If you are a nurse, doctor or allied health professional planning to work in the UAE, one of the first surprises is this: there is no single UAE healthcare licence.
Four separate authorities now regulate healthcare professionals, each with its own rules, exams and application process. A licence from one does not let you practise in another emirate. Getting this wrong at the start is the most common and costly mistake we see, because you can end up paying for the wrong process twice.
This guide explains what DHA, DOH, MOHAP and SHA stand for, who each one covers, how exams and costs work, and what happens when you want to move from one authority to another. It reflects the position as of October 2026. Requirements and fees change, so confirm current details before you apply.
The four UAE health authorities at a glance
| Authority | Stands for | Where it applies |
|---|---|---|
| DHA | Dubai Health Authority | Dubai |
| DOH | Department of Health, Abu Dhabi (formerly HAAD) | Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra |
| MOHAP / MOH | Ministry of Health and Prevention | Northern Emirates: Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah |
| SHA | Sharjah Health Authority | Sharjah, including Sharjah Healthcare City |
A few points worth knowing:
- “MOH” and “MOHAP” refer to the same ministry. The Ministry of Health became the Ministry of Health and Prevention, so an “MOH licence” in the UAE normally means a MOHAP licence.
- DOH is the new name for HAAD. Many professionals still call the Abu Dhabi exam “the HAAD exam.”
- Sharjah is no longer under MOHAP. SHA now issues its own licences independently and runs its own assessment standards.
- Some free zones have their own regulator. Dubai Healthcare City, for example, has a separate authority for its facilities, so check how your specific employer is regulated.
What does a UAE healthcare licence actually involve?
The details differ by authority and profession, but the journey usually follows the same pattern:
- Choose the right authority. The deciding factor is where the job is, so confirm your target emirate or facility first.
- Check eligibility. Each authority publishes professional qualification requirements, including accepted qualifications and minimum experience. As a rough guide, nurses are commonly expected to have at least two years of experience and doctors somewhat more, but this varies by profession and authority, and rules for fresh graduates have been updated recently.
- Complete DataFlow primary source verification. Your degrees, registrations and work history are verified directly with the issuing institutions. This is usually the slowest part of the process, so it pays to start early.
- Pass the licensing exam, where required. Most professionals sit a computer-based multiple-choice exam through Prometric or Pearson VUE, depending on the authority. Some experienced applicants from approved countries may be exempt, or may face only an oral assessment.
- Apply, receive eligibility and activate your licence. Activation typically happens once an employer in that emirate completes their side of the process.
DHA (Dubai): who needs it and what to expect
A DHA licence is required for healthcare professionals working in Dubai, and it covers Dubai only.
- Eligibility: you must meet DHA’s published requirements for your profession, which include verified qualifications, relevant experience and a positive DataFlow report.
- Exam: the DHA exam is computer-based and delivered through Prometric. For nurses, it is reported as 150 multiple-choice questions with a pass mark of around 60%. Exam fees are published in US dollars and vary by profession category.
- Cost: budget for several separate items, namely DataFlow verification, the exam fee, the authority application and the licence activation fee. Published totals vary by profession and nationality, so confirm against the current fee schedule.
DOH (Abu Dhabi): licence, exam and cost
DOH regulates healthcare professionals across the emirate of Abu Dhabi, and a DOH licence is valid only within that emirate.
- How to get a DOH licence: you are assessed against DOH’s own list of recognised institutions and qualifications, complete DataFlow verification, pass the DOH-specific exam, and apply through DOH’s digital process. The licence must be linked to a licensed healthcare facility in Abu Dhabi.
- How hard is the DOH exam? It is a computer-based multiple-choice exam that tests clinical knowledge for your profession, and for some physicians it is specialty-specific. It is a demanding exam, but candidates who study the official syllabus and practise with exam-style questions are well placed to pass. The DHA and MOHAP exams are separate, so a result from one authority cannot simply be reused for DOH.
