UAE Healthcare Licensing (DHA, MOHAP, DOH/HAAD)

Aamer Jarg
Nov 10
7 min read

Smiling woman in a white coat on a blue geometric background. Text: UAE Healthcare Licensing and TalentShark info. Mood: Professional.

Importance of UAE Healthcare Licensing

In the UAE, licensing is not merely a formality; it serves as the essential legal pathway to engage in professional practice. For employers, it influences the quality of shortlists, the duration of the hiring process, prioritization, and the timelines for onboarding. For candidates, it determines their potential workplaces (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or the Northern Emirates), the timing of their start, and the extent of their practice.

Currently, professional licensing is overseen by three authorities: the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) for Dubai, the Department of Health, Abu Dhabi (DOH, previously HAAD) for Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, and the Ministry of Health & Prevention (MOHAP) at the federal level, which includes Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, and Fujairah. (UAE Official Portal)

Map of authorities, coverage & key portals

DHA (Dubai):
Licensing and registration handled via Sheryan (DHA’s e-licensing system). (Dubai Health Authority)

DOH (Abu Dhabi/Al Ain):
New and existing licenses managed via TAMM / DOH eServices (exam scheduling via Pearson VUE).

MOHAP (Northern Emirates):
Licensing and renewal services through MOHAP’s portal (login via UAE PASS). (Ministry of Health and Prevention)

What each authority requires (the PQR backbone)

All three regulators evaluate professionals based on the Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR), a unified standards framework employed by DHA, DOH, and MOHAP to assess education, experience, and professional standing. This guarantees uniform minimum standards across various categories and titles.

Implication for recruitment: Job advertisements must specify the precise PQR title (e.g., “Specialist Dermatologist” versus “Consultant Dermatologist”), as eligibility and examination requirements vary by title and specialty.

The licensing journey, steps according to authority

A) DHA (Dubai)

Self-assessment & account setup:
Candidates use DHA’s Self-Assessment Tool to check eligibility per PQR and create a Sheryan account.
Primary Source Verification (PSV):
DHA requires Primary Source Verification (PSV) of qualifications, licenses, experience, and Good Standing Certificates before proceeding. DHA’s own manual explains PSV, noting it is delegated to a third-party verification agency.
Assessment (CBT/Oral) via DHA guidance:
Most categories require a computer-based test (CBT); DHA’s FAQ and exam guideline detail format (MCQs) and logistics.
Registration vs. License activation:
DHA registration confirms eligibility and is valid for one year; a health facility then activates the professional license so clinical practice can begin. This distinction matters in recruitment timing and offer letters.
Renewal (CPD/CME):
DHA’s manual sets explicit annual CPD minimums by profession (e.g., physicians & dentists 40 points/year; nurses 20; pharmacists 20; allied health & TCAM 10), with multi-year renewals requiring cumulative CPD. Applications are submitted through Sheryan. (Dubai Health Authority)

DHA login page with username/password fields, login button, and user manual link. Teal and white design. Dubai Health Authority branding.

B) DOH (Abu Dhabi / Al Ain)

Check PQR & prepare documents:
DOH’s PQR defines acceptable qualifications and experience for each category/title. (Department of Health Abu Dhabi)
Apply via TAMM/DOH eServices:
Professionals register, submit documentation, and track status through Abu Dhabi’s government services. (TAMM)
Examination provider:
DOH assessments are administered through Pearson VUE (authorization to test is issued after DOH approval). (Pearson VUE)
Renewal (CME/CPD):
DOH ties license revalidation to mandatory CME/CPD hours across all professions—no renewal without the minimum. (Department of Health Abu Dhabi)

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C) Northern Emirates MOHAP

Assessment:
Licence The two-step process used by MOHAP is Evaluation of Health Professional (document and knowledge assessment) and Licensing/Re-Licensing, both of which are completed through MOHAP's portal using a UAE PASS login.
Renewal (CME/CPD):
Use the portal to upload CME/CPD evidence and other necessary documents, as well as to submit renewal requests.

UAE Health Ministry website page listing services like medical leave attestation and pharmacist licensing. Menu at top, grid layout, beige accents.

Exams & verification at a glance

Step	DHA	DOH	MOHAP
PSV (credentials check)	Required before processing; per DHA manual	Required; tied to PQR and licensing workflow	Required during evaluation & licensing
Exam vendor	DHA CBT/Oral as per DHA guidelines (Prometric-style CBT)	Pearson VUE	MOHAP exam per evaluation category
Renewal CME/CPD	Mandatory; explicit annual points by profession	Mandatory; license cannot be renewed without minimum	Required with renewal submission

Transferability between emirates (now) vs. what’s changing (2026)

Today: Licenses are jurisdiction-specific, DHA for Dubai, DOH for Abu Dhabi/Al Ain, MOHAP for Northern Emirates. Moving emirates typically requires a new application with the target authority, recognition of prior assessments where applicable, and (often) transferring PSV reports. This is why job ads should state the exact regulator needed. (UAE Official Portal)

What’s changing: The UAE is building a National Unified Digital Platform for health professional licensing (announced in 2025), targeting full unification by 2026. The initiative aims to standardize evaluations and enable mutual recognition across authorities, improving workforce mobility. Until it goes live, plan as per current rules.

