DHA License in Dubai 2026 | Fees, Exam, Requirements & Application Process

Key Facts: Healthcare professionals who want to practise in Dubai generally need DHA registration and an activated professional licence. The process can involve eligibility checks, document verification, an assessment or exam, registration and licence activation. Costs vary by profession and stage, so there is no single DHA licence fee for everyone.

Introduction

Among the initial steps for a medical practitioner, dentist, nurse or other health care professional intending to practice in Dubai is obtaining a professional licence. The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) is responsible for the professional licensing via its Sheryan system. It is not merely a question of passing an examination and getting a licence. You may need to undergo an eligibility check, verification of your documents, an assessment, professional registration, and have your licence activated at a healthcare facility depending on your profession and qualifications.

What License Do Healthcare Professionals Need to Practise in Dubai?

Most healthcare professionals wishing to practice in Dubai will require a professional licence from the Dubai Health Authority. A range of healthcare professions are covered by the requirement, though the terms for the eligibility and assessment vary from career to career.

This includes:

• Physicians
• Dentists
• Nurses and midwives
• Allied healthcare professionals
• Traditional and complementary medicine professionals

One important point is that DHA registration and licence activation are not the same thing. Registration confirms that the professional has met the relevant requirements, while activation is the stage that allows the professional to practise through a healthcare facility.

Who Needs a DHA License in Dubai?

The DHA licensing system covers different healthcare professions, but each category has its own qualification, experience and assessment requirements.

Doctors and Physicians

Doctors practising in Dubai need to meet the applicable professional qualification and experience requirements before they can obtain and activate a DHA licence.

Dentists

Dentists follow the DHA professional licensing process, with eligibility and assessment requirements based on their qualifications and professional background.

Nurses and Midwives

Nurses and midwives must meet the relevant education, experience and registration requirements before applying for professional registration.

Allied Healthcare Professionals

This category covers a wide range of healthcare roles. Requirements can differ considerably depending on the profession, so applicants should check the criteria for their specific professional title.

Traditional & Complementary Medicine Professionals

Professionals working in recognised traditional or complementary medicine fields may also need DHA licensing, subject to the applicable requirements.

How Much Does a DHA License Cost in Dubai?

There is no single price for a DHA licence because the cost depends on the profession and the stage of the application.

DHA currently lists AED 200 for the registration eligibility review service. Licence activation fees vary by professional category and licence duration. For example, the current DHA fee schedule includes different charges for physicians, dentists and other professional categories. So, it is better to think of the DHA cost as a combination of several fees rather than one fixed licence price.

What Are the Main Costs You Should Budget For?

The licence fee is only one part of the overall expense. Depending on your situation, you may also need to pay for verification, assessments and supporting documents.

Credentialing and Registration

This is where DHA reviews your professional qualifications and determines whether you meet the relevant eligibility requirements. The registration-related fee is separate from other stages of the process.

Primary Source Verification

Your qualifications and professional documents may need to be verified with the original issuing institutions. The cost depends on the documents and professional category.

DHA Exam or Assessment

Some applicants need to complete an assessment before registration. The exact requirement depends on the profession and individual application.

Licence Activation

Once professional registration is completed, the licence must be activated through an eligible healthcare facility. The applicable activation fee depends on the professional category and licence duration.

Other Costs

You may also need to budget for:

• Document attestation or verification
• Translation
• Good Standing Certificate
• Medical malpractice insurance, where applicable
• Knowledge and Innovation fees

What Are the DHA License Requirements?

The requirements depend on your profession, qualifications and professional experience. DHA may ask for documents that demonstrate your education, experience and current professional standing.

Common requirements include:

• Recognised educational qualification
• Relevant professional experience
• Valid professional licence or registration
• Good Standing Certificate
• Passport
• Experience certificates
• Additional documents, depending on the profession

It is worth checking your professional category before starting the application because the requirements are not identical for every healthcare role.

How Does the DHA License Process Work?

The DHA process is easier to understand when you look at it as a series of stages rather than one application.

Step 1: Complete the Self-Assessment

Start with the DHA Self-Assessment Tool. It allows healthcare professionals to check whether their qualifications and experience appear to meet the relevant professional requirements. The automated Self-Assessment Tool is free.

Step 2: Complete Primary Source Verification

Your qualifications and other relevant professional documents are checked through the approved verification process. This helps DHA confirm that the documents submitted with your application are genuine.

Step 3: Complete the Required Assessment

If your profession requires an assessment, you will need to complete it before moving forward with registration. Depending on the profession, this can include a computer-based test or another form of assessment.

Step 4: Apply for Professional Registration

Once the required verification and assessment stages are complete, you can submit your professional registration application through Sheryan.

Step 5: Complete an Oral Assessment, If Required

Some applicants may be asked to complete an oral assessment after DHA reviews the registration application. This is not a standard step for every professional.

Step 6: Get Your Professional Registration

If DHA approves your application and you have met the applicable requirements, you receive professional registration.

Step 7: Activate the Professional License

The final stage is licence activation. The healthcare facility where you will work submits the activation request. Once the request is approved and the required fees are paid, the professional licence is activated, and the eLicense is generated.

What Is the DHA Exam and Who Needs to Take It?

Different healthcare professionals may take different assessment paths. The requirement is based on the profession category and the rules applicable to it by DHA. An assessment may be computer-based or may require applicants to complete an oral assessment where an assessment is required. Check the requirements for the professional title you are looking to book an exam for. Giving an inappropriate assessment or studying for a different job may cause delays.

How Do You Prepare for the DHA Exam?

