How to Get a DHA Licence in Dubai: Step-by-Step Guide
22 October 2026 · Emiracle Advisory
Quick answer: To get a DHA licence in Dubai, check your eligibility against the Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR) on the Sheryan portal, complete primary source verification through Dataflow, pass any required Prometric computer-based or oral assessment, and obtain your DHA professional registration. The registration is valid for one year, and a DHA-licensed facility must activate it before you can practise.
Key takeaways
- The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) licenses healthcare professionals working in Dubai through its online Sheryan portal.
- Eligibility is judged against the unified Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR): qualification, clinical experience, home licence and good standing.
- Primary source verification (PSV) is run by Dataflow, and computer-based tests are delivered by Prometric. Both can run in parallel.
- Your professional registration is valid for one year and only becomes a licence when a hiring facility activates it.
- Abu Dhabi (DoH) and the federal Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) run separate systems, with transfer routes between them.
- Opening a clinic is a separate process with its own facility licence and inspection.
What is a DHA licence and who needs one?
The Dubai Health Authority regulates healthcare providers in Dubai. Any physician, dentist, nurse, midwife, allied health professional, pharmacist or traditional, complementary and alternative medicine (TCAM) practitioner who wants to practise in a Dubai facility under DHA jurisdiction needs a DHA licence.
Registration versus licence
DHA separates two stages that people often confuse. First, you obtain a professional registration, which proves you are eligible and places you on the Dubai Medical Registry. Second, a licensed facility activates that registration into a licence. DHA describes an active registration as proof of eligibility to start searching for a job in Dubai, but it does not entitle you to treat patients on its own.
Which professions are covered
The Sheryan eligibility service covers physicians, dentists, nurses and midwives, allied healthcare professionals and TCAM practitioners. Each profession and title (for example, General Practitioner, Specialist or Consultant) has its own PQR criteria, so a doctor who qualifies as a General Practitioner may not yet meet the threshold for a Specialist title.
What are the eligibility requirements for a DHA licence?
Eligibility rests on the Professional Qualification Requirements, which are unified across the UAE health regulators. According to the DHA Manual for Licensing Healthcare Professionals, an applicant must meet the PQR for qualifications, clinical experience, a licence from the country of practice and good standing, then pass primary source verification and any required assessment.
Core documents
For a DHA review of your eligibility, the Sheryan service page lists:
- A recent passport-size photograph and a valid passport copy
- Educational qualifications
- Experience certificates
- Your current professional licence or registration
- A Good Standing Certificate (GSC)
- A logbook, for surgical specialties
The DHA manual states that the Good Standing Certificate must not be older than six months from the date you submit your application. Request it last.
Translation and attestation
Documents issued in a language other than English or Arabic usually need a certified translation, and some employers or verification agencies ask for attested copies. Our legal translation and true copy attestation teams can prepare these before you upload them.
How do you apply for a DHA licence on the Sheryan portal?
The full journey runs through Sheryan, DHA’s licensing platform. Based on DHA’s published service descriptions, the sequence is:
- Create a Sheryan account and run the Self Assessment Tool. This free check tells you whether you appear to meet the PQR. It is preliminary only, and DHA still reviews your file.
- Submit documents for primary source verification. Dataflow contacts your universities, employers and licensing bodies directly to confirm each document.
- Sit the computer-based test (CBT) with Prometric, if your title requires one. PSV and CBT can be completed in parallel.
- Apply for Review Registration Eligibility if you want DHA to review your file manually, and pay the credentialing fee.
- Apply to Get Registered. DHA reviews the application and may require an oral assessment for some positions.
- Receive your professional registration. You join the Dubai Medical Registry automatically.
- Accept a job offer and let the facility activate your licence. The facility submits the request, you approve it in Sheryan, and the eLicence is issued once fees are paid.
Primary source verification with Dataflow
PSV results come back as Positive, Unable to Verify (UTV) or Discrepancy. Under the DHA manual, a UTV result can be appealed twice for the same document and a Discrepancy once. DHA’s FAQs state that PSV reports have no expiry, and new documents are added to your existing report. DHA also accepts PSV reports transferred from DoH, Sharjah Health Authority and MOHAP, which saves time if you are already verified elsewhere in the UAE.
