Dubai’s strict medical healthcare laws which apply to massage therapists are being reformed with the help of principal and owner of the renowned Dubai spa training facility, Healing Zone Academy – Anne Cook and the director of spa consultancy dR Global, Daniella Russell.

The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) implemented strict new regulations for massage therapists in 2013 which require massage therapists to have undergone 500 hours of training made up of 200 hours of massage instruction, 100 hours of clinical practice, 125 hours of anatomy and physiology theory, 40 hours of general pathology, 25 hours of ethics and 25 hours of business practice.

At the end of this process, each therapist needs to have two years of post-qualification experience signed and attested by previous or existing employers.

After much persuasion the DHA has stopped the previously mandatory prometric testing because it was too medical for the role of a massage therapist.

“The prometric testing was formulated for medical massage such as physiotherapists rather than spa massage therapists,” said Anne Cook in a letter sent to spa and salon associates to update them on the latest regulation reforms. “No exam is required now but therapists must have the correct qualifications. This is still a challenge due to the two years post-qualification experience required.”

Earlier this month, Cook and Russell met with Dr David Riley, head of licensing at the Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) to help re-draft the licensing rules for massage therapists.

Necessary adjustments to the healthcare rules include the creation of a Massage Assistant Licence, according to Cook and Russell’s letter. This licence would allow a newly qualified therapist to work under the supervision of a fully qualified existing therapist to gain the two years of work experience required to become a fully licensed therapist.

Having seen an initial draft, the duo have also recommended that some of the 500 hours – which are beyond most educational requirements for massage qualifications – are comprised of additional training.

“This will help existing therapists that fall short of the required 500 hours and enable them to take further training to make up the hours here in Dubai,” continued the letter. “In requesting this, we believe this also sustains staff retention for the spas that already employ them.”

Russell and Cook also advised that therapists who are supported by spas during their training period should remain a further two years in that spa after gaining their full license.

Hotel spas are not under pressure to adhere to the licensing rules but both Cook and Russell advises Dubai-based spa operations of all genres should adhere to the regulations in order to keep up with the industry.