DHA Medical License

DHA License for Dermatologists in Dubai: Requirements, Titles, Exam and Cosmetic Scope (2026)

Note: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or professional advice. Please consult official government websites or professionals for reliable information.

A dermatologist who wants to work in Dubai needs a DHA professional license issued for the title of Specialist Dermatologist or Consultant Dermatologist. The route is the standard DHA route: qualification check against the professional qualification requirements, primary source verification of every document, an eligibility decision, the DHA assessment for the title, a job offer from a licensed facility, and activation. What makes dermatology different from other specialties is the cosmetic side. Under the DHA standards for non-surgical cosmetic procedures, dermatologists and plastic surgeons are the two groups who may perform them without additional cosmetic training, while every other physician needs documented training first. This page covers the licensing route, the titles, the cosmetic scope and the facility side.

What is a DHA license for dermatologists?

It is a personal license issued by the Dubai Health Authority that permits you to practise dermatology in Dubai under a defined title, at a facility that is licensed for the specialty. It is not a facility license, and it is not transferable to another emirate on its own. It applies inside Dubai Healthcare City as well, because professional licensing in the free zone is managed by DHA.

Titles: Specialist Dermatologist and Consultant Dermatologist

DHA does not license a dermatologist as a generic doctor. It licenses a title, and the title decides your scope, your salary band and what the facility may bill for.

Title	Basis
Specialist Dermatologist	A recognised dermatology specialty qualification, with the experience required for the tier your qualification falls into
Specialist Dermatologist under supervision	The qualification is recognised but the experience requirement is not yet met, so practice runs under supervision
Consultant Dermatologist	The specialty qualification plus the longer experience required for consultant level
General Practitioner	Not a dermatology title. A GP may perform some cosmetic procedures under conditions, see below, but may not hold themselves out as a dermatologist

Which tier your qualification sits in, and therefore how many years of experience DHA asks for, is set in the professional qualification requirements. Check your qualification there before you spend money on anything else, because the tier decides whether you apply as Specialist, Specialist under supervision or Consultant.

DHA license requirements for dermatologists

A primary medical degree from a DHA recognised institution.
A recognised dermatology specialty qualification, board certification or equivalent.
Post-qualification clinical experience in dermatology, in the amount set for your tier and target title.
A current medical registration or license in the country where you last practised.
A good standing certificate from that regulator, requested at the right moment because it expires.
A clean professional record.
Passport and photograph, and later a job offer from a licensed facility.

The DHA dermatology assessment

Most applicants sit a computer based assessment for their profession and title, delivered through the DHA testing route. Senior applicants with certain qualifications may be exempt or may be assessed by interview instead. The eligibility letter states which applies to you, so do not book anything before it is issued. Details on the mechanics are in the guide to the DHA exam and the eligibility letter.

How to get a DHA dermatology license step by step

Check your qualification and target title against the professional qualification requirements.
Create the application in the DHA licensing system and upload your documents.
Start primary source verification. This is the long pole and it depends on your university and previous employers answering.
Receive the eligibility letter with the title you may be assessed for.
Sit the assessment, or complete the interview where that applies.
Obtain a job offer from a facility licensed for dermatology.
Obtain the good standing certificate.
Activate the license against the facility. You may not treat patients before activation.

Cosmetic and aesthetic procedures: what dermatologists may do

This is the part that matters commercially, and the DHA standards for non-surgical cosmetic procedures are explicit about it.

Dermatologists and plastic surgeons may perform non-surgical cosmetic procedures without additional cosmetic training. That is the privileged position in this market.
Other specialists and consultants need documented evidence of training in non-surgical cosmetic procedures before they may perform them.
General practitioners face the strictest path: at least two years of clinical experience after graduation before the training, a recognised in-person training course with at least half of it hands on, then a year of mentorship under a dermatologist or plastic surgeon, plus approval by the facility’s clinical privileging committee.
Laser and IPL carry their own requirement of documented hands on cases, and non-physicians performing them need a separate DHA license and training certificate.
Nurses, physiotherapists and beauty therapists may perform only a limited list of procedures. Beauty therapists may work in salons without healthcare supervision, except for laser, IPL and microneedling.

The practical consequence for a clinic owner: a licensed dermatologist unlocks the full non-surgical cosmetic menu immediately, while building the same service around GPs means training, a year of mentorship and a privileging decision first.

Where a licensed dermatologist may work

Non-surgical cosmetic services may be provided in hospitals, day surgical centres and outpatient clinics, and the facility must hold DHA permission for those services before it offers them. Two consequences:

Your license is activated against a facility whose license covers dermatology. If the specialty is missing from the facility’s scope, your start date waits on the employer, not on you.
In Dubai Healthcare City the specialty also has to appear on the operating permit for that address, which is a separate paid amendment if it does not.

Timeline, cost and renewal

Plan in months. Verification alone commonly runs several weeks, the assessment adds scheduling time, and activation depends on the employer. Fees are set by DHA per profession and title, plus the verification fee, and they are payable whether or not the application succeeds. Once issued, the license is time limited and renewal requires continuing medical education points, see renewal and CME.

Why dermatology applications get delayed

Applying for Consultant when the qualification tier only supports Specialist, which sends the file back.
Requesting the good standing certificate too early, so it expires before activation.
Verification stalling because a former employer does not respond, with no follow up.
A job offer from a facility whose license does not list dermatology.
Assuming a cosmetic training certificate replaces the specialty qualification. It does not.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a separate DHA exam for dermatology?

The assessment is set for the profession and the title you are eligible for. Your eligibility letter states whether you sit the exam, take an interview, or are exempt.

Can a GP run a dermatology or aesthetics clinic in Dubai?

A GP cannot practise as a dermatologist. A GP may perform certain non-surgical cosmetic procedures after two years of post-graduation experience, recognised in-person training, a year of mentorship under a dermatologist or plastic surgeon and privileging committee approval.

Can I use my DHA dermatology license in Abu Dhabi?

No. Abu Dhabi licenses through DOH and the Northern Emirates through MOHAP. There are conversion routes, but a DHA license alone does not permit practice there.

Do I need a job offer before I start?

Not for verification, eligibility and the assessment. You need one for activation, because the license is issued against a licensed facility.

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Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or professional advice. While we strive to ensure accuracy, regulations may change. Readers are encouraged to verify information with official government sources or consult qualified professionals for personalized advice. Happich Consulting assumes no liability for decisions made based on this content.