Documents and checkpoints recruiters should pre-screen

Identity: Passport; (if resident) Emirates ID & visa page.
Education: Diplomas/transcripts matching PQR.
Experience: Letters per PQR (years vary by title—e.g., specialist vs. consultant).
Good Standing Certificate(s): DHA lists GSC among required documents (validity window applies). (Dubai Health Authority)
PSV status: Confirm “Positive” or “In-progress” before committing start dates; DHA processes only after a positive PSV, per circular/manual.
Exam status: DHA CBT/Oral; DOH Pearson VUE authorization/result; MOHAP evaluation.
CPD/CME (for renewals): DOH and DHA do not renew without minimum credits.

End-to-end timelines & cost signals (what to tell hiring managers)

PSV (Data verification):
Variable; depends on universities/employers responding. DHA’s manual confirms PSV is mandatory and delegated to a verification agency—build a buffer of several weeks in hiring plans.

Exams:
Availability depends on specialty, seat availability, and authority approvals (DHA exam guidelines; DOH via Pearson VUE).

Renewals:
Blocked if CME/CPD minimums are not met (DOH and DHA).

How licensing impacts recruitment

1) Sourcing & job descriptions

Include the regulator (DHA/DOH/MOHAP), PQR title, and exam requirement.
Note whether registration (eligibility) is acceptable at offer stage or if active license is mandatory for onboarding.

2) Screening & shortlist quality

Build a licensing tracker with columns: Authority, PQR title, PSV status, Exam status, Registration/License, Expiry, CPD due.
Flag candidates with positive PSV + passed exam as fast-start.

3) Time-to-hire & offer management

Offers should include license condition precedents (e.g., “subject to license activation on Sheryan”).
For inter-emirate moves, align candidates and clients on new application steps until the 2026 unified platform arrives. (Ministry of Health and Prevention)

4) Privileging & malpractice insurance

Hospitals often require proof of active license and scope matching privileges before granting admitting rights. Align HR, credentialing, and medical affairs early (DHA/DOH portals surface title/scope). (Dubai Health Authority)

Compliance sidebars one should know

Personal data (PDPL) during licensing

You’ll process sensitive personal and health data while supporting applications. The UAE Personal Data Protection Law (PDPL) requires lawful basis, transparency, and security for processing; the official portal outlines key provisions, and the federal text describes DPO triggers for high-risk processing.

Learn more: UAE Government portal overview; Federal Decree-Law No. 45 of 2021. (UAE Official Portal)

Emiratisation is closely linked to the hiring practices in the healthcare sector.

If your client meets the MoHRE thresholds, they are required to achieve Emiratisation targets, which include a 2% annual growth in skilled positions for companies with 50 or more employees, along with regulations for firms with 20 to 49 employees in certain sectors. Nafis additionally supports healthcare training pathways. These policies are in conjunction with licensing obligations. (MoHRE)

Quick Checklists for UAE Healthcare Licensing (DHA, MOHAP, DOH/HAAD)

Candidate Checklist (jobseekers)

Confirm target emirate and authority (DHA/DOH/MOHAP).
Run PQR self-check and gather documents (education, experience, GSC).
Start PSV promptly; monitor status. (DHA requires positive PSV before processing.)
Schedule and pass the assessment (DHA CBT/Oral; DOH Pearson VUE; MOHAP evaluation)
For DHA, remember registration ≠ license; your employer must activate the license.
Track CME/CPD yearly to avoid renewal blocks for UAE healthcare licensing.
Contact Talent Shark if need any help or have any questions about UAE Healthcare Licensing (DHA, MOHAP, DOH/HAAD)

Employer checklist (for hiring managers)

Put the regulator + PQR title in the JD.
Ask for PSV report and exam result proof at shortlist stage.
Prepare facility-side steps (Sheryan activation for DHA; portal invitations for MOHAP; DOH eServices).
Enforce CME/CPD compliance tracking for renewals.

2026 outlook: What the unified platform means for UAE healthcare licensing

The National Unified Digital Platform under MOHAP is designed to standardize evaluation, harmonize certificate recognition, and enable mutual recognition across authorities—reducing duplicate admin and enhancing mobility across emirates. Plan your 2025–2026 workforce strategies with this in mind, but continue operating under today’s jurisdiction-specific rules until the platform is live. (Ministry of Health)

Frequently asked questions

Q1: Can a DOH-licensed doctor start in Dubai immediately?

No. A DOH license covers Abu Dhabi/Al Ain. To practice in Dubai, the doctor must meet DHA requirements and obtain a DHA license (or wait for the unified platform to launch in 2026).

Q2: Is a DHA “registration” enough to start work?

Not yet. DHA registration confirms eligibility and is valid for one year, but license activation by the hiring facility is required before clinical practice.

Q3: Are renewals truly hindered due to absent CME/CPD?

Indeed, both DOH and DHA associate license revalidation with the fulfillment of minimum CME/CPD hours.