If you trained in France, the DHA license route to Dubai is shorter than most doctors expect. Under the April 2025 Unified PQR, a DES, DESC or CES held with full registration from the Conseil National de l’Ordre des Médecins (the French Medical Council) is a Tier 1 qualification, and Tier 1 specialists and consultants from France are exempt from the DHA licensing exam. General practitioners are not covered by that exemption and still sit the assessment. Salaries in Dubai carry no UAE income tax, which changes how an offer compares with hospital pay in France. Below you will find the full route, the fees DHA publishes, and salary figures converted into euros.
Key Takeaways
- French specialty diplomas (CES, DES/DESC, DES in general medicine) with full Ordre registration sit in Tier 1 of the 2025 PQR.
- Tier 1 specialists need no extra experience after qualifying; Tier 1 consultants need 2 years after their main specialty.
- France is on the PQR list of countries whose Tier 1 specialists and consultants are exempt from the licensing exam.
- The exemption does not apply if your gap in practice is longer than 3 years.
- A DHA registration is valid for one year and becomes a license only when a Dubai facility activates it.
Where Your French Qualification Sits in the DHA License Rules
DHA, DOH, MOHAP and the Sharjah Health Authority all apply one document: the Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR), April 2025 edition. Its “Recognized Specialty Certificates” table has a dedicated row for France, and the tier you land in depends on one detail: whether you hold full registration with the Ordre des Médecins. A DOH license for France-trained doctors is essential for practicing in the UAE. This requirement ensures that all healthcare professionals meet the necessary standards set by the regulatory bodies.
| French qualification | PQR tier | Specialist title | Consultant title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CES, DES/DESC or DES in general medicine, with full Ordre registration | Tier 1 | No experience needed after qualifying | 2 years after main specialty (1 year after sub-specialty) |
| CES, DES/DESC or DES in general medicine, without full Ordre registration | Tier 2 | No experience needed after qualifying | 5 years after main specialty (4 years after sub-specialty) |
| DIS (minimum two-year course), or attestation de formation with Ordre specialist registration | Tier 3 | 3 years after main specialty for non-UAE nationals | Not available |
The DES in general medicine appears in the specialty table, so a French GP holding it with full registration may be assessed for a specialist title in family medicine rather than as a general practitioner. DHA confirms the final title on each application.
Do France-Trained Doctors Need to Pass the DHA Exam?
Specialists and consultants with a Tier 1 French certificate do not. Chapter Six of the PQR lists the countries whose Tier 1 specialty holders are exempt from the DHA licensing exam, and France is on both the specialist and the consultant lists, alongside the UK, Germany, Belgium and the USA. If you already hold a valid DOH or MOHAP license, the PQR’s license recognition rules also make you eligible for exam exemption for the same title.
Four conditions limit the exemption:
- It covers the exam only. Primary source verification, experience and credentialing still apply.
- It does not apply if you have a gap in practice longer than three years.
- The title on your French certificate must match the title you apply for.
- It does not reach general practitioners. The GP exemption list names exams such as PLAB, USMLE Part III and the AMC; no French exam is on it.
If you do sit the assessment, DHA uses a computer-based test delivered by Prometric, or a virtual oral assessment lasting at least 20 to 30 minutes for some specialties. According to the DHA Manual for Professional Assessment, you have three attempts, and a third failure blocks a new application for two years. The PQR may allow one final attempt with another UAE authority.
The DHA License Route Step by Step
The DHA licensing manual (version 1.2, May 2025) separates two stages: registration, which you complete yourself, and activation, which your employer completes.
- Create a Sheryan account and run the free Self Assessment Tool to check which title you qualify for.
- Apply for registration. DHA lists a fee of AED 200 and a service time of 5 working days.
- Complete primary source verification (PSV). Your diploma, specialty certificate, registration and experience letters are checked directly with the issuing bodies through DataFlow verification, so no attestation is needed.
- Pass the assessment, or record your exemption as a Tier 1 specialist or consultant.
- Receive your registration certificate. It is valid for one year and is cancelled if no facility activates it in that time.
- Activation by a DHA-licensed facility. The employer needs your consent, a labour card and malpractice insurance, and the license is issued for one, two or three years.
One exception matters when you compare employers: hospitals inside Dubai Healthcare City, such as Mediclinic City Hospital, are licensed by the Dubai Healthcare City regulator, not through Sheryan.
Documents to prepare from France
Plan for your medical degree, your specialty diploma (DES/DESC or CES), proof of full registration with the Ordre des Médecins, experience certificates and a Good Standing Certificate dated within the last six months. Documents that are not in English or Arabic need a certified legal translation.
DHA License Fees and Timeline
These are the figures DHA publishes on its service pages. DHA does not publish the initial activation fee, so ask your employer whether it covers activation.
| Step | Official fee | Stated time |
|---|---|---|
| Self Assessment Tool | Free | Instant |
| Get Registered | AED 200 | 5 working days |
| Oral assessment scheduling (if required) | AED 500 | 5 working days |
| PSV through DataFlow | Set by DataFlow | 15 to 25 working days |
| Full-time license renewal | AED 3,000 (1 year), AED 5,000 (2 years), AED 7,500 (3 years) | On renewal |
Verification time starts only once payment and a complete file are in, according to the DataFlow FAQ. To keep your license active, you need 40 CPD points a year.
