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Designed for life

Once the location has been selected, work on shaping the clinic to the dentist's needs and tastes can begin in earnest. For many dentists, stamping their mark on the clinic is a one-time affair.

Therefore, it is vital to get it right the first time. Dr Genna Levitch, founder of Levitch Design Associates suggests that a dentist should have some firm ideas about the type of design they want from the outset. While the clinic's look is vital, the design should not lose sight of the technical requirements. "These are the first things we look at," Levitch notes.

"Is there enough space for the practice's requirements, in terms of how many chairs and whether the floors allow for drainage and waste management?"

Dr Maximillian Riewer of the Dubai Sky Clinic is in agreement. "As dentists we have special draining and power requirements. Before you can start dreaming of the perfect clinic you have to make sure the technical side is supported," he warns. "Don't cut corners with this, invest money on a specialist. It can only be built once."

Water and power can be a major source of frustration, with so much construction going on, particularly in Dubai, providers are struggling to meet demand. As a result there are strict guidelines governing electrical load and water usage.

Without the water and power authority's approval you will not get anywhere," Mohankrishnan explains.

Once the initial designs are produced, they have to be approved, either by the government ministry responsible, or the free zone's equivalent of the CPQ. Dubai adheres to guidelines set down by Joint Commission International (JCI) and the American Institute of Architects (AIA), though guidelines vary throughout the Gulf region.

Mohanakrishnan suggests that finding out which standards apply and getting to know them early will prove an advantage at the planning stage.

You will never get it right the first time, so expect plans to come back for reworking, he warns. "Initial designs will nearly always come back with some alterations or additional requirements. The initial paperwork, getting the design approvals and going back and forth, will take about six weeks," he estimates.

Before the soft furnishing shopping spree can commence, the regulatory bodies will also be looking to make sure that minimum space requirements are met around the dental chairs, that air compressor housings are sound proofed, and that walls around radiology equipment are well protected with lead linings.

Having a great design is only half the battle, though. Making sure that contractors produce what is actually on the blueprints is another matter entirely. Many local interior design firms lament the lack of quality contractors.

It pays to be wary, as more often than not, the materials and specifications set down by the architect do not always correlate with what is actually used in the construction process. If you do get caught out, it could lead to problems when the final inspections are done by the licensing authority.

"The quality of architecture and design can be very high here, but you have to get the right developer to go with that," explains Ferra Sabooni, director of UAE business development at science and technology design firm CUH2A.

To ensure the best results the free-market principle applies. "In order to get the best you have to pay the highest - that's just the way it is," she states.

Fools rush in

When starting a business of any kind in the Middle East, the keystone to success is thorough business planning - held in place with firm financial backing.

It is also essential to take a long-term view and seriously consider the strengths and weaknesses of the practice options available. Headstrong decisions and a lack of flexibility can prove costly in the future.

Certain processes will move faster than others, and some ideas or plans will need to change, but the ability to ride these out will result in a finished product to be proud of.

In the next instalment, MED will tackle the topics of staffing and equipment.

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