DHA Dubai
Relevant for healthcare professionals planning to practise in Dubai.
Explore pathwayUAE doctor licensing guidance
UAE Healthcare License for Doctors
Planning to work as a doctor in the UAE? UAEHealthPro helps doctors understand the right DHA, MOHAP, DOH, SHA or other healthcare licensing pathway with PQR-based profile review, document guidance, DataFlow/PSV support and application assistance.
- Authority Pathway Guidance
- PQR-Based Profile Review
- DataFlow / PSV Support
- Application Assistance
Profile-ledPQR-based review first
Authority-awarePathway guidance by emirate
Verification-readyDataFlow / PSV context
Case-awareNew, renewal or transfer support
Authority pathways
Which UAE Authorities May Apply?
Doctors may fall under DHA, MOHAP/MOH, DOH/HAAD, SHA or other relevant pathways depending on emirate, facility and specialty.
MOHAP / MOH UAE
Relevant for applicable MOHAP-regulated healthcare pathways.
Explore pathway
DOH / HAAD Abu Dhabi
Relevant for healthcare professionals planning to practise in Abu Dhabi.
Explore pathway
SHA Sharjah
Relevant for professionals joining SHA-licensed facilities in Sharjah.
Explore pathway
DHCC Guidance
Useful for clarifying the current route for roles in Dubai Healthcare City.
Explore pathwayEligibility before application
PQR-Based Eligibility Factors
The relevant pathway depends on the individual professional profile. Authority requirements and final eligibility remain subject to independent review.
Medical degree
Primary medical qualification relevant to the intended professional route.
Specialty qualification
Specialty or subspecialty qualification where applicable.
Internship or house job
Internship or house-job context where relevant to the case.
Clinical experience
Experience duration, recent practice and any applicable gap.
Professional registration
Medical licence or registration and good-standing history.
Title matching
Alignment between specialty, professional title and intended authority route.
What PQR actually publishes
Qualification & Experience Requirements by Title
PQR sets one qualification and experience ladder for physicians across DHA, MOHAP, DOH and SHA. Your title depends on your degree, specialty certificate and years of practice — not on which authority you apply to.
| Title | Qualification | Experience |
|---|---|---|
| Intern | MBBS, MBChB or an equivalent qualification from an accredited institution | No experience required* |
| Resident | MBBS, MBChB or equivalent | Completed internship, plus the relevant Authority residency standards |
| General Practitioner | MBBS, MBChB or equivalent | Completed internship + two (2) years of clinical experience |
| Specialist — Tier 1 or 2 | MBBS/MBChB + a recognized specialty certificate | No experience required after the main or sub-specialty qualification* |
| Specialist — Tier 3 | MBBS/MBChB + a recognized specialty certificate | UAE nationals: one (1) year after the main specialty, none after a sub-specialty. Non-UAE nationals: three (3) years after the main specialty, two (2) after a sub-specialty |
| Consultant — Tier 1 | MBBS/MBChB + a recognized specialty certificate | Two (2) years after the main specialty, one (1) year after a sub-specialty |
| Consultant — Tier 2 | MBBS/MBChB + a recognized specialty certificate | Five (5) years after the main specialty, four (4) years after a sub-specialty |
| Consultant — Tier 3 | MBBS/MBChB + a recognized specialty certificate | Cannot attain the title, except for a limited transitional route for physicians enrolled in a Tier 3 program before June 2017 |
Note: marked with * where PQR applies its standard Discontinuity of Practice (Gap of Practice) rule — professionals with more than three (3) years out of clinical practice may need extra CME/CPD hours and supervised retraining before the "no experience required" route applies.
Sources: DOH Abu Dhabi — Professional Qualification Requirements
Checked 22 August 2026. Authorities can change fees and requirements without notice — confirm current figures before you pay.
A clearer sequence
Licensing Process for This Profession
- Profile reviewReview your Doctor qualification, experience, professional history and intended UAE pathway.
- PQR-based eligibility checkConsider the relevant title, category, qualification and experience factors before applying.
- Document checklist guidancePrepare the individual document-readiness checklist for the selected authority route.
- Verification, exam or application guidanceFollow the appropriate DataFlow, assessment or authority application step for the case.
- Next-step supportUnderstand the relevant registration, licence, renewal, activation or transfer context after authority review.
Document readiness
Required Documents
Document needs vary by authority, profession, title and case type. General items may include the following, subject to current authority requirements.
Important: Exact documents depend on your profile, intended authority and case type. This page does not collect document attachments.
Primary-source verification
DataFlow / PSV Guidance
DataFlow or PSV may be relevant to a doctor licensing pathway. UAEHealthPro can guide document readiness, professional-title context and the authority route to check before you proceed.