The Prometric and oral assessment
Depending on your title, the assessment is either a computer-based test delivered by Prometric or an oral exam scheduled by DHA. The manual notes that oral exams are being converted to CBT over time. Prometric results are shared instantly, and DHA publishes oral results within five working days.
You have three attempts per position across the UAE authorities. Failing the third attempt blocks reapplication for two years under the DHA manual. Cancelling or missing an exam does not count as a failed attempt, and an oral exam can be rescheduled once free of charge if you ask more than five working days in advance.
Who is exempt from the assessment?
The DHA manual exempts some applicants, such as those who passed an assessment for the same DHA title within five years, or who apply within five years of cancelling a DHA, DoH or MOHAP licence, in both cases with no practice gap. DHA confirms exemptions case by case.
How long is a DHA eligibility letter valid?
Many applicants still use the term “eligibility letter”, but under the current Sheryan process the document that matters is the professional registration. DHA states that the registration is valid for one year from the date of issue. Within that year, a healthcare facility must activate it into a licence. If it lapses, the registration can only be renewed in limited windows (three months before expiry, or within three months after a licence cancellation), and otherwise you must reapply through the Self Assessment Tool.
Activation by a licensed facility
Only a facility with an active DHA licence that covers your specialty can activate your licence. The Activate Professional License service lists these conditions:
- The facility licence is active and includes the related specialty.
- You are registered and have given the facility consent through Sheryan.
- Valid medical malpractice insurance covers you.
- Non-UAE nationals hold a valid labour card.
- There are no unpaid fines on your record.
Activation is listed as instant, or one working day if your personal records change. Full-time licences can be issued for one, two or three years. Because a labour card is required, your employer also has to complete your work permit and residence visa. See our guide to residency by employment for how that runs alongside licensing.
DHA vs DoH vs MOHAP: which authority licenses you?
The authority depends on where your employer is based. Dubai facilities fall under DHA, Abu Dhabi under the Department of Health, and MOHAP oversees the federal system. Sharjah also has its own Sharjah Health Authority, and some Dubai free zones, such as Dubai Healthcare City, have their own regulator, so confirm the right body with your employer.
| Feature | DHA (Dubai) | DoH (Abu Dhabi) | MOHAP (federal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | Facilities licensed in Dubai | Facilities licensed in Abu Dhabi | Federal oversight and facilities under its licensing |
| Online platform | Sheryan | TAMM | MOHAP digital services |
| Eligibility framework | Unified PQR | Unified PQR | Unified PQR |
| Exam delivery | Prometric CBT or DHA oral | Pearson Professional Assessments, booked via TAMM | Set by MOHAP for the title |
| Transfer from another authority | Accepts PSV transfers from DoH, SHA and MOHAP | Own transfer route | Evaluation service for holders of an active DHA or DoH licence |
For transfers, MOHAP’s evaluation service lists a processing time of two working days for professionals who already hold an active DHA or DoH licence, with licence fees for private facilities published on the MOHAP service page. Fees and steps can change, so check the current service card before applying.
How long does it take to get a DHA licence?
DHA does not publish one end-to-end timeline, but it does publish averages for each stage. These are authority processing times only and exclude the time you spend collecting documents, booking exams or waiting for Dataflow to hear back from overseas institutions.
| Stage | Published DHA average |
|---|---|
| New PSV report (Dataflow) | 15 working days from payment |
| Transfer of an existing PSV report | 5 working days from payment |
| Review Registration Eligibility | 10 working days |
| Get Registered | 5 working days |
| Oral assessment results | Within 5 working days |
| Prometric CBT results | Instant |
| Licence activation by facility | Instant, or 1 working day if records change |
Delays most often come from PSV, when an overseas university or employer is slow to respond. Treat these figures as a minimum, not a guarantee.
What does it cost?
DHA lists a credentialing fee of AED 200 for eligibility review and for registration, plus Knowledge and Innovation fees added at checkout. Activation fees depend on your profession and licence term and are shown on the Activate Professional License service page. PSV and exam fees are paid separately to the providers. Confirm current fees in Sheryan before paying.
How do you license a healthcare facility with DHA?
