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Free UAE Medical Licence Check for Doctors and Dentists
Answer 7 short questions. You see your likely DHA title, whether you need the DHA exam, your timeline, your documents and every step to your licence. Right away, no sign-up.
- Your likely DHA title: GP, specialist or consultant
- Exam needed or exempt, and why
- Realistic timeline, costs and your document list
- Based on the official DHA rules (PQR April 2025)
What would I earn in Dubai? See doctor salaries →
Who can get a DHA licence as a doctor?
You need a medical degree of at least 5 years, a 12-month internship and a valid licence from your home country. For the general practitioner title you also need 2 years of clinical experience. For specialist and consultant, it depends on the tier of your specialty certificate.
| Certificate tier | Specialist | Consultant |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | No extra experience | 2 years after specialty (1 after sub-specialty) |
| Tier 2 | No extra experience | 5 years after specialty (4 after sub-specialty) |
| Tier 3 | 3 years after specialty (2 after sub-specialty) | Not possible |
General practitioner: degree, 12-month internship and 2 years of clinical experience. Dentists follow the same tier logic without the sub-specialty split. Source: Unified PQR, 3rd version, April 2025.
Which tier is my certificate?
The tier depends on the certificate, not only the country. These are the most common cases we see.
| Country | Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | CCT or CCST with GMC specialist register | CESR with GMC specialist register | MRCP, FRCS and similar memberships without CCT |
| Ireland | CCST with IMC specialist register | – | Memberships without CCST |
| USA | ABMS board certification | AOA board certification | Residency without board: not recognised |
| Canada | Royal College (RCPSC) | – | – |
| Australia, New Zealand | College fellowship by exam | – | – |
| Germany | Facharzt with Oberarzt designation | Facharzt without Oberarzt | – |
| Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands, Nordics, France | Specialist title with national specialist registration | – | – |
| India | – | DM, MCh, DrNB, FNB | MD, MS, DNB |
| Pakistan | – | – | FCPS |
| Arab Board | – | Arab Board | – |
Based on the PQR certificate tables. Other countries (for example Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Italy, Spain) need an individual check.
Who is exempt from the DHA exam?
- Specialists and consultants with a Tier 1 certificate from the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Singapore, South Africa or South Korea.
- General practitioners who passed USMLE Step 3, PLAB 1 and 2, AMC, MCCQE, PRES, NZREX or EMREE, or hold a degree accredited in the UK, Ireland, Australia or New Zealand.
- Doctors already licensed by DOH or MOHAP for the same title.
An exemption only covers the exam. Experience, DataFlow verification and good standing still apply. A practice gap over 3 years removes the exemption for non-UAE nationals.
Need the exam?
DHA uses a computer-based exam at Prometric (USD 280). GP: 150 questions, 60% to pass. Some consultant titles are assessed orally instead. You have 3 attempts across all UAE authorities.
Gap in practice
| Time without practice | What DHA requires |
|---|---|
| Under 3 years | No extra requirement |
| 3 to under 4 years | 80 CME points and 6 months supervised training |
| 4 to under 5 years | 120 CME points and 8 months supervised training |
| Over 5 years | Non-UAE nationals cannot apply |
Non-UAE nationals with a gap over 3 years also need to pass the exam.
Timeline and costs
| Step | Time | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| DataFlow verification | 15 working days officially, often 6 to 14 weeks | About AED 1,235 + VAT |
| DHA exam (if needed) | Book within days | USD 280 |
| Licence activation | After a job offer | AED 3,000 per year, usually paid by the employer |
Total: about 2 to 4 months without exam, 4 to 6 months with exam.
Our check vs the official DHA tool
DHA self-assessment (Sheryan)
- Free
- Needs a DHA account
- Only says eligible or not
Our free check
- Free, no login
- Your likely title and exam route
- Your documents, steps and timeline
- A free call to confirm your route
Not eligible yet?
Often there is still a route: a lower title first, more experience, another emirate, or a manual review by DHA. In the free call we show you which one fits.
Questions about the check
Is the result official?
No. It is a first assessment based on the PQR. DHA decides after verifying your documents.
I am a German Facharzt. Which title do I get?
With an Oberarzt designation your Facharzt counts as Tier 1: specialist right away, consultant after 2 years. Without Oberarzt it counts as Tier 2: specialist right away, consultant after 5 years.
I have MRCP but no CCT. Can I work in Dubai?
Yes, usually as specialist after 3 years of experience after the membership (Tier 3). Consultant is not possible with a Tier 3 certificate.
How long does a DHA licence take?
About 2 to 4 months if you are exempt from the exam, 4 to 6 months with the exam. DataFlow verification is usually the slowest part.
What does it cost?
The check and the first call are free. Official costs are DataFlow (about AED 1,235 + VAT), the exam if needed (USD 280) and the licence fee (AED 3,000 per year, usually paid by the employer).
Stop guessing. Get your route.
Free 15-minute call. We check your documents and confirm your title, exam and timeline.
Start my free checkRead more: PQR guide · DHA exam · Primary source verification