Dubai’s booming healthcare sector offers more than just job opportunities. It promises tax-free salaries, world-class hospital facilities, and exposure to a global patient population. But before you can step into this career-changing environment, there is one crucial step: you need a DHA license.
Why does this matter now? DHA policies have recently changed for 2025. The introduction of Sheryan 2.0 has streamlined parts of the process but added new documentation checks. These updates mean that following outdated guides from past years could lead to rejection, delays, or lost fees.
This guide gives you the most current and reliable information. It applies to doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, lab technicians, and other allied health professionals. Whether you’re applying for the first time or reapplying after a rejection, this guide covers every step.
What makes this guide different? Along with detailed step-by-step instructions, it includes exclusive tips collected from DHA-approved licensing consultants. These insights are derived from handling real cases across various medical fields.
By the end of this guide, you will know exactly what documents to prepare, how to book your exam, and what to expect at each stage. If you want to avoid the mistakes many candidates make, keep reading.
What Is a DHA Medical License?
A DHA license is an official work permit that allows healthcare professionals to practice in Dubai under the Dubai Health Authority’s regulatory framework. It is a legal requirement for anyone involved in patient care across public and private healthcare facilities. Without it, practicing medicine or patient care in Dubai is illegal and carries strict penalties, including fines and work bans.
Eligibility Criteria
Getting a DHA license starts with meeting DHA’s eligibility requirements. Let’s break it down by category.
Educational Requirements
You must hold a recognized medical or health science degree. For doctors, this usually means an MBBS or MD. Dentists need a BDS. Nurses must have a BSc in Nursing or a diploma with transcripts.
DHA categorizes applicant countries into Tier 1 and Tier 2.
- Tier 1 countries: Graduates from the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and some Western European countries may skip the DHA exam.
- Tier 2 countries: Graduates from India, Pakistan, the Philippines, and other countries must take the DHA Prometric exam.
Work Experience
You must show at least 2 years of clinical experience after your internship. The requirement varies by specialty.
- General Practitioners: Minimum 2 years post-internship.
- Specialists: Additional training and experience years apply.
- Surgeons: A stamped surgical logbook showing two years of cases is mandatory.
Language Proficiency
If your education was not in English, you must provide language proficiency proof.
- IELTS score: Minimum 6.5 overall.
- OET: Minimum Grade B.
Some patient-facing roles also require basic Arabic skills.
Documents Checklist
Before applying, make sure you have:
- Passport copy (valid for at least 6 months).
- Educational certificates and transcripts (attested where required).
- Valid professional license.
- Good Standing Certificate (issued within the last 6 months).
- Experience certificates for all listed roles.
- Updated CV.
- A recent passport-size photo with a white background.
Step-by-Step DHA License Process
The DHA licensing process has four main steps. Each stage must be completed fully before moving to the next.
Step 1: Sheryan Account Creation
Go to the official Sheryan portal by DHA. Create an account using your email. Enter your personal details. Fill out sections for education, work experience, and professional history.
Upload all required documents, including your passport, certificates, Good Standing Certificate, and professional license. Take the DHA Self-Assessment Test. This gives you a basic check of your eligibility status.
Step 2: DataFlow Verification (Primary Source Verification)
After Sheryan registration, start your DataFlow process. DataFlow checks your documents against the original issuing bodies. They contact your university, past employers, and license authorities to confirm your qualifications.
You must upload clear scans of all documents. Pay the PSV fee (between USD 300 and 600, depending on your profession). The process takes around 30 to 45 days.
Common errors to avoid:
- Submitting blurry or incomplete documents.
- Not providing full contact details of institutions.
- Uploading expired Good Standing Certificates.
Step 3: DHA Exam Booking
Once you pass DataFlow, DHA will review your file. If approved, you’ll get an Eligibility ID.
- Visit the Prometric website.
- Select DHA from the sponsor list.
- Enter your Eligibility ID.
- Choose your exam location, date, and time.
- Pay the exam fee online.
Some candidates in consultant and surgical roles may be required to undergo an oral assessment in addition to, or instead of, the written exam.
Step 4: License Activation
After passing the DHA exam, you must secure a job offer from a DHA-approved healthcare facility.
- Upload your job offer letter on Sheryan.
- Pay the final license issuance fee.
Once approved, your active DHA license will appear in your Sheryan account.
Common Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
Applying for a DHA license involves multiple steps, and even small mistakes can lead to rejection. Many applicants, even those who are qualified, face setbacks because they overlook simple details or fail to follow key instructions. These errors are often linked to poor document preparation, incomplete submissions, or misunderstanding DHA’s system requirements. Knowing where others go wrong can help you stay ahead. This section highlights the most common mistakes and gives you practical ways to avoid them.
Top 5 Rejection Reasons:
- Submitting unattested educational documents.
- Forgetting to upload internship completion certificates.
- Providing an expired Good Standing Certificate.
- Poor quality scans of documents.
- Failing the Self-Assessment tool and still applying.
Pro Tips:
- Use professional translation services for documents not in English.
- Double-check that your name matches across all documents.
- Keep all certificates and licenses up-to-date.
- Upload clear, high-resolution scans.
- Take time to fill in each section of the Sheryan profile carefully.
Mistakes cause delays that can stretch your process by weeks or even months.
