Everything you need to know about the DHA License in Dubai

• Eligibility
• Application
• Required Documents
• Renewal
• FAQs

Healthcare professionals in Dubai need a DHA license to pursue their careers. It is issued by the Health Regulation Department (HRD) of the Dubai Health Authority (DHA). Professionals in the healthcare industry must apply for a DHA license in Dubai and pass the skill test and assessments to obtain one.

If you’re an expat in the industry, here’s our guide with all the details that can help you out.

WHO CAN APPLY FOR THE DHA LICENSE DUBAI?

You need to perform a DHA eligibility check before proceeding with the application process. This is available on the DHA platform, Sheryan. The DHA Health Regulation Department (HRD) is exclusively responsible for licensing healthcare professionals with the skills and qualifications to provide quality healthcare services to residents of Dubai. Professionals from traditional, complementary and alternative medicine who require a DHA license to operate in Dubai include but are not restricted to:

• Physicians
• Dentists
• Nurses/Midwives
• Allied Healthcare

HOW TO GET A DHA LICENSE?

The DHA license Dubai process is quite straightforward. Here’s what you need to know to apply for your medical license in the UAE.

STEP 1: THE SELF-ASSESSMENT TOOL

The first thing to do for your DHA license Dubai application is to complete the initial self-assessment. For that:

• Visit the Sheryan self-assessment portal via the DHA website
• Answer the self-assessment questions, share your qualifications and experience
• You will then be able to see if you are eligible or not, after the system analyses your credentials.

The portal will reveal whether you’re eligible to participate in the Dubai Medical Registry based on the information you provide. 

If you are, you can move on to the next step. If not, you can opt for a Manual Review of your profile. For the Manual Review, you need to:

• Submit an online application with the required details and documents
• Pay the fees (AED 200)
• Await your DHA review, which may take up to 10 working days.

STEP 2: CREATE A SHERYAN ACCOUNT

Before formally beginning the DHA licensing process, you should create a personal ID on the DHA Sheryan portal.

• Visit the DHA “Single Sign On” portal
• Click on “Register New Account”
• Enter the required information
• Click “Register”

You will receive account authentication details via email. 

STEP 3: THE PSV AND CBT ASSESSMENT

Those eligible for a license in Dubai should get their Primary Source Verification (PSV) done and clear the Computer-Based Testing (CBT) assessment, if required. 

THE PSV VIA DATAFLOW

The DHA has partnered with DataFlow Group to screen professional applicants for the Dubai healthcare sector. The PSV thoroughly checks the educational backgrounds and credentials of all professionals who submit a DHA license application. These checks ensure that only the most authentic profiles make it to the Dubai Medical Registry. 

THE CBT ASSESSMENT VIA PROMETRIC

For some healthcare professionals, particularly doctors, dentists and nurses, the DHA may require an initial CBT Assessment. Prometric conducts this DHA license exam – an independent examination board to assess applicants’ knowledge and skill levels. 

Once you pass your Prometric CBT assessment (DHA exam) and the PSV review, you can register for the DHA license in Dubai. 

STEP 4: GET REGISTERED

You must register on the DHA Sheryan to process the license application formally. For that, simply:

• Click on the “Register a Professional”
• Provide the relevant information
• Upload the necessary documents 
• Pay the DHA registration fees (AED 200) and submit

The DHA will review your application in light of your CBT and PSV results and then either approve, reject or return your application for more information. 

STEP 5: SCHEDULE ORAL ASSESSMENT

Depending on the professional healthcare position you apply for, the DHA may require you to take an oral assessment. 

• Schedule a date for the oral DHA exam in Dubai.
• Pay the fees for oral DHA exam registration (AED 250 for normal assessment; AED 2,000 for urgent)
• Take and pass the assessment

STEP 6: ACTIVATE PROFESSIONAL LICENSE

You will be a registered DHA professional after passing the oral Dubai Health Authority exam. All you need to do now is activate your professional license. For that, here’s what you need to do via your Sheryan account:

• Submit an online application after selecting the professional’s registration
• The relevant authority approves the request
• Pay license activation fees (AED 1000 – AED 4,000)

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

According to the Dubai health authority license requirements, you need to submit the following documents for the initial processing of the DHA license application:

• A recent photograph (passport size)
• Copy of your valid passport
• Your educational qualifications
• Your experience certificates
• Practice license or registration 
• The Good Standing Certificate (GSC)
• A 2-year surgical logbook (for surgeons)
• A medical fitness test in case the applicant is aged 65 and above. You can get this done at any of the visa medical centres in Dubai. 

