Pharmacists in the UAE and the Gulf: Registering in the UK
The Gulf is home to thousands of pharmacists — some who qualified locally in the United Arab Emirates, and many who trained elsewhere and moved for work. If you are thinking about registering with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) in Great Britain, the single most important thing to understand is this: your GPhC route depends on where you qualified, not where you currently live or work.
This page explains what that means in practice for pharmacists based in the UAE and the wider Gulf. It is general information for people researching the route themselves — not a job advert, and GeraClinic is not recruiting.
Last reviewed 2026-07-03.
Which route applies to you
The GPhC decides your route by the country in which you gained your pharmacy qualification. Living or working in the Gulf does not, by itself, place you on any particular route.
If you qualified in the UAE
A UAE pharmacy qualification is treated as an overseas (non-EEA) qualification, so you follow the OSPAP route — the one-year conversion diploma, then 52 weeks of foundation training, then the GPhC registration assessment. The steps are set out below.
If you qualified elsewhere but now work in the Gulf
Follow the route for the country your qualification is from. For example, a pharmacist who qualified in India, Egypt or the Philippines still uses the OSPAP route regardless of currently working in Dubai or Abu Dhabi. A pharmacist who qualified in an EEA country uses the GPhC’s recognition-of-qualification route instead.
Your starting point if you qualified in the UAE
Pharmacists in the UAE are licensed by the relevant health authority — the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) federally, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) in Dubai, or the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) — after completing a recognised pharmacy degree and the local licensing requirements. For the GPhC, the important point is that a UAE qualification is an overseas qualification, so it is assessed through the OSPAP route rather than the UK MPharm route. The GPhC assesses each applicant individually and expects you to be registered — or eligible to register — as a pharmacist where you qualified.
The OSPAP route, step by step
- 1
Confirm your eligibility with the GPhC
The GPhC first assesses whether you are eligible to begin the route. It reviews your overseas pharmacy qualification, your work experience, your fitness to practise, and your English language competency. You must be registered — or eligible to register — as a pharmacist in the country where you qualified.
- 2
Complete the OSPAP (a one-year postgraduate diploma)
The Overseas Pharmacists’ Assessment Programme (OSPAP) is a one-year, full-time GPhC-accredited postgraduate diploma delivered by a small number of UK universities. It converts your overseas training to the standard expected for practice in Great Britain and prepares you for foundation training.
- 3
Complete 52 weeks of foundation training
After the OSPAP you complete 52 weeks of foundation training (previously called the pre-registration year) in a GPhC-approved workplace in England, Scotland or Wales. Foundation training places are recruited through the National Recruitment Scheme and managed by your Statutory Education Body.
- 4
Pass the GPhC registration assessment, then register
Finally you sit and pass the GPhC registration assessment and meet the GPhC’s fitness-to-practise and character requirements. You must complete all of these steps and apply to register within four years of starting your OSPAP course.
The GPhC charges a non-refundable eligibility-application fee of £783 (as of 2025), and you must complete every step and apply to register within four years of starting the OSPAP. Read the full OSPAP guide →
English language and the right to work
English language
The GPhC requires evidence of English language competency — for example an IELTS Academic score of 7.0 in each of the four sections, or an equivalent such as OET Grade B. The accepted tests and scores are set by the GPhC and can change, so always confirm the current requirement on the GPhC website before booking a test.
Visas and the right to work
Registration with the GPhC and the right to work in the UK are separate things. Being resident in the Gulf does not give you the right to work in the UK; unless you already hold that right, you would normally need a work visa such as the Skilled Worker visa, which requires a job offer from an employer that holds a sponsor licence. Immigration rules are set by the UK government and change regularly — check GOV.UK for the current requirements.
A note on what this page is — and is not
This is general educational information for pharmacists in the UAE and the wider Gulf who are researching the UK registration process for themselves. GeraClinic is not a recruitment agency, does not place pharmacists into UK jobs, does not market UK vacancies to you, and does not charge you any fee — under UK law it is illegal for a work-finding agency to charge a jobseeker for finding them work. GeraClinic does not actively recruit health workers from any country, and in particular does not recruit from countries on the World Health Organization’s health workforce support and safeguards list. The OSPAP is delivered by accredited universities, foundation training is recruited through the UK’s National Recruitment Scheme, registration is granted by the GPhC, and any visa sponsorship is arranged by a UK employer. Always confirm the current process, fees and rules directly with the official sources below.
Frequently asked questions
I am a pharmacist working in Dubai. Which GPhC route do I use?+
It depends on where you qualified, not where you work. If your pharmacy degree is from a UAE university you follow the OSPAP (non-EEA international) route. If you qualified in another country — for example India, Egypt or an EEA country — but are currently working in the Gulf, you follow the route for the country your qualification is from. Your current job location does not change the GPhC route.
Does the UAE being outside the EEA mean I must sit the OSPAP?+
If you qualified in the UAE, yes — the UAE is a non-EEA country, so a UAE pharmacy qualification is treated as an overseas qualification and the OSPAP route applies. Pharmacists who qualified in an EEA or EFTA country instead use the GPhC’s recognition-of-qualification route, even if they now live in the Gulf.
Does GeraClinic recruit pharmacists from the Gulf?+
No. This is free educational information for individuals independently researching the UK registration process. GeraClinic is not a recruitment agency, does not place pharmacists into UK jobs, does not market UK vacancies and does not charge applicant fees. GeraClinic does not actively recruit health workers from any country, including any on the World Health Organization’s health workforce support and safeguards list.
What English language evidence does the GPhC require?+
The GPhC requires evidence of English language competency — for example an IELTS Academic score of 7.0 in each of the four sections, or an equivalent such as OET Grade B. The accepted tests and scores are set by the GPhC and can change, so always confirm the current requirement on the GPhC website before booking a test.
Will I need a visa to work in the UK?+
Registration with the GPhC and the right to work in the UK are separate. If you do not already have the right to work in the UK, you would normally need a work visa such as the Skilled Worker visa, which requires a job offer from a UK employer holding a sponsor licence. Immigration rules are set by the UK government and change regularly — check GOV.UK.