No, dabigatran does not need bridging. Because DOACs have short half-lives (less than 12 hours), peri-procedural administration of parenteral “bridging” anticoagulants is unnecessary.
Direct oral anticoagulants such as dabigatran, apixaban, rivaroxaban, and edoxaban do not require bridging with unfractionated or low molecular weight heparin when commencing therapy, since their effects are rapid.