The United Arab Emirates is a well-established and expanding healthcare sector that recruits medical professionals from around the world. Doctors are attracted to relocating to the UAE as it offers higher salaries, zero income tax, and an improved quality of life. Here we are going to guide the Ultimate Guide to UAE Medical Licensing for Doctors.
The UAE healthcare recruitment market is dynamic and competitive. Hospitals looking to fill vacancies quickly prefer candidates who have already proved their eligibility to work in the country. Therefore, if you are a doctor considering relocating to work in the UAE, it is highly advisable to start the medical licensing process as early as possible.
The process can seem daunting, but our experienced medical licensing team can help you work through the process smoothly, saving you both time and stress.
Medical licensing authorities in the UAE
The UAE authorities have developed rigorous systems to verify identity, qualifications, skills, and experience to ensure that healthcare professionals practice safely in accordance with UAE law and international best practices. If you want a fuller picture of what to expect, our guide to working as a doctor in the UAE walks through the process in more detail.
There are 3 different authorities who regulate the medical license for professionals within different emirates of the UAE. If you are planning to practise in the capital, our DOH license consultancy in Abu Dhabi can guide you through that emirate’s requirements.
- DOH / HAAD Department of Health for Abu Dhabi
- Dubai Health Authority for Dubai City
- Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) for all other emirates; Sharjah and Fujairah’s hospitals, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Ajman.
Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR)
The Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR) document lists the DHA licensing titles and the requirements and specifications for each of those titles. The required post-qualification experience depends on the profession and grade. Candidates must have a valid professional license to practice in their home country or country of last employment. For more information, read the full Dha Guide.
There are 5 Steps in the Medical Licensing Process
1. Create a new application
The process starts with creating an account with a username and password on the relevant medical licensing authority’s platform before initiating the New License process. It is advisable for an applicant to plan which emirate they wish to work in before applying for licensure with the corresponding authority. If you have decided on Dubai, our DHA license consultancy in Dubai can guide you through that emirate’s specific requirements.
Department of Health, Abu Dhabi (DOH)
https://www.tamm.abudhabi/en/life-events/business/healthcare professionals/request registration of new license for a healthcare professional.
Dubai Health Authority (DHA)
Ministry of Health (MOHAP)
https://mohap.gov.ae/en/services/health-professional-evaluation .
Online forms must then be completed with full personal and professional details.
The Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR) are the same for all UAE licensing authorities. The requirements vary according to the healthcare profession, qualifications, country of training, specialty, and grade.
The DHA has a self-assessment tool that allows applicants to assess whether they meet the Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR) before starting the application.
2. Upload your documents
The required documents, as set out by the PQR, should be uploaded for Primary Source Verification (PSV). This is the process of confirming the accuracy and authenticity of academic, professional, and legal credentials and is outsourced to DataFlow, a leading global provider of specialized PSV solutions.
Required documents may include (but are not limited to):
- Candidate Must have Educational certificates
- Professional qualification certificates
- Recent professional and employment experience
- For dental and surgical specialties: logbook for the past 2 years with hospital stamp(s) and the signature of the Medical Director or other authorized person
- Valid license/registration from the medical licensing body of the country of recent employment
- valid good standing certificate, older than 6 months
- A Valid Passport Copy
- A passport-size Recent Photo
3. Primary Source (DataFlow) Verification
Primary Source Verification (PSV) usually takes between 6 and 12 weeks. The MOHAP requires initial approval of the uploaded documents before starting the primary source verification.
Once you complete the PSV, you must link a positive Dataflow report to the DHA/DOH/MOHAP application. You can also use the DataFlow report for all licensing authorities in the UAE, as well as many other Gulf countries, and the verifications never expire.
4. Verification Exams (if required)
The PQR has a tier system that recognizes postgraduate qualifications and training programs from specific countries. According to the exam equivalency criteria, healthcare professionals who successfully completed international examinations and/or hold an active registration/license to practice with certain regulatory bodies (allocated to tier 1) will receive an exemption from the assessment.
Check out More:
Exam Equivalency Criteria
Profession Tier 1 Countries Consultant
- Austria, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, and France,
- Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand,
- Norway, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, and the USA
- Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, UAE, UK or USA
The PQR exempts applicants from Tier 1 countries from licensing exams if they have completed recognized international exams and/or hold an active license to practice with certain regulatory bodies and meet experience requirements. If you are planning to practise in the northern emirates, our MOH license consultancy for doctors can guide you through the requirements there.
Applicants with other qualifications or licenses (allocated to Tier 2 or 3) usually need to pass an assessment before they can obtain a license to practice in the UAE.
Applicants should check current requirements and the correct Tier for their particular qualifications, as these vary according to specialty and are subject to change. Additional equivalency criteria or exemptions may be applied at the discretion of each individual authority.
The mode depends on the healthcare professional’s title and training.
● Computer-based tests (CBTs), on a healthcare professional’s specialty, are outsourced to globally recognized companies, such as Prometric or Pearson. They can be taken at many testing centers around the world.
● Oral examinations, usually taken in the UAE, involve a panel of senior consultants from the applicant’s field asking scenario-based clinical questions to assess their knowledge and competency.
Department of Health (Abu Dhabi)
For the DOH (Abu Dhabi), the DataFlow report must be completed before booking examinations. For the DHA and MOHAP, these exams may be booked while waiting for the DataFlow report. However, for the DHA, the data flow must be completed before any oral examination. To learn more about where you might practise in the capital, see our guide to Abu Dhabi’s hospitals.