Verification is independent.
UAEHealthPro can guide document readiness and route context, but does not control a verification outcome.
Explore DataFlow / PSV assistanceAssessment planning
Exam or Assessment Guidance
An exam or assessment may be relevant depending on the intended authority, doctor title, specialty and authority result. Guidance does not assure an assessment result.
Preparation support only.
Exam guidance or future study material does not assure an exam result or licensing outcome.
Explore exam booking guidancePrepare carefully
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Specialty title mismatch
Applying under a general-practice title when the qualification and intended role point to a specialist DHA, MOHAP or DOH category.
Internship history overlooked
Starting an application before confirming how internship or house-job history fits the intended authority route.
Wrong emirate route
Assuming the same pathway applies across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and other emirates without checking the target facility first.
Unexplained experience gaps
Leaving a recent-practice or clinical-experience gap unaddressed instead of preparing context for authority review.
Verification assumptions
Starting DataFlow or PSV for a medical degree without checking current primary-source verification requirements.
Automatic-outcome assumptions
Assuming exam exemption, licence approval or a fixed timeline before the relevant authority reviews the case.
Independent consultancy support
How UAEHealthPro Helps
Exam guidance
Preparing for a UAE Healthcare Licensing Exam?
What DHA, MOHAP and DOH publish about their assessments, sourced from their own service pages. Guidance supports preparation only and does not guarantee exam results or license approval, and we do not sell exam questions.
You get three attempts, shared across authorities.
DHA states the assessment must be passed within three attempts across the Authorities — so a failed run is not reset by applying to a different emirate.
Jobs and hiring support
Looking for UAE Healthcare Jobs?
Explore UAE healthcare job opportunities or connect with clinics and facilities seeking licensed and license-seeking professionals.
Reviewed opportunities only.
Job listings will appear only after review. UAEHealthPro is not the direct employer unless clearly stated.
What it actually costs
Published Fees for This Profession
These are the published figures that apply to this profession. Which ones you pay depends on the emirate you are aiming for — Dubai runs through DHA, Abu Dhabi through DOH, and much of the rest of the country through MOHAP. You do not pay all of them.
| What you pay for | Amount | Source | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| DHA professional registration (Dubai) | AED 200 | Official | DHA states this credentialing fee applies to all professional categories. |
| MOHAP professional evaluation — Physicians and dentists | AED 500 | Official | The first of MOHAP's two chargeable stages. Paid before licensing. |
| MOHAP licence fee | AED 3,000 | Official | Private facilities. Charged at the licensing stage, plus an AED 100 application fee. |
| Primary Source Verification (DataFlow) | AED 900 – 1,700 | Indicative | Charged by DataFlow, not the authority. Varies with how many documents need verifying. |
Sources: DHA Sheryan — Get Registered service description · MOHAP — Healthcare Professional Evaluation service · MOHAP — Licensing and Re-licensing of a Health Professional · DataFlow Group — Primary Source Verification
Checked 22 August 2026. Authorities can change fees and requirements without notice — confirm current figures before you pay.
Want a figure for your own case?
The table above lists what each authority publishes. What you actually spend depends on the emirate you are targeting, how many documents need verifying, and whether an assessment applies to your title.
Continue your preparation
Related Services
Doctor FAQs
Questions About Doctor Licensing
Which UAE authority should doctors apply to?
The appropriate authority can depend on the intended emirate, healthcare facility, doctor title and specialty.
Is DataFlow required for doctors?
Verification may be relevant depending on the authority pathway and individual case.
Do doctors need an exam for UAE licensing?
An exam or assessment may be relevant depending on the doctor category, title and authority result.
Can doctors apply from outside the UAE?
Many doctors begin preparing their pathway from outside the UAE, subject to the individual authority route.
What documents are usually required?
Requirements can include medical education, experience, registration and good-standing information, depending on the case.
Can specialist doctors apply under DHA or DOH?
A specialist route can depend on the title, specialty, profile and intended authority.
How long does licensing take?
Timing can vary with document readiness, verification, assessment needs and authority review.
Can UAEHealthPro guarantee approval?
No. UAEHealthPro is an independent consultancy and final decisions remain with the relevant authority.
Start with your profile
Need Help With Doctor Licensing?
Start with a PQR-based eligibility review before you spend money on the wrong application. Share your profile and UAEHealthPro will guide you with the suitable authority pathway and next steps.
Disclaimer: UAEHealthPro is an independent consultancy. We are not a government authority and we do not guarantee approval, exam results or processing timelines. Final decisions are subject to the relevant authority rules, professional eligibility criteria, document verification and authority review.
Review current UAE healthcare PQR information