If you're a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, dentist, or allied health professional planning to practice in Dubai, a Dubai Health Authority (DHA) license is the first step. DHA regulates healthcare quality and professional standards across the emirate, and no clinician — regardless of where they trained or how many years they've practiced — can legally work in a Dubai hospital, clinic, or medical center without one.
At Med Solutions Academy, we've guided healthcare professionals from across the world through the DHA licensing journey — from primary source verification to Prometric exam preparation to the final license application. Here's what the process actually involves, and how we help.
Who Needs a DHA License?
Any healthcare professional intending to practice in Dubai's public or private healthcare sector, including:
Physicians and specialists (general practice and all recognized specialties)
Nurses and midwives
Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians
Dentists and dental specialists
Allied health professionals (physiotherapists, radiographers, lab technologists, respiratory therapists, and more)
Documents Checklist
Prepare clear scans of these documents before you start DataFlow and your license application.
Passport
Degree
Transcript
InternshipFor physicians
Home country license
Good standing certificate from the same council
Experience certificate
The DHA Licensing Journey
While exact requirements vary by profession, qualification, and experience, the overall pathway generally follows these four stages:
1Eligibility Assessment
2DataFlow / PSV
3Prometric / Licensing Exam
4License Application & Issuance
1
Eligibility Assessment
Confirm your qualifications and experience meet DHA criteria for your profession before investing time and money. Requirements differ by degree, specialty, and years of clinical practice.
DHA requires educational and professional credentials verified directly with issuing institutions through DataFlow Group. This is often the slowest, most document-heavy stage if not managed carefully.
Most professions must pass a computer-based licensing exam administered through Prometric. The exam tests clinical knowledge for your specialty and benefits from structured, topic-organized preparation.
Once verification is complete and your exam is passed, your license application is submitted to DHA for final review — typically tied to a confirmed job offer or sponsorship in Dubai.
DHA License for Healthcare Professionals in Dubai — Frequently Asked Questions
The DHA exam is a Prometric-administered computer-based licensing exam required by the Dubai Health Authority for healthcare professionals — including doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, and allied health roles — before they can practice in Dubai. It follows DataFlow Primary Source Verification and precedes final license issuance. Learn more on our DataFlow page. See our DHA exam prep page.
The process starts with an eligibility assessment against DHA’s PQR criteria, followed by DataFlow Primary Source Verification of your documents, then booking and passing the Prometric exam, and finally submitting your license application through DHA’s Sheryan portal. Start with our free PQR self-assessment.
Requirements vary by profession and title and include a recognized qualification, a valid practice license from your country of graduation or last employment, and (for most categories) relevant clinical experience. Use our free PQR self-assessment tool to check your specific eligibility. Check eligibility on our PQR self-assessment.
DHA costs come from three separate stages: DataFlow verification, the Prometric exam fee, and the Sheryan application fee — each priced differently by profession. See our full DHA exam fees breakdown or use our Cost Calculator for an itemized estimate. Get an itemized estimate with our fee calculator.
Yes — our free PQR Self-Assessment tool lets you check your DHA eligibility based on your profession, qualification, and experience before you commit time or money to the process. Open the free PQR self-assessment.
Exemptions are possible in specific circumstances depending on your existing licenses or qualifications, but are not automatic. Confirm your specific eligibility for an exemption directly through DHA or with our team rather than assuming one applies.
The DHA exam is a Prometric-administered computer-based licensing exam required by the Dubai Health Authority for healthcare professionals — including doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, and allied health roles — before they can practice in Dubai. It follows DataFlow Primary Source Verification and precedes final license issuance. Learn more on our DataFlow page. See our DHA exam prep page.
The process starts with an eligibility assessment against DHA’s PQR criteria, followed by DataFlow Primary Source Verification of your documents, then booking and passing the Prometric exam, and finally submitting your license application through DHA’s Sheryan portal. Start with our free PQR self-assessment.
Requirements vary by profession and title and include a recognized qualification, a valid practice license from your country of graduation or last employment, and (for most categories) relevant clinical experience. Use our free PQR self-assessment tool to check your specific eligibility. Check eligibility on our PQR self-assessment.
DHA costs come from three separate stages: DataFlow verification, the Prometric exam fee, and the Sheryan application fee — each priced differently by profession. See our full DHA exam fees breakdown or use our Cost Calculator for an itemized estimate. Get an itemized estimate with our fee calculator.
Yes — our free PQR Self-Assessment tool lets you check your DHA eligibility based on your profession, qualification, and experience before you commit time or money to the process. Open the free PQR self-assessment.
Exemptions are possible in specific circumstances depending on your existing licenses or qualifications, but are not automatic. Confirm your specific eligibility for an exemption directly through DHA or with our team rather than assuming one applies.
Timelines vary based on how quickly your documents can be verified and how much exam preparation you need. DataFlow verification alone can take from a few weeks to a couple of months depending on your country of qualification. We can give you a realistic estimate once we understand your specific situation. Learn more on our DataFlow page.
Not necessarily — many professionals complete DataFlow verification and pass the Prometric exam before securing a position. Final license issuance, however, is typically linked to a confirmed employer. Learn more on our DataFlow page.
No. DHA administers different exams for different specialties and professions, each with its own blueprint and question bank. Our MCQ Bank and Mock Exams are organized specifically by profession and specialty. Explore our exam prep courses.
You can retake it, though DHA applies waiting periods and may cap attempts within a certain timeframe. Focused preparation the first time matters — our mock exams help you gauge readiness before the real exam.
Yes — use our free Eligibility Assessment tool for a preliminary read based on your qualifications and experience, along with clear next steps. Try our free PQR self-assessment.
Start your license application
Begin a guided licensing application — new license, license transfer, or renew license / eligibility — with eligibility, documents, and submission support in one place.
Begin a guided licensing application — new license, license transfer, or renew license / eligibility — with eligibility, documents, and submission support in one place.