If you are a healthcare professional planning to work in Dubai, you will need a DHA licence – a professional licence from the Dubai Health Authority that confirms you meet Dubai’s standards to practise. It is the single most important step in a healthcare job move, and it catches many people out because it takes time and preparation. This guide explains who needs a DHA licence, the eligibility requirements, the step-by-step process through the Sheryan portal, the DataFlow verification and Prometric exam, and how it all fits with getting a job.
This is part of our guide to working in the UAE. For employers, see our Mediclinic and NMC careers guides.
Quick answer
To work clinically in Dubai you need a DHA licence. You apply through the DHA’s Sheryan portal, complete DataFlow primary source verification of your documents, and pass a computer-based Prometric exam where required for your profession. Once approved you receive a DHA eligibility letter (valid for one year), and the licence is activated once you secure a job at a DHA-licensed facility. Requirements include a recognised qualification, a valid home-country licence, relevant experience, a good-standing certificate and English proficiency. (For Abu Dhabi, the equivalent is a Department of Health licence; other emirates use MOHAP.)
Who needs a DHA licence?
Any healthcare professional who will practise clinically in Dubai needs one – doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, and allied-health professionals such as physiotherapists, radiographers and laboratory technicians. Non-clinical hospital staff (administration, IT, finance) do not need a clinical licence. If you will work in Abu Dhabi instead, you need a Department of Health (DoH) licence rather than a DHA one, and some other emirates use the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP).
Eligibility requirements
Requirements vary by profession, but generally include:
- a recognised qualification (degree or diploma) in your field;
- a valid licence to practise from your home country or country of last practice;
- relevant post-qualification experience – commonly around 2 years for GPs (post-internship), nurses and pharmacists, and around 3 years for specialists (post-specialisation);
- a certificate of good standing from your licensing authority;
- English-language proficiency;
- documents that can be verified by the primary source.
The step-by-step DHA licensing process
- Create a Sheryan account and start a new eligibility application, entering your details and uploading your documents (degree, licence, experience certificates and good-standing certificate).
- DataFlow primary source verification (PSV). Your documents are sent to the PSV agency to be verified directly with the issuing institutions. This step often takes the longest, so start early.
- Prometric exam. Where your profession requires it, you sit a computer-based assessment (CBT) through a Prometric centre – which can usually be done from your home country without travelling to Dubai. Check the assessment guideline for your specialty.
- Eligibility letter. Once verification and any exam are complete, you receive a DHA eligibility letter, valid for one year.
- Licence activation. To activate the licence you must secure a job at a DHA-licensed facility, which submits your offer letter and malpractice insurance to the DHA. After the fees are paid, the licence is issued.
How licensing fits with getting a job
Because the licence is activated by an employer, the practical sequence is usually to start your eligibility (Sheryan, DataFlow and any exam), apply for jobs, and complete activation once you have an offer. Many employers – including large groups like Mediclinic and NMC – are used to guiding successful candidates through activation. Since the eligibility letter is valid for a year, it makes sense to get the verification and exam done and then focus on securing a role.
Tips to avoid delays
The most common cause of delay is document verification, so gather and attest your certificates early and make sure the details are consistent. Confirm the exact experience and exam requirements for your specialty on the official DHA guidance, keep your good-standing certificate current, and be ready with a strong clinical CV so you can move quickly once your eligibility is confirmed. Only use official DHA channels – be alert to healthcare recruitment and “licensing” scams that ask for payment.
After you are licensed and hired
Once you have a job at a DHA-licensed facility, the employer sponsors your UAE residency visa and Emirates ID – see our UAE work visa guide – and you can check your Emirates ID status and visa status online. For typical healthcare pay, see the UAE salary guide.
Planning your DHA licence timeline
The single biggest mistake people make is underestimating how long licensing takes, so it pays to plan the timeline. The document-verification step through DataFlow is usually the longest part and depends on how quickly your original institutions respond, which is outside your control, so start it as early as possible. Sitting the Prometric exam from your home country in parallel, where your profession requires it, saves time. Because the eligibility letter is then valid for a year, a smart sequence is to complete verification and any exam first, so that when you receive a job offer, activation can happen quickly. Keep your good-standing certificate current, make sure the names and details on all your documents match, and confirm the exact experience and exam requirements for your specialty on official DHA guidance, since they differ between professions. Getting this right early is the difference between a smooth move and months of avoidable delay.
Need help with the move?
Once you have a healthcare offer, if you need help with the visa, residency or family side, Emirae can help through Employment Visa Support. You can also submit a request and get matched with the right help.
FAQ
How do I get a DHA licence?
Apply through the DHA Sheryan portal, complete DataFlow primary source verification of your documents, and pass a Prometric computer-based exam where required for your profession. You then receive an eligibility letter (valid one year), and the licence is activated once you secure a job at a DHA-licensed facility.
Who needs a DHA licence?
Any healthcare professional practising clinically in Dubai – doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists and allied-health professionals. Non-clinical staff do not need one. For Abu Dhabi you need a Department of Health licence, and some other emirates use MOHAP.
What are the eligibility requirements for a DHA licence?
Generally a recognised qualification, a valid home-country licence, relevant experience (commonly around 2 years for GPs, nurses and pharmacists, and 3 years for specialists), a good-standing certificate, English proficiency, and documents that can be primary-source verified.
Can I take the DHA exam from my home country?
Yes. The DHA exam is a computer-based test (CBT) conducted through Prometric centres, which can usually be sat from your home country without travelling to Dubai.
How long is the DHA eligibility letter valid?
The DHA eligibility letter is valid for one year, during which you should secure a job at a DHA-licensed facility to activate your licence.
UAE Business Setup Specialist
Krystyna Sokolovska is a UAE business setup specialist who helps founders, independent professionals, and growing companies navigate business launch decisions in the Emirates with more clarity and less risk. Her work focuses on the practical side of entry into the UAE market — choosing the right setup path, understanding licensing options, preparing for banking, planning visa steps, and avoiding common mistakes that slow companies down.
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