If you are opening a clinic, pharmacy or other health facility rather than working in one, the facility needs its own DHA licence. Under the DHA Manual for Licensing Health Facility, the process looks like this:
- Apply for a new facility licence in Sheryan with ownership details, a facility proposal, location details and a layout. DHA issues an initial, inactive licence.
- Obtain a trade licence from the Department of Economy and Tourism or a free zone authority. The facility name must match the approved trade name. Our mainland company setup service covers this stage.
- Have prequalified design consultants prepare a layout that meets the DHA Health Facility Guidelines.
- Appoint a Medical Director and recruit enough licensed professionals to deliver your services.
- Pass the DHA inspection, then activate the facility licence for one, two or three years.
The inactive licence is valid for one year. If you do not complete activation within that period, the process is cancelled and you must reapply. Professionals you register under the facility stay inactive until the facility itself is activated. Note that pharmacies and other medical product businesses may also need approval from the Emirates Drug Establishment, so check which regulator applies to your activity.
What are the most common DHA licence mistakes?
- Applying for the wrong title. Applying for a Specialist title without meeting the PQR experience threshold leads to rejection. Use the Self Assessment Tool honestly.
- Letting the Good Standing Certificate go out of date. It must be no older than six months when you submit.
- Unexplained practice gaps. Gaps in clinical practice can trigger extra requirements or a new assessment.
- Ignoring PSV discrepancies. Name spellings, dates and titles must match across documents. A Discrepancy result can be appealed only once.
- Using up exam attempts. Three attempts across the UAE authorities is the limit, so prepare properly before booking.
- Letting the registration expire. If no facility activates it within one year, you may have to start again.
- Abandoning drafts. Sheryan clears inactive drafts (three months for eligibility review, six months for registration).
How Emiracle helps
Emiracle Advisory supports healthcare professionals, clinic owners and investors with the paperwork around DHA and DoH licensing. For individuals, we help organise translations, attestations and supporting documents so your file is consistent before it goes to Dataflow. For facility owners, our DHA and DoH health licensing team coordinates the trade licence, initial approval, layout and inspection stages, and links them to visa processing for your staff. Licensing decisions, verification outcomes and exam results remain with DHA and its appointed providers.
Planning a move to Dubai or opening a clinic? Speak to an Emiracle advisor or call or WhatsApp +971 52 185 3005 to map out your licensing steps.
Official references: DHA Review Registration Eligibility service, DHA Manual for Licensing Healthcare Professionals and UAE health regulatory authorities on u.ae.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a job offer before applying to DHA?
No. You can complete eligibility, verification, the assessment and registration without an employer. However, you can only practise once a DHA-licensed facility activates your registration into a licence.
How long is DHA professional registration valid?
DHA states that professional registration is valid for one year from the date of issue. A facility must activate it within that time, otherwise renewal is only possible in limited windows or you must reapply.
Who carries out primary source verification for DHA?
DHA’s Sheryan service pages name Dataflow as the primary source verification provider. Dataflow confirms your qualifications, experience and licences directly with the issuing institutions.
How many attempts do I get at the DHA exam?
You have three attempts per position across the UAE health authorities. Under the DHA manual, failing the third attempt blocks reapplication for two years, and DHA may allow a fourth attempt only with its approval.
Can I transfer my DoH or MOHAP licence to DHA?
There is no automatic transfer, but DHA accepts PSV reports transferred from DoH, Sharjah Health Authority and MOHAP, and some professionals are exempt from a new assessment if they apply within five years of cancelling their previous licence with no practice gap.
How long does PSV take?
DHA’s FAQs give fifteen working days from payment for a new PSV report and five working days for transferring an existing report. Delays from overseas institutions can extend this.
How much does DHA licensing cost?
The eligibility review and registration each carry a credentialing fee of AED 200 plus Knowledge and Innovation fees. Activation fees depend on profession and licence term, and PSV and exam fees are paid separately. Check current fees in Sheryan.
Can I open my own clinic in Dubai?
Yes, but the clinic needs its own DHA facility licence, a trade licence from the Department of Economy and Tourism or a free zone, an approved layout, a Medical Director and a passed inspection before it can treat patients.
Last reviewed: 22 October 2026. Rules change; confirm current requirements with an Emiracle advisor before you apply.
