For doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, and allied health professionals, the DHA exam and license process is the gateway to practising in Dubai. The Dubai Health Authority regulates every healthcare professional working in the emirate outside the free zone health cities, and its licensing pathway is designed to verify that your qualifications are genuine, your experience meets Dubai’s standards, and your clinical knowledge is current. The process can feel intimidating at first, with multiple portals, verification agencies, and an exam, but it becomes straightforward once you understand the sequence.

This guide walks through the entire journey, from creating your Sheryan account to activating your professional license with an employer. Physicians planning their career in the country can also review our complete guide on how to become a doctor in the UAE.

What Is the DHA License?

The DHA license is the professional permit issued by the Dubai Health Authority that allows a healthcare professional to practise legally in Dubai. It applies to physicians, dentists, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, and allied health professionals such as physiotherapists, laboratory technologists, and radiographers. Note that the DHA licenses professionals for the Emirate of Dubai only: Abu Dhabi falls under the Department of Health (DOH), and the northern emirates fall under the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP). Each authority runs its own licensing pathway, although the verification and exam structures are similar.

The Key Players in the Process

Four names come up constantly during the DHA exam and license journey. The Dubai Health Authority itself sets the standards, reviews applications, and issues the license. Sheryan is the DHA’s official online licensing portal, your dashboard for the whole process. The DataFlow Group is the third party contracted to perform Primary Source Verification (PSV), independently confirming with your universities, past employers, and licensing bodies that your documents are authentic. Prometric is the global testing company that administers the DHA’s computer based licensing exams.

Step by Step: How to Get Your DHA Exam and License

Step 1: Create a Sheryan Account and Run the Self Assessment

Register on the Sheryan portal using your own email, mobile number, and passport details. Then use the free Self Assessment Tool, which instantly checks whether your qualifications, internship, and experience meet the Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR) for your title. If the automated result is unclear or does not reflect a documented exception, you can request a formal registration eligibility review from the DHA.

Step 2: Prepare Your Documents

Gather your passport copy, recent photograph, educational certificates and transcripts, internship completion certificate where applicable, experience letters, current and past professional licenses, and a good standing certificate from your home licensing authority. Documents not in English or Arabic need legal translation. Consistency matters: names, dates, and institution spellings must match across every document.

Step 3: Apply for DataFlow Primary Source Verification

Submit your credentials for PSV through DataFlow. The agency contacts your issuing institutions directly to verify authenticity, a process that typically takes several weeks and can run longer if an institution is slow to respond. If you already hold a recent DataFlow report from another GCC health authority, it can often be transferred to the DHA for a reduced fee rather than repeating the full verification.

Step 4: Book and Sit the Prometric Exam

Once your application is approved for assessment, schedule your computer based exam through the Prometric DHA page at a testing centre in Dubai or an authorised centre in your home country. The assessment is a multiple choice exam of roughly 100 to 150 questions covering the clinical knowledge of your profession, usually completed in about two to three hours depending on the title. Passing requires a minimum score in the region of 60 to 70 percent depending on the specific exam, and candidates are allowed three attempts. Certain applicants, such as holders of recognised Western board certifications, may be exempt from the exam under DHA rules.

Step 5: Submit the Registration Application

With verification and assessment complete, submit the Get Registered application through Sheryan. DHA review confirms you meet the requirements for your professional title and enters you in the Dubai medical registry. Registration alone does not yet permit you to practise.

Step 6: Activate the License Through an Employer

A DHA licensed healthcare facility must activate your registration into a working professional license. In practice, this means securing a job offer, after which your employer initiates the activation request on Sheryan and you accept it. Healthcare professionals relocating for employment may also find this guide on how to work in Dubai useful when planning the wider employment and relocation process. Only once the professional license is issued can you legally treat patients in Dubai. Licenses can be activated for one, two, or three years.

DHA Exam Format at a Glance

Element	Details
Exam type	Computer based multiple choice test via Prometric
Questions	Approximately 100 to 150, profession specific
Duration	Around 2 to 3 hours depending on the title
Passing score	Approximately 60 to 70 percent depending on the exam
Attempts allowed	Three
Locations	Prometric centres in Dubai and worldwide

Fees and Timelines

Total costs vary by profession and case, covering DataFlow verification (priced by the number of documents), the Prometric exam fee, DHA application charges, and the license activation fee, with possible extras for translations, eligibility reviews, or resubmissions. Rather than relying on quoted figures that change periodically, always use the live checkout amounts shown on Sheryan and Prometric. As a rough planning guide, DataFlow verification commonly takes 30 to 45 days, and the full journey from first application to an activated license typically spans two to four months when documents are clean. Doctors considering the financial side of relocating can also compare current expectations in our guide to doctor salaries in Dubai.

After Licensing: Renewal and CPD

A DHA license is not a one time achievement. Professionals must complete Continuing Professional Development (CPD) credit requirements each cycle and maintain malpractice insurance coverage through their employer to renew. Renewal is processed through Sheryan, and letting a license lapse can require re-verification, so calendar the expiry date early. Once practising, healthcare professionals should also understand the DHA patient rights and responsibilities in the UAE that guide interactions between facilities, professionals, and patients.

Practical Tips to Avoid Delays

Most delays trace back to documents rather than the exam. Triple check spellings of institutions against your certificates before submitting to DataFlow, respond to any DataFlow queries immediately, and chase your university proactively if verification stalls. Book your Prometric slot early in busy seasons, and prepare using the exam blueprint for your specific title rather than generic question banks. Finally, if you plan to open your own practice after licensing, our guide on how to get a new medical healthcare facility license in Dubai covers the facility side of the journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between DHA registration and a DHA license?

Registration confirms you meet the requirements for your professional title and places you on the Dubai registry. The license is issued only when a DHA licensed facility activates your registration, and only then can you practise.

Can I take the DHA exam before DataFlow is complete?

The DHA allows verification and assessment to progress in parallel in many cases, but final registration requires a completed, positive DataFlow report. Check your application’s instructions on Sheryan.

How many attempts do I get at the DHA exam?

Three attempts are permitted. After a third unsuccessful attempt, additional training or a waiting period is typically required before reapplying.

Is the DHA license valid in Abu Dhabi or Sharjah?

No. The DHA license covers Dubai only. Abu Dhabi requires a DOH license and the northern emirates require a MOHAP license, though existing DataFlow reports can usually be transferred between authorities.

Who is exempt from the DHA exam?

Exemptions exist for certain categories, such as holders of recognised board certifications from specified Western countries and applicants transferring recent equivalent licenses. The Sheryan self assessment indicates whether an exemption applies to your profile.

How long does the whole DHA exam and license process take?

With complete documents, expect roughly two to four months from first submission to an activated license, with DataFlow verification usually the longest single stage.