Regulatory Affairs Specialist Job Description UAE 2025 — Responsibilities, Qualifications and Salary
A Regulatory Affairs Specialist in UAE earns between AED 120,000 and AED 240,000 per year. The role manages product registration, licensing applications, and regulatory submissions to UAE authorities including DOH, DHA, MOHAP, MOCCAE, and ESMA. It requires a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy, science, or law, 4 to 8 years of regulatory affairs experience, and knowledge of UAE product registration frameworks.
UAE and Saudi Arabia
Salary: AED 120,000–240,000
Updated 2025
Regulatory Affairs Specialist Responsibilities
The table below lists the primary responsibilities of a Regulatory Affairs Specialist in UAE and Saudi Arabia as of 2025. Each responsibility is stated as a discrete, measurable activity.
| Responsibility | Frequency | Output / Deliverable |
|---|---|---|
| Prepare and submit product registration dossiers to UAE regulatory authorities | Per product | Submission accepted with zero critical deficiencies |
| Manage product licences and ensure timely renewal | Per licence | Zero expired licences per quarter |
| Monitor UAE regulatory guidelines and communicate changes to relevant teams | Monthly | Regulatory update brief circulated within 5 days |
| Liaise with DOH, DHA, MOHAP, or ESMA on submission queries | Per query | Response submitted within authority deadline |
| Coordinate regulatory due diligence for new product launches | Per launch | Regulatory clearance confirmed before market launch |
| Maintain regulatory submission database and correspondence files | Ongoing | Database current and accessible to regulatory team |
Regulatory Affairs Specialist Qualifications and Requirements
The following qualifications apply to a Regulatory Affairs Specialist role in UAE and Saudi Arabia. Requirements vary by sector and employer size.
| Requirement | Standard |
|---|---|
| Education | Bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy, Life Sciences, Chemistry, or Law |
| Experience | 4 to 8 years in regulatory affairs in pharmaceutical, food, or healthcare sector |
| Authorities | UAE DOH, DHA, MOHAP, MOCCAE, or ESMA registration experience |
| Dossiers | CTD (Common Technical Document) format knowledge for pharmaceutical submissions |
| Languages | English required; Arabic is an advantage for Arabic-language submissions |
| Communication | Regulatory writing, submission management, and authority liaison |
All employment contracts in the UAE are governed by Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021. A Regulatory Affairs Specialist employed in mainland UAE requires a Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) approved contract. ADGM, DIFC, and free zone employees are subject to their respective authority’s employment regulations.
How RFS Recruits a Regulatory Affairs Specialist
- You brief RFS with the role specification, seniority level, and team structure. The briefing call takes 30 minutes.
- RFS searches its active candidate database and activates direct outreach within 24 hours of instruction.
- RFS delivers a shortlist of 3 to 5 pre-screened Regulatory Affairs Specialist candidates within 48 to 72 hours.
- You conduct interviews. RFS coordinates scheduling and candidate communication throughout.
- RFS supports offer negotiation and manages the candidate’s notice period and onboarding.
- The 6-month replacement guarantee activates from the candidate’s start date.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a Regulatory Affairs Specialist earn in UAE?
A Regulatory Affairs Specialist in UAE earns between AED 120,000 and AED 240,000 per year. Pharmaceutical regulatory specialists earn AED 156,000 to AED 240,000. Food and cosmetics regulatory specialists earn AED 120,000 to AED 180,000. Senior specialists with 8 or more years earn at the upper end.
Which UAE authorities oversee pharmaceutical regulatory affairs?
UAE pharmaceutical regulation is split by emirate. The Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) oversees federal drug registration. The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and Department of Health Abu Dhabi (DOH) regulate healthcare products and practitioners in their respective emirates. ESMA (Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology) regulates food and consumer products.
How does RFS recruit Regulatory Affairs Specialists?