Dubai Doctor Salary in Euros: Specialist and Consultant Pay
Healthcare salary survey data reported by The National in July 2023 puts a consultant at AED 70,000 a month and a specialist at AED 32,500 a month. The data dates from 2023, so treat it as a benchmark, not an offer.
| Grade | Monthly pay (AED) | Monthly pay (EUR) |
|---|---|---|
| Specialist | AED 32,500 | about €7,910 |
| Consultant | AED 70,000 | about €17,036 |
For comparison, DREES reports an average net monthly salary of €6,526 for doctors, dentists and pharmacists in French public hospitals (2022 data). That French figure is net of social contributions but before income tax, while the Dubai figures carry no UAE income tax. Actual offers depend on specialty, employer and package, so compare the full contract with typical doctor salaries after DHA licensing.
Exchange rate used: AED 4.1089 per euro, Central Bank of the UAE, 13 October 2026.
Tax-Free in Dubai, but Check Your French Tax Residency
The UAE government states plainly that the UAE does not levy income tax on individuals. Your position in France is a separate question.
Under French rules, your tax home stays in France if your household lives there, your main professional activity is there, or your main economic interests are there. In the year you leave, you declare income from 1 January to your departure date; after that, you are taxed in France only on French-source income, as Service-Public explains. France and the UAE also have a tax treaty, signed in Abu Dhabi on 19 July 1989. Check your situation with a tax adviser before you sign.
Where France-Trained Doctors Work in Dubai
Government hospitals sit under Dubai Health, the academic health system operating since November 2023. Its hospitals include Rashid Hospital, Dubai Hospital, Latifa Hospital, Al Jalila Children’s, Hatta Hospital and Jebel Ali Hospital.
Private groups hire France-trained doctors too. American Hospital Dubai, King’s College Hospital London in Dubai Hills, NMC Royal Hospital in Dubai Investments Park and Aster’s Dubai hospitals all hire under the DHA license. One France-trained doctor’s path is told in Dr Sonia Saib’s move from France to American Hospital Dubai.
Moving Your Family from France to Dubai
- Golden Visa: the UAE lists doctors under its exceptional talent category for the 10-year Golden Visa.
- French schooling: Lycée Français International Georges Pompidou (Academic City and Oud Metha) and Lycée Français International AFLEC Dubai both describe themselves as AEFE partner schools.
- French community: France’s foreign ministry counts over 26,000 French nationals registered with its consulates in the UAE, out of an estimated 35,000 French residents.
- Language: DHA exams and assessments run in English, and the PQR does not allow a translator.
Moving From France to Dubai? Start Your DHA License With Us
With full Ordre registration, your French diploma counts as Tier 1, so you can reach the specialist title with no licensing exam. Most delays come from documents: an expired Good Standing Certificate, missing registration proof or a gap in your practice dates. Allocation Assist is a medical job consultancy that works with doctors trained in France, handling everything from your DHA license file to doctor job placement in Dubai. If you are planning your move from France, reach out to us through our contact us page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can France-trained doctors work in Dubai?
Yes. France-trained doctors can work in Dubai once they hold a DHA license. The April 2025 PQR recognises French specialty diplomas, and with full registration from the Ordre des Médecins they count as Tier 1, the highest tier.
Do France-trained specialists need to pass the DHA exam?
No, as long as you hold a Tier 1 French certificate, your gap in practice is three years or less and the title on your certificate matches the one you apply for. The exemption covers the exam only, so primary source verification and experience checks still apply. French GPs are not covered and sit the DHA assessment.
How long does it take to get a DHA license?
DHA lists 5 working days for registration, and DataFlow states 15 to 25 working days for primary source verification once your file is complete. Add time for any assessment and for your employer to activate the license, which happens only after you are hired.
How much does the DHA license cost?
DHA charges AED 200 to register and AED 500 to schedule an oral assessment if you need one. Verification is priced by DataFlow, and renewing a full-time license costs AED 3,000 for one year, AED 5,000 for two years or AED 7,500 for three. DHA does not publish the initial activation fee.
How long is a DHA license valid?
A DHA license is issued for one, two or three years, depending on what your employer activates. Physicians need 40 CPD points a year to keep it active.
Can I apply before I have a job offer in Dubai?
Yes. You can complete registration first, and it stays valid for one year. The license becomes active only when a DHA-licensed facility hires you and activates it.
What happens if I fail the DHA exam?
You have three attempts with DHA, and a third failure blocks a new application for two years. Under the PQR, one final attempt may be allowed with another UAE health authority.
What does consultant mean under DHA rules?
Consultant is the senior physician title in the UAE. A France-trained doctor with a Tier 1 qualification can apply for it after two years of experience following the main specialty, or one year after a sub-specialty.
Is a doctor’s salary in Dubai tax-free?
Yes. The UAE does not levy income tax on individuals. Whether France can still tax you depends on where your household, main professional activity and economic interests remain after you move.
