Which Licensing Authority Do You Need?
UAE healthcare is regulated by three main authorities depending on where you will practise:
- DHA (Dubai Health Authority) — required to work in Dubai (government and private)
- DOH (Department of Health Abu Dhabi) — required to work in Abu Dhabi (all facilities)
- MOH (Ministry of Health and Prevention) — covers the remaining five emirates: Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, and Umm Al Quwain
- DHCC (Dubai Healthcare City Authority) — specifically for clinics and hospitals inside Dubai Healthcare City free zone
If you plan to work across multiple emirates, you may need licences from more than one authority.
General Eligibility Requirements
All authorities require similar baseline documentation:
- Valid passport (6+ months remaining validity)
- Original degree/diploma certificate (attested)
- Good Standing Certificate from your home country licensing body
- Experience letters (usually 2+ years post-qualification)
- DataFlow Primary Source Verification (PSV) — see our DataFlow guide
- IELTS/OET (for non-native English speakers, minimum scores vary by profession)
- UAE health fitness certificate
DHA Exam Process
- Register on the DHA portal (haad.ae/dha) and create an account
- Submit DataFlow PSV — takes 4–8 weeks, costs approximately AED 750–1,500
- Apply for the Prometric exam — DHA uses Prometric for most professions
- Prepare and sit the exam — computer-based, typically 150 MCQs in 2.5 hours
- Pass mark: generally 65% (varies by profession)
- Submit licence application post-exam with all documents
- Receive DHA licence — valid 1–2 years, renewable
DOH (Abu Dhabi) Process
DOH uses the SHERYAN portal for all licensing applications:
- Register on SHERYAN (sheryan.doh.gov.ae)
- Complete DataFlow PSV
- Book Prometric exam (same Prometric centres as DHA)
- Pass the DOH Prometric exam (passing mark varies: 65–70%)
- Submit additional documents as requested
- Receive Practising Privilege — linked to facility license
MOH Process
The Ministry of Health uses its own portal (mohap.gov.ae):
- Register on the MOH portal and create an account
- DataFlow PSV required
- MOH exam is conducted at MOH testing centres (not Prometric for all professions)
- Submit application with all attested documents
- Licence valid for 2 years, renewable
Exam Preparation Tips
- Use question banks specific to each authority — many UAE-focused apps exist (Prometric Ready, Nurse Exam Pro)
- Focus on UAE-specific protocols — MOH/DHA guidelines differ slightly from international standards
- English proficiency — all exams are in English; non-native speakers should score IELTS 6.5+ or OET B
- Give yourself 4–6 weeks of dedicated study for the exam after DataFlow completes
- Community support — Facebook groups and WhatsApp communities for UAE nursing/pharmacy candidates share past questions and tips
Fees (approximate, as of 2026)
| Item | Cost (AED) |
|---|---|
| DataFlow PSV | 750 – 1,500 |
| Prometric exam fee | 500 – 800 |
| DHA licence fee | 500 – 1,500 |
| Document attestation (per document) | 200 – 500 |
Common Pitfalls
- Expired Good Standing Certificate — ensure it is issued within 6 months of your application
- Unattestation degree — must be UAE embassy + MOFA attested from the country of origin
- Name mismatches across documents — all documents must show exactly the same name
- Applying to the wrong authority — confirm with your employer which licence they require before starting