dental practice. Essentially, it brings together all the information that’s been swirling around in your head and it’s a crucial reference point for starting your practice in Dubai.
Your dental business plan should include the following information:
- A description of your dental business
- Your long-term and short-term business objectives and goals
- Defines your target patient base
- Features a competitor analysis
- Details financial costs involved in opening, managing, and maintaining your dental practice including profit and expense projections.
- Explains how you plan to market and advertise your dental practice
Your business plan will play a vital role in securing loans and pinpointing your strengths and weaknesses, as well as opportunities and threats you might face before you get in too deep. It’ll help you make informed decisions and keep you on track to success as your dental business grows. So, make sure you dedicate ample time to creating it and ask for plenty of feedback!
Top inbound marketing ideas for a dental clinic in Dubai
Once you’ve dealt with all the tedious bureaucratic and financial details, it’s time for the fun part.
Like most other businesses operating across industries, the future of dental marketing is digital. Moreover, the inbound methodology is making waves in the industry as dental practices focus on providing an effortless user experience, attracting clients organically, and retaining their loyalty with valuable and relevant content.
Not sure where to start when it comes to dental marketing? We wrote about this topic in greater detail in this article, but here are a few tips to help get the ball rolling.
- Create an optimized website: Ensure your website is fast, fully functional, and offers an effortless user experience. Customers should be able to locate your business, explore your services, and book an appointment quickly and easily. Make sure it’s mobile-friendly too!
- Develop a content marketing strategy: Create and share content that establishes your business as a credible source of information. Offer your audience more than just your services to show them that you care about their loyalty. Write a blog, or create other types of content discussing topics relating to oral hygiene, dental device innovations, or industry trends.
- Enhance your visibility on social platforms: 98.98% of the UAE population is active on social media. Make room in your marketing budget for social media marketing and advertising, and be sure to share your content on social platforms to encourage engagement and boost awareness.
When it comes to creating a dental marketing strategy for your business, look at what successful competitors are doing. How are they marketing their services? Do they focus solely on digital marketing, or do they use a combination of digital and traditional marketing techniques? What platforms do they advertise/share content on?
Once you’ve got an idea of who you’re up against, you can start tailoring your inbound marketing strategies to the needs of your audience base and aligning them with your business goals. Also, be sure to keep up with dentistry-related and digital marketing trends to ensure you’re always at the top of your game.
Ready to get your dental business in Dubai off the ground?
With awareness and demand for dental services in the UAE growing by the day, it’s the perfect time to start a dental business in Dubai. Moreover, Dubai is driving innovation efforts in the dental devices market and playing host to world-class dental industry conventions in 2021—the UAE is the place to be for dentistry.
By following the tips presented in this article and doing your own research, you’ll be able to get your business up and running smoothly. Once you’ve established your practice, you can focus on using inbound marketing campaigns to attract new patients, build brand awareness, and achieve your business growth goals.
Need some tailored advice about marketing a dental clinic in Dubai? We can help. Book a consultation today.
