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Abu Dhabi’s healthcare system is regulated by its local health department, which now works in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Prevention Abu Dhabi to follow any national agenda, if launched. However, irrespective of the coordination, the Ministry of