The SCFHS license works differently from the UAE: before you can register, the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties gives you a professional classification, and that grade decides the title you practise under. For France-trained doctors, the starting point is favourable. SCFHS’s classification rules place the French DES and DESC in Group 1, alongside the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and Ireland, which means a Senior Registrar grade with no professional assessment and a Consultant grade after three years of experience. Salaries in Saudi Arabia are not subject to individual income tax. Below is the classification route through Mumaris+, the timelines SCFHS publishes, and how to read a riyal offer in euros.
Key Takeaways
- French DES/DESC = Group 1; the DIS sits in Group 2.
- Group 1 holders are classified as Senior Registrar without assessment and can reach Consultant after 3 years of experience.
- Non-Saudi applicants need at least one year of experience, and GPs must pass a licensing exam.
- DataFlow verification for a new physician file costs SAR 600 and averages 25 working days.
- Registration lasts two years and renewal needs 60 CPD hours.
How SCFHS Classifies a French Specialty Qualification
SCFHS sorts foreign postgraduate certificates into groups, so eligibility depends on your country of training. In its Executive Rules for professional classification and registration, Group 1 has seven countries: Australia, Canada, France, Ireland, Saudi Arabia, the UK and the USA. The French entry names the Diplôme d’études spécialisées (DES) and the DESC issued by a French university.
| French qualification | SCFHS group | Senior Registrar | Consultant |
|---|---|---|---|
| DES or DESC | Group 1 | No experience and no assessment needed | After 3 years of experience, no professional assessment |
| DIS | Group 2 | Written specialty exam | After 5 years of experience plus a committee review or interview |
These rules date from 1438 AH (2016 to 2017), and SCFHS decides the final grade on every application. SCFHS classification grades also use different titles from the UAE: General Physician, Resident, Registrar, Senior Registrar, Fellow and Consultant.
If you are short of consultant experience
A Saudi healthcare entity can ask SCFHS to waive the required experience for consultant registration. The request needs two endorsing consultants in the same general specialty, carries no fee and takes 10 working days.
The SCFHS License Route Through Mumaris+
- Create a Mumaris+ account and select the classification you are applying for.
- Complete DataFlow verification. Apply on DataFlow’s portal under Saudi Arabia and SCFHS, upload your documents and sign the letter of authorisation. The report goes straight to SCFHS.
- Receive your classification. SCFHS assigns your grade by direct decision or after an exam or practical assessment.
- Register. Upload your documents in Mumaris+, pay and receive your registration card.
SCFHS’s classification requirements add a few conditions: a registration certificate from the authority in the country where you last practised, at least one year of experience for non-Saudis, and an employment letter issued within three months of your application.
What SCFHS verifies from France
DataFlow checks one educational qualification, one professional license and a database search. For a France-trained specialist, that usually means your specialty diploma and your registration with the Ordre des Médecins. If you hold no license from your last country of work, you need an endorsement letter and an experience certificate instead. In addition, obtaining Dubai licensing for French doctors may involve additional requirements specific to the UAE.
SCFHS Timelines and Fees
| Stage | Published time | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| DataFlow verification (new physician) | About 25 working days (about 14 with express) | SAR 600 (express: SAR 500 extra) |
| Classification by direct decision | 7 business days | Shown in Mumaris+ |
| Classification via written exam | 30 business days | Shown in Mumaris+ |
| Classification via practical assessment | 45 business days | Shown in Mumaris+ |
| Professional registration | 5 working days | Shown in Mumaris+ |
Once issued, your SCFHS registration stays valid for two years, and you need 60 CPD hours to renew it, according to the Mumaris+ FAQ. Plan your budget around the full SCFHS license cost and timeline for each stage.
Do You Need the SMLE?
Group 1 specialists classified as Senior Registrar or Consultant are not asked for a professional assessment under the classification rules. General practitioners must pass a licensing exam. The Saudi Medical Licensing Exam (SMLE) has 200 multiple-choice questions over four hours, a pass mark of 560 on a 200 to 800 scale and up to four attempts a year, sat as a Saudi Prometric exam at a test centre, according to the SMLE applicant guide. An exam result stays valid for five years.