RFS sources Regulatory Affairs Specialist candidates for pharmaceutical, healthcare, and FMCG clients across UAE and Saudi Arabia. A shortlist of 3 to 5 pre-screened candidates is delivered within 48 to 72 hours. The retained search fee is 15 to 18 percent of first-year total compensation.
What a Regulatory Affairs Specialist does in UAE
A Regulatory Affairs Specialist in UAE manages the product registration, licensing, and regulatory compliance submissions for pharmaceutical, medical device, food, or consumer products companies seeking approval to market their products in UAE and GCC markets under UAE Ministry of Health, ESMA, and MOHAP regulatory frameworks.
Key responsibilities
- Prepare and manage product registration dossiers for UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) submissions
- Manage pharmaceutical product licensing and variation submissions to UAE authorities
- Coordinate with UAE ESMA and DM Food Safety for food product registration and labelling compliance
- Manage medical device registration with UAE Ministry of Health and Dubai Health Authority
- Monitor UAE and GCC regulatory developments and brief management on compliance obligations
- Maintain the regulatory affairs database and product licence register for UAE portfolio
- Liaise with international regulatory affairs teams on GCC harmonisation requirements
- Manage halal certification processes for food and pharmaceutical products for UAE market
- Prepare responses to UAE regulatory authority queries and inspection findings
- Support clinical trial authorisation applications with UAE authorities for pharmaceutical companies
Qualifications required
- Bachelor degree in pharmacy, chemistry, food science, or life sciences
- UAE RAPS membership or equivalent regulatory affairs qualification preferred
- 3 to 8 years regulatory affairs experience with UAE or GCC regulatory submissions
- Deep knowledge of UAE MOHAP, DHA, DOH, and ESMA regulatory frameworks
- Arabic language skills strongly preferred for UAE authority submissions and regulatory interactions
- GCC harmonised pharmaceutical registration (CTD format) experience
- UAE halal certification and DM Food Safety submission experience
- ICH guidelines and WHO GMP awareness for pharmaceutical regulatory roles
Regulatory Affairs Specialist salary by employer type in UAE
| Employer type | Annual salary (AED) |
|---|---|
| Multinational pharma UAE (Pfizer, J&J, Roche, GSK) | 180,000–340,000 |
| UAE pharmaceutical distributor or agent | 150,000–280,000 |
| Medical device company UAE (Medtronic, J&J Medical UAE) | 170,000–320,000 |
| FMCG or food company UAE regulatory team | 140,000–270,000 |
Contract terms for this role in UAE
Regulatory Affairs Specialist roles carry a 30 to 60 day notice period. Federal Decree-Law No. 33 of 2021 applies to your end-of-service gratuity at 21 days basic salary per year for the first five years.
Hire a Regulatory Affairs Specialist in UAE or Saudi Arabia
RFS delivers a shortlist of pre-screened Regulatory Affairs Specialist candidates in 48 to 72 hours. Retained search fee: 15 to 18 percent of first-year total compensation. 6-month replacement guarantee on all placements.
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UAE Market Data — Regulatory Affairs Specialist 2025
Salary Range (AED/month)
AED 15,000 – 75,000 (varies by seniority)
Tax-free. Source: Michael Page UAE 2026, Indeed UAE 2025
Industry
Legal — UAE & GCC
Required Certifications (UAE Market)
LLB / LLM mandatory. DIFC Court practitioner for DIFC roles. Bilingual English/Arabic preferred. CAMS for compliance-adjacent roles.
UAE-Specific Regulatory Skills
UAE Federal Commercial Transactions Law, UAE Companies Law (Federal Law No. 2 of 2015), DIFC Employment Law No. 2 of 2019, ADGM Regulations, UAE Arbitration Law (Federal Law No. 6 of 2018), UAE Data Protection Law.
RFS HR Consultancy places regulatory affairs specialist professionals across Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and the wider UAE and GCC. View our legal and compliance recruitment agency UAE or check the legal salary guide UAE 2025.
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