A DOH license lets you practise anywhere in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, including Al Ain, and France-trained specialists start from a strong position. The Department of Health applies the Unified PQR, where a French specialty diploma with full Ordre des Médecins registration is Tier 1 and exempts specialists and consultants from the licensing exam. Everything runs through the TAMM government platform, with exams delivered by Pearson VUE, and DOH sets out each step and fee in its 2024 Licensing Procedure Manual. Below you will find that route, what Abu Dhabi pays once converted into euros, and what moving a family from France involves.
Key Takeaways
- You apply on TAMM using UAE PASS; DOH reviews a submitted application within 5 working days.
- Tier 1 French specialists and consultants are exam-exempt; holders of a valid DHA or MOHAP license for the same title are also exempt from the DOH exam.
- Your last day of clinical experience must be no more than 2 years before you apply.
- A DOH license is valid for 2 years and needs 80 CME hours for renewal.
- A DOH-licensed doctor can seek DOH endorsement for the 10-year Abu Dhabi Golden Visa.
DOH License Eligibility for France-Trained Doctors
DOH assesses your title against the “Recognized Specialty Certificates” table in the DOH PQR, where France has its own row. A CES, DES/DESC or DES in general medicine with full Ordre registration is Tier 1. Without full registration, the same diplomas are Tier 2, and a DIS falls in Tier 3.
DOH adds a few checks of its own in the Licensing Procedure Manual:
- Recency: your last day of clinical experience must not be older than two years at application.
- Surgical logbook: surgeons submit a logbook covering the past two years.
- Good Standing Certificate: from your current country of practice, not older than six months.
- Residency transcript: Tier 2 and Tier 3 specialists need proof of at least three years of residency training.
DOH Exam or Exemption: What Applies to You
Under the PQR’s exam equivalency chapter, France is one of the countries whose Tier 1 specialists and consultants are exempt from licensure examination, as long as your gap in practice is no more than three years and the title on your certificate matches the title you apply for. DOH also exempts doctors who hold a valid DHA or MOHAP license for the same title (or one expired within the last six months) in good standing, so transferring a DHA license to DOH is a short path to Abu Dhabi for doctors already licensed in Dubai.
If you are a GP, or a Tier 2 specialist, you sit the DOH assessment. The manual describes it this way: Sharjah licensing for French doctors is essential for ensuring compliance with local regulations. Many French doctors are seeking opportunities in the UAE, drawn by the region’s growing healthcare sector.
| Title | Exam format | Length |
|---|---|---|
| General practitioner | Computer-based test, 120 multiple-choice questions | 2.5 hours |
| Specialist (listed specialties) | Computer-based test, 100 multiple-choice questions | 2 hours |
| Specialist (other specialties) | Oral exam | 45 to 60 minutes |
Exams are in English and run through Pearson VUE. Computer-based results arrive within 24 hours, a pass stays valid for five years, and you cannot have failed more than four times across UAE authorities.
Applying for a DOH License on TAMM
- Sign in to TAMM with UAE PASS and choose the Department of Health service for registering a new healthcare professional license.
- Complete primary source verification. DOH accepts only PSV reports addressed to DOH, and the manual sets the verification time frame at 24 working days.
- Submit your application. DOH reviews it within 5 working days.
- Sit the exam or record your exemption. The exam step stays open for six months before the application closes.
- Link to a facility. If no employer was linked at the start, you have three months to link one. The facility must be active, offer your specialty and hold valid malpractice insurance.
- Pay and receive the license, which is issued straight after payment and is valid for two years.
DOH fees published in the manual
The application fee is AED 100. Primary source verification costs AED 1,680 for specialists and consultants and AED 1,260 for general practitioners. Exam booking and scheduling fees apply only if you sit the exam. Confirm the license issuance fee on TAMM before you apply, because DOH may update it. France-trained doctors in Qatar are increasingly sought after due to their extensive education and experience.
