The verdict in three sentences
For a 6-chair dental clinic in Dubai, data migration when changing software costs between 10,000 and 25,000 USD for around 22,000 patient records and 180 GB of imaging. The project takes 6 weeks, with a weekend cutover that avoids any double entry on Monday morning. The main risk is legal and clinical rather than technical: orphaned X-rays or wrongly linked medical histories expose the dentist, hence a protocol aligned with DHA requirements and the UAE health data law.
What a dental data migration really costs
Price depends less on the number of records than on the quality of the source database. Old software with a closed proprietary database requires reverse engineering, while a documented SQL export takes a few days.
| Data migrated | Typical volume (6 chairs) | Difficulty | Estimated cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Patient records and contact details | 22,000 records | low | 1,600 to 2,800 USD |
| Medical history and allergies | 22,000 records | medium | 2,200 to 4,000 USD |
| Procedures, treatment plans, estimates | 15 years of history | high | 2,800 to 7,000 USD |
| X-rays and panoramics | 180 GB, DICOM and JPEG | high | 2,200 to 5,500 USD |
| Patient accounts and insurers | balances and unpaid claims | medium | 1,400 to 3,500 USD |
| Diary and future appointments | 3 months | low | 800 to 2,200 USD |
Total, 2026 order of magnitude: 10,000 to 25,000 USD. On top comes the new software licence or subscription, usually 250 to 700 USD per chair per month depending on the vendor.
The 6-week plan and risks to control
A successful migration follows a precise sequence. The golden rule: two dry runs before the real cutover.
| Week | Step | Risk covered |
|---|---|---|
| W1 | database audit, format inventory, compliance review | unidentified data loss |
| W2 | field mapping from old to new software | misclassified procedures or histories |
| W3 | first dry run on a copy | patient and X-ray linking errors |
| W4 | check by 3 dentists on 300 random records | invisible clinical errors |
| W5 | second dry run, fixes, team training | slow adoption |
| W6 | weekend cutover, checks on Monday at 8 am | clinic downtime |
The human check in week 4 is decisive. An error rate of 0.5% sounds small, but across 22,000 records it means 110 patients with a wrong history. The target is zero blocking errors in the sample before cutover.
On compliance, UAE federal law on health data requires secure storage within the country unless an exemption applies, restricted access and long retention. The old software should remain available read-only for at least 12 months, then the full archive is stored securely.
Mini case study
Dr Haddad, owner of a 6-chair clinic in Dubai, first considers manually re-entering active records. Estimate: 8,000 active records at 6 minutes each, or 800 hours of assistant time, about 14,400 USD at an internal cost of 18 USD per hour, without X-rays or history. Automated migration costs 18,000 USD, covers all 22,000 records and 180 GB of imaging, and only stops activity for a weekend. For 3,600 USD more, the clinic keeps 15 years of clinical history and avoids weeks of degraded operation.
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FAQ
How much does dental data migration cost in Dubai?
Expect 10,000 to 25,000 USD for a 6-chair clinic with 22,000 records. A single-dentist practice with 5,000 records is closer to 4,000 to 8,000 USD.
Will all our X-rays be recovered?
DICOM and JPEG images are migrated and linked to each patient by ID. For 180 GB, allow 2 to 3 days of transfer and a check on at least 300 records.
Do we need to close the clinic during migration?
No, the cutover runs from Saturday noon to Sunday evening. On Monday, the team works directly in the new software with an up-to-date diary.
What does UAE law require for this kind of project?
Health data must be stored securely, in the UAE by default, with access controls. The provider signs a confidentiality agreement and access is logged throughout the migration.
Can we keep the old software?
Keeping it read-only for at least 12 months is recommended. It often costs under 150 USD a month and helps in case of dispute.
Let's scope your project. We audit your current database, price the migration between 10,000 and 25,000 USD based on your volumes and plan a weekend cutover within 6 weeks. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