- What does the DOH exam cost? Published figures vary between sources and professions, so avoid relying on a single number. Plan for DataFlow, the exam fee, the application and activation charges together.
- DHA vs DOH: which is better? Neither is “better.” The right one is simply the authority for the emirate where you will work. Both follow a similar DataFlow-plus-exam structure, and your choice should follow your job location, not the other way round.
MOHAP / MOH (Northern Emirates): licence, exam, cost and validity
MOHAP licenses professionals in Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, and also oversees federal government health institutions.
- What is an MOH licence? It is the Ministry of Health and Prevention’s permit to practise in facilities in the Northern Emirates.
- How to get MOH approval: you complete DataFlow verification, pass the MOHAP evaluation or exam where required, and apply through MOHAP’s process. MOHAP typically expects a sponsoring facility at the application stage.
- How much does the MOH exam cost? Reported figures vary widely. MOHAP’s own fees are generally described as among the lowest of the major authorities, but the full cost depends on your profession and the verification and application charges that go with it.
- How long is the result valid? Validity periods are set by MOHAP and can differ by category, so check the current rule for your profession before you plan your timeline.
SHA (Sharjah): the newest authority
The Sharjah Health Authority is the newest independent regulator, and it governs healthcare professionals across the emirate of Sharjah, including inside Sharjah Healthcare City.
- What is SHA? It is Sharjah’s own health authority, now separate from MOHAP, with its own portal, standards and fee structure.
- Does it apply to private hospitals? Yes. SHA regulates healthcare professionals and facilities across Sharjah, and practitioners inside Sharjah Healthcare City still need a standard SHA professional licence. The free zone does not offer a separate licensing track for individuals.
- How to apply for an SHA licence: the process follows the familiar DataFlow-based route, but is assessed against SHA’s own standards. A staged model of assessment, supervised practice and then a full licence is used for some applicants.
- Already hold an MOH licence in Sharjah? A MOHAP licence no longer automatically covers Sharjah. If your facility is moving under SHA oversight, you may need SHA assessment to keep practising, and some professionals moving from MOHAP may qualify for an exemption, subject to SHA’s decision.
Can you convert a licence from one authority to another?
This is one of the most common questions, and the honest answer is: there is no automatic “conversion.”
Each authority is an independent regulator with its own legal framework, exam and standards. In practice, moving between authorities means a new application to the new authority. Some of your earlier work, such as verified credentials, may be reusable, which can make the second application faster and cheaper than starting from zero.
- DHA to DOH: a new DOH application. DOH requires its own exam, and a DHA result is not interchangeable.
- MOH to DHA, or DHA to MOH: also a new application. For MOHAP, applicants moving from DHA or DOH generally keep a simpler route only while that licence is valid or has been expired for a limited period, and after that the exam is required.
- MOH to SHA: SHA assessment applies, with possible exemptions in some transition cases.
Because the rules for each route differ and change, it is worth confirming your exact situation before you pay any fees.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming one licence covers the whole UAE. It does not.
- Applying to the wrong authority. Applications do not transfer, so a mistake can cost months.
- Starting DataFlow late. It is usually the main bottleneck.
- Paying for an exam before confirming your category and title. A mismatch in profession or specialty can mean losing the fee.
- Relying on outdated information. Fees, rules and even authority names have changed in recent years, as the Sharjah change shows.
How 360Medicare can help
360Medicare is a direct partner of DataFlow Group, the verification body used across all four UAE authorities. Our team confirms which authority your role requires before you spend anything, and then manages your DataFlow verification, document preparation, exam guidance and application follow-up from start to finish. We support nurses, doctors and allied health professionals from India and across the world. You can read more about our UAE healthcare licensing service.
Not sure which UAE licence you need? Book a consultation with our team and we will confirm your route.
This article is general information, not legal or regulatory advice. Authority requirements, fees and exam rules change, so verify current details with the relevant authority before you apply.