When your license application is approved, you also need to submit the following:

• An offer letter from your recruiting facility
• A malpractice insurance certificate from your recruiting facility

DHA LICENSE RENEWAL

Want to know how to renew the DHA license? Your license is valid for one year, after which you need to renew it. As per the DHA licence requirements, you can apply for a DHA license renewal three months before the expiry date.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR LICENSE RENEWAL

Wonder how to renew a DHA license for nurses? Anyone who wishes to stay and work in Dubai as a licensed healthcare professional must renew their license/registration with updated experience and qualification details. Here are the documents you need for license renewal. 

• A copy of your valid passport
• PSV result for 
  • Good standing
  • License validity
  • Experience 
• Updated experience
• Renewed malpractice insurance

DHA LICENSE IN DUBAI RENEWAL PROCESS

To renew your license, you need to:

• Upload the PSV document
• Upload the new certificate of the Malpractice Insurance
• Submit the application for licence renewal on Sheryan
• Pay the Sheryan DHA license renewal fees
• Await DHA review

Once DHA approves the request, your medical license in Dubai will be automatically renewed and delivered via courier. 

FAQS ABOUT DHA LICENSE IN DUBAI

WHAT IS DHA LICENSE?

In Dubai, it is mandatory for those looking to start a medical practice to obtain a Dubai Health Authority (DHA) license. This applies to citizens and expats wishing to work as medical professionals. The DHA license procedure must be done to obtain the license before commencing any services.

HOW TO ACTIVATE DHA LICENSE

Once you pass the oral assessment, you must activate the license via the official DHA portal.

Apply for activation service via the Sheryan portal. Next, submit the eligibility letter from DHA, the malpractice insurance certificate and the processing fee, depending on your profession.

HOW TO GET DHA LICENSE FOR PHARMACIST

Submit mandatory documents to the Primary Source Verification (PSV) Agency and get the results. Next, clear CBT assessments, register with DHA, schedule an oral assessment if necessary and activate your license.

Refer to the detailed section above to learn more about PSV and CBT assessments.

HOW TO RENEW DHA LICENSE FOR NURSES

You can renew your license within three months after it expires or three months after it gets cancelled via Sheryan Portal. You need to pay AED 200 for the service.

First, upload the Malpractice Insurance certificate and all documents needed for PSV verification and apply. Pay the license renewal fee and wait for the DHA review to be completed.

The process of renewing professional registration takes about five working days.

HOW TO RENEW EXPIRED DHA LICENSE

It is possible to renew the Dubai Health Authority License within three months of its expiry via the Sheryan portal. The cost is AED 200.

To renew your license, upload your Malpractice Insurance certificate and all necessary documents for PSV verification. Once you’ve submitted your application, pay the renewal fee and patiently wait for DHA to complete their review.

WHAT ARE THE DHA LICENSE REQUIREMENTS FOR DOCTORS?

To apply for the license, doctors will need to provide the following documents:

1. A recent passport-sized photograph
2. A valid copy of your passport
3. Good Standing Certificate(s) (GSC) that are valid and not older than six months at the time of application
4. The last two years’ logbook for surgical specialities
5. Verification results of your qualifications, experience and registration that meet the PQR requirements.

Additionally, if required, you will need to provide CBT assessment results. Remember that you will be part of the Dubai Medical Registry only with a valid and active licence from DHA.

HOW TO TRANSFER DHA LICENSE TO DHCC

All healthcare-related professional licensing in the Dubai Healthcare City Free Zone (DHCC) is managed by the Dubai Health Authority. Contact DHA directly for more information.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GET DHA LICENSE IN DUBAI?

After completing the application, the average processing time is five working days.

CAN I CONVERT THE DHA LICENSE DUBAI TO HAAD?

Yes, you can! You must have six months of on-the-job experience to convert your DHA license to HAAD.

WHAT ARE THE OPERATIONAL HOURS OF DHA?

DHA is open from Monday to Thursday between 07:30 am to 03:30 pm. It operates from 07:30 am to 12:00 pm on Friday and remains closed on weekends.

WHAT IS DHA EXAM FEES FOR NURSES?

As stated above, the DHA exam fees for nurses is AED 250 for normal assessment and AED 2,000 for the urgent evaluation.

WHAT IS DHA EXAM FEES FOR DOCTORS AND DENTISTS?

Here are the latest DHA exam fees for doctors and dentists:

• Normal oral assessment: AED 500
• Urgent oral assessment: AED 2,000

Knowledge and Innovation Fees will be applied once you proceed to make the payment on the Sheryan portal.

That’s all we have on the DHA license Dubai and how to get it. You should know that the DHA medical license is valid only for Dubai.

Remember, the UAE medical license exam will depend on the emirate in which you wish to work. For example, you must apply for the HAAD licence to operate in the Abu Dhabi healthcare sector.

To maintain quality services in the public and private sectors, Dubai only allows people with the proper skill set and qualifications to join its growing industries. For instance, you need a license to open a virtual company in Dubai and a license to teach in Dubai – ensuring a certain quality of products and services.

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