Preparing for the DHA exam starts with knowing exactly what DHA expects from your professional category.

Check Your Professional Category

Make sure you are applying under the correct DHA professional title.

Review the Required Assessment

First, confirm whether you need a computer-based test, oral assessment, or another type of evaluation.

Prepare Your Documents First

Keep your qualification and experience documents ready before starting the verification process. Missing or inconsistent documents can slow things down.

Use the DHA Exam Guidance

Use the current DHA requirements for your profession instead of relying only on general exam material. The assessment can differ from one professional category to another.

What Documents Are Required for a DHA License?

The exact list can vary, but applicants should generally be prepared with:

DHA also requires documents that are not in Arabic or English to be legally translated and submitted with the original-language documents.

How Long Does It Take to Get a DHA License?

There is no single timeline for the entire DHA licensing process. The total time depends on document verification, assessments, DHA review, and licence activation.

Some individual DHA services have specific processing timelines. The outline currently lists:

• Self-Assessment: Instant
• Eligibility review: 10 working days
• Oral assessment scheduling: 5 working days
• Licence activation: Instant, or up to 1 working day if personal records need to be changed

Verification and exam scheduling can add additional time, so applicants should avoid planning around only the processing time of the final licensing stage.

What Is the Difference Between DHA Registration and DHA License Activation?

These two stages are often confused, but they serve different purposes.

In other words, getting registered does not mean you can immediately start practising. The licence must also be activated through the relevant healthcare facility.

Can You Apply for a DHA License Without a Job Offer?

You can work through the professional registration process without having the final licence activation completed by an employer. The important distinction is that licence activation requires an eligible healthcare facility. DHA lists professional registration and an active healthcare facility licence among the requirements for activation.

What Happens After You Pass the DHA Exam?

Passing the assessment is not the final step. You still need to complete the registration and activation stages.

The usual sequence is:

1. Complete professional registration
2. Receive professional registration
3. Find or become linked to an eligible healthcare facility
4. Have the facility submit the activation request
5. Pay the applicable activation fees
6. Receive the eLicense

Can You Transfer a DHA License From Another UAE Authority?

Professionals who already hold a licence from another UAE health authority may have a route to apply through DHA, depending on their circumstances. However, a licence from another emirate does not automatically mean that you can practise in Dubai. You still need to meet DHA’s requirements and follow the applicable registration or transfer process.

How Do You Renew a DHA License?

DHA registration and licence renewal are separate services. Professionals need to renew within the applicable period and submit any updated documents required for their category. Depending on the professional and application, renewal may involve updated Good Standing or verification requirements, outstanding fines, and continuing professional development requirements.

What Can Delay a DHA License Application?

Most delays come down to missing documents, verification issues, or requirements that have not been met.

Common issues include:

• Qualification not meeting PQR requirements
• Incomplete documents
• Verification delays
• Missing Good Standing Certificate
• Gaps in professional experience
• Incorrect professional title
• Not passing a required assessment
• Outstanding fines
• Delays from the hiring healthcare facility

Getting the documents and professional category right at the beginning can save a lot of back-and-forth later.

What Should You Check Before Applying for a DHA License?

Before you start, check these points:

• Does your qualification meet the PQR?
• Do you have the required professional experience?
• Is your professional licence valid?
• Do you have a Good Standing Certificate?
• Are your documents ready for verification?
• Do you need a CBT assessment?
• Could an oral assessment apply?
• Do you have an eligible healthcare facility for licence activation?

How Can Arnifi Help With Your DHA License?

The DHA process can involve several stages, especially if you are applying from outside the UAE or have qualifications and experience from different countries. Arnifi can support healthcare professionals with eligibility assessment, document preparation, PSV coordination, DHA application support, exam-related assistance, professional registration and licence activation. The aim is to keep the process organised from the initial eligibility check through to the final licence activation.

Conclusion

Getting a DHA licence is more than passing an exam. You first need to check whether you meet the requirements for your profession, verify your documents, complete any required assessment, and obtain professional registration. The final step is activating the licence through an eligible healthcare facility. The cost also varies depending on your profession and the stage you are at. Instead of looking for one fixed DHA licence price, it is better to budget separately for credentialing, document verification, assessment and licence activation.

FAQs

1. How much does a DHA license cost in Dubai?

The cost varies by profession. You may pay separately for eligibility, document verification, assessment and licence activation.

2. Is the DHA Self-Assessment Tool free?

Yes. The automated DHA Self-Assessment Tool is free.

3. Is the DHA exam mandatory for everyone?

No. The assessment requirement depends on your professional category and DHA’s applicable rules.

4. How long does a DHA license take?

It depends on the applicant. Verification, assessment, and DHA review can add to the processing time.

5. Can I get DHA registration without a job?

Yes, you can complete the registration process, but licence activation requires an eligible healthcare facility.

6. What documents are needed for a DHA license?

Common documents include your passport, qualifications, experience certificates, professional licence, and Good Standing Certificate.

7. What is PSV for a DHA license?

PSV stands for Primary Source Verification. It verifies your professional documents with their original issuing sources.

8. What happens after passing the DHA exam?

You still need to complete professional registration and then licence activation through an eligible healthcare facility.

9. Can I transfer my healthcare licence to DHA?

You may have a relevant DHA route if you hold a licence from another UAE authority, but you still need to meet DHA requirements.

10. How do I renew my DHA license?

Renewal is completed through the DHA Sheryan system with the required documents and applicable fees.

References: 

DHA – Healthcare Professional Licensing Services

DHA – Manual for Licensing Healthcare Professionals