The time frame for assessments depends on the availability of the specialist panel or test center. Three attempts are allowed to pass either CBT or oral exams. Applicants may be granted one last attempt in a different authority after failing three attempts with another authority.
If still unsuccessful, the professional may only apply for a different specialty or a higher title with a new qualification, provided they fulfill the relevant PQR criteria.
5. Registration and Licensing
The DHA and MOHAP issue a registration certificate that potential employers can see as proof of eligibility to practice in the UAE. Once you successfully complete the Dataflow and any examination, you can submit an application for registration.
The DHA or MOHAP usually responds within 1-2 weeks and may ask for additional information if required. Once the candidate successfully secures a job, the registration activates into a license. The DHA registration is valid for one year, while the MOHAP registration is valid for 5 years and can be easily renewed as long as there is no discontinuity in practice.
For the DOH (Abu Dhabi), there is no registration certificate issued. The applicant must have an employer sponsorship letter in order to complete the licensing process.
Once a professional receives their license, they must comply with Continuing Medical Education (CME) requirements for their specialty in order to renew it annually. Physicians and dentists in surgical specialties should also provide logbook(s) as a prerequisite for renewing the license.
Benefits of using our medical licensing service:
- Our licensing team is very experienced in handling even the most complex cases
- We will guide you on the documents required and pre-check them to make sure they match the requirements, avoiding time-consuming requests for further documentation
- Our team will create an application and upload all your documents
- We closely monitor your application and provide you with weekly status updates
- In case of any unforeseen delays or complications, we will update you immediately and work with you to resolve the issue
- Once the primary source verification is complete, we link the Dataflow report to your application
- We offer continuous support all the way through the process of registration, licensing, and beyond
In addition, with our unique insights into the UAE’s healthcare recruitment market at Allocation Associates, we are able to
- Connect you with hospitals in the UAE that match your profile and skill set. To see the major facilities in one of the country’s key emirates, explore our guide to Dubai’s hospitals.
- Offer consulting support with your profile, contract, or salary.
- Guide you and your family through the relocation process
- Provide you with insights on living and working in the UAE
Visit our website today for more information. Allocation assists Middle East.
Conclusion
Allocation Assist’s in-house dedicated and experienced licensing team understands the process inside out, as this is what they do every day. They have successfully helped hundreds of doctors obtain their licenses to work in the UAE. This support throughout the medical licensing process can save busy healthcare professionals time and stress.
How Allocation Assist Helps Doctors Get Licensed in the Gulf
As a medical recruitment and healthcare jobs consultancy in Dubai, our team has been placing Western-trained doctors in Gulf region hospitals for over 11 years, with relationships at 95+ hospitals across the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.
Key Areas of Support
- Hospital matching, based on your subspecialty, case mix, and family priorities.
- DHA, DOH, MOHAP, and SCFHS licensing, including multi-specialty credentialing.
- Contract review and negotiation, including salary, package, and insurance terms.
- Relocation and family logistics, including schooling, housing, and post-arrival support.
- Ongoing peer community, connecting you with doctors who have made the same move.
For hands-on help with your move, explore our DHA license consultancy. To talk through your own move, you can book a free consultation.
UAE medical licensing FAQs
Which authorities issue medical licenses in the UAE?
Three authorities license doctors in the UAE, each for its own area: the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) for Dubai, the Department of Health (DOH, formerly HAAD) for Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, and the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) for the northern emirates: Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, and Umm Al Quwain. You apply to the authority for the emirate where you intend to work.
How long does the UAE licensing process take?
For most doctors the process takes around three to six months, depending on DataFlow turnaround, exam scheduling, and document checks. DataFlow primary source verification is usually the longest single step. Doctors who are exempt from the exam often move through faster.
Is the Prometric exam required for a UAE medical license?
For most specialties and grades, yes, although some applicants are exempt and some sit an oral assessment instead. The DHA and MOHAP exams are delivered by Prometric, while the DOH (Abu Dhabi) exam is delivered by Pearson VUE. Doctors trained in recognised Tier-1 countries, including the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, and Australia, are often exempt under the Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR), subject to meeting the experience criteria.
What documents do I need for UAE medical licensing?
You typically need a recognised medical degree, recent experience certificates, your home-country licence, a Certificate of Good Standing, your passport, and a medical fitness report where applicable. Documents not in English or Arabic must be legally translated, and all credentials go through DataFlow primary source verification.
Can I transfer my license between Emirates?
You cannot use one authority’s licence in another emirate, so moving emirates means applying to the new authority. However, your DataFlow report transfers across all UAE authorities and many Gulf countries, and it never expires. Once you have practised in the UAE for at least six months, you can apply to another UAE authority without repeating the licensing exam.
How long is a UAE medical license valid?
DHA registration is valid for one year. For MOHAP, the professional evaluation certificate is valid for five years as long as there is no break in practice of more than two years, but the licence to practise itself is renewed annually and is subject to CME requirements. For the DOH (Abu Dhabi), no registration certificate is issued, and an employer sponsorship letter is required to complete licensing.
Do I need a job offer before I get licensed?
You can complete most stages, DataFlow verification and the exam, before you have a job. For the DHA and MOHAP it is advisable to obtain your registration first, because it proves eligibility to employers. The final step, activating registration into a licence, requires a confirmed job offer from a licensed UAE facility that sponsors you.
Is the UAE moving to a single unified license?
A National Unified Licensing Platform under MOHAP has been announced, intended to standardise evaluations and enable recognition across authorities so doctors can move between emirates more easily. Until it is fully live, the three authorities continue to license their own emirates under today’s rules, so plan your application against the authority for the emirate where you intend to work.
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