Abu Dhabi Doctor Salary: AED to Euro Conversion
No government pay scale for doctors in Abu Dhabi is published, and reliable salary surveys for the emirate are scarce. Your offer letter will be the real number, so use this table to read it in euros and set it against the French hospital pay grid. Navigating the dha licensing process for doctors can be complex and time-consuming. It is crucial to ensure that all requirements are met before applying, as this will significantly impact your ability to practice in the emirate.
| Monthly offer (AED) | In euros |
|---|---|
| AED 20,000 | about €4,868 |
| AED 30,000 | about €7,301 |
| AED 40,000 | about €9,735 |
| AED 50,000 | about €12,169 |
| AED 70,000 | about €17,036 |
In France, the full-time praticien hospitalier grid set by the 29 June 2023 decree runs from €55,608 gross a year at the first step to €112,417 at the top step. That is roughly €4,634 to €9,368 gross a month, before social contributions and income tax. An Abu Dhabi offer is paid without UAE income tax, so compare the AED figure with French take-home pay, not the gross grid.
Exchange rate used: AED 4.1089 per euro, Central Bank of the UAE, 13 October 2026.
How the France and UAE Tax Treaty Treats Your Salary
The UAE does not levy income tax on individuals. On the French side, the France and UAE tax treaty, signed on 19 July 1989, says salaries are taxable only in the state where you are resident unless the employment is carried out in the other state. Whether you remain a French tax resident depends on where your household, main professional activity and economic interests sit. Take advice before your departure year, because that year’s income is declared in France up to the day you leave.
Hospitals Hiring Doctors in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain
- SEHA: a PureHealth subsidiary that runs Abu Dhabi’s public hospitals, including Sheikh Khalifa Medical City in Abu Dhabi city and Tawam Hospital, a 561-bed facility in Al Ain.
- Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi: a multispecialty hospital on Al Maryah Island with more than 50 medical and surgical specialties.
- Mediclinic: Mediclinic Airport Road Hospital (203 licensed beds) in Abu Dhabi and Mediclinic Al Jowhara Hospital in Al Ain.
Because DOH covers the whole emirate, one license works for Abu Dhabi city and Al Ain alike.
Abu Dhabi or Dubai: Which Suits a France-Trained Doctor?
Many doctors from France weigh both cities. On licensing, the two run on the same PQR, so your tier is identical; the differences are the platform (TAMM for DOH, Sheryan for DHA) and the exam provider (Pearson VUE for DOH, Prometric for DHA). A valid DHA license also exempts you from the DOH exam, so starting in one emirate does not close the other.
Moving to Abu Dhabi from France
- Golden Visa: Abu Dhabi’s route for elite specialists in health fields requires a valid DOH practising license, a bachelor’s degree and DOH endorsement. It gives a 10-year residence visa and lets you sponsor your spouse, children and parents regardless of age.
- French schooling: Lycée Louis Massignon in Abu Dhabi is directly managed by the AEFE and teaches from nursery to the final year of lycée.
Housing, schooling and residency all need planning when relocating to Abu Dhabi as a doctor.
Moving From France to Abu Dhabi? Plan Your DOH License With Us
For a France-trained specialist, the DOH license comes down to timing: verification, recent practice and linking to an employer within three months. Allocation Assist is a medical job consultancy that works with doctors trained in France, preparing your DOH license application on TAMM and handling doctor job placement in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. If you are considering a move from France, reach out to us through our contact us page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a DOH license in Abu Dhabi as a France-trained doctor?
Apply on TAMM with UAE PASS, complete primary source verification, then pass the DOH exam or record your exemption. Once an Abu Dhabi facility is linked to your application, you pay the fee and the license is issued straight away.
What are the DOH license requirements for France-trained doctors?
You need a recognised French specialty diploma, a Good Standing Certificate no older than six months and clinical experience whose last day falls within two years of your application. Surgeons also submit a logbook covering the past two years, and Tier 2 or Tier 3 specialists need proof of at least three years of residency.
Can I get a DOH license without the exam?
Yes, if you are a Tier 1 French specialist or consultant with a gap in practice of three years or less. Doctors who hold a valid DHA or MOHAP license for the same title are also exempt. French GPs sit the exam.
How many times can I take the DOH exam?
You must not have failed more than four times across UAE health authorities: three attempts under one authority and one final attempt under another. A pass stays valid for five years.
How long is a DOH license valid?
A DOH license is valid for two years. To renew it, you need 80 CME hours over that period.
Is a DOH license valid in Dubai?
No. Dubai needs its own DHA license, but under the PQR’s license recognition rules a valid DOH license for the same title makes you eligible for exam exemption when you apply to DHA.
Can doctors get a Golden Visa in Abu Dhabi?
Yes. Doctors with a valid DOH license and a bachelor’s degree can apply as elite specialists in health fields with DOH endorsement. The visa lasts 10 years and lets you sponsor your spouse, children and parents.