Saudi Doctor Salary: Reading a Riyal Offer in Euros
SCFHS does not publish pay scales, and reliable salary surveys for doctors in Saudi Arabia are scarce. What matters more is how your grade translates into an offer, so use this table to convert it. Many foreign medical professionals, including those holding a MOHAP license for France-trained doctor, encounter unique challenges when seeking employment in the region. Many organizations are beginning to recognize the importance of holding a MOHAP license for France-trained doctors.
| Monthly offer (SAR) | In euros |
|---|---|
| SAR 20,000 | about €4,767 |
| SAR 30,000 | about €7,151 |
| SAR 45,000 | about €10,726 |
| SAR 60,000 | about €14,301 |
For a mid-career comparison, a full-time French praticien hospitalier earns €66,567 gross a year at step 4 and €94,558 at step 10 of the 2023 pay grid, roughly €5,547 to €7,880 gross a month before contributions and tax. A Saudi salary carries no personal income tax, so set the offer against your French take-home pay and against what doctors earn in Saudi Arabia.
Exchange rate used: SAR 4.1955 per euro, from the ECB euro reference rate of USD 1.1188 on 13 October 2026 and the official SAR 3.75 peg to the US dollar.
Tax and Social Insurance for France-Trained Doctors in Saudi Arabia
According to PwC’s Saudi tax summary, income tax is not imposed on an individual’s earnings that come only from employment in Saudi Arabia. For expatriates, the employer pays a 2% occupational hazard contribution to GOSI on basic pay and housing. France and Saudi Arabia have a tax treaty signed in Paris on 18 February 1982 and amended in 2011, so check your French residency status before you leave.
Where France-Trained Doctors Work in Saudi Arabia
- King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre: campuses in Riyadh (a 1,500-bed flagship), Jeddah and Madinah.
- Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs: medical campuses in Riyadh, Jeddah, Al-Ahsa, Dammam and Medina.
- King Fahad Medical City: in central Riyadh, with a capacity of 1,200 beds.
- Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare: launched in 2014 by Saudi Aramco and Johns Hopkins Medicine, centred on Dhahran.
- Private groups: Saudi German Health, with hospitals in Jeddah, Riyadh, Madinah, Makkah, Dammam, Hail and Abha, and Dr Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group.
French Schools and Residency in Saudi Arabia
The French Embassy in Saudi Arabia lists four AEFE-homologated French schools: the École française internationale de Riyad, the École de cité académique française in Riyadh, the École française internationale de Djeddah and the Lycée français international d’Al Khobar, which is close to Dhahran. France’s foreign ministry puts the French community in Saudi Arabia at more than 6,000 nationals and growing. For long-term residency, Saudi Arabia’s Special Talent Premium Residency covers healthcare professionals; Gulf News reported a salary threshold of SAR 35,000 a month and more than three years of experience among the criteria.
Moving From France to Saudi Arabia? Secure the Right SCFHS Grade
Your French DES puts you in Group 1, but the grade you receive still decides your title and how soon you can practise as a consultant. Allocation Assist is a medical job consultancy that works with doctors trained in France, guiding them through SCFHS licensing, from Mumaris+ and DataFlow to doctor job placement in Saudi Arabia. If you are planning a move from France, reach out to us through our contact us page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can France-trained doctors work in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. The SCFHS classification rules list the French DES and DESC in Group 1, alongside the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and Ireland, so most France-trained specialists can register once their documents are verified.
What grade will I get with a French DES?
Under the rules, a Group 1 holder is classified as Senior Registrar without assessment, or as Consultant after three years of experience. SCFHS confirms the final grade on each application.
Do I need to pass the SMLE with a French specialty qualification?
Group 1 Senior Registrar and Consultant classifications do not require a professional assessment under the rules. General practitioners must pass a licensing exam, and the SMLE pass mark is 560 on a 200 to 800 scale.
What is Mumaris+?
Mumaris+ is the SCFHS online platform where you create your account, apply for professional classification and complete your registration.
How long does SCFHS classification take?
SCFHS lists 7 business days for a direct decision, 30 via a written exam and 45 via a practical assessment. These timelines start after DataFlow verification, which averages about 25 working days.
How long is SCFHS registration valid?
Registration is valid for two years. You can apply to renew three months before it expires, and doctors need 60 CPD hours to renew.
Is a doctor’s salary in Saudi Arabia tax-free?
Yes. Saudi Arabia does not tax individual income earned only from employment in the country. Your French tax position depends on where your household and economic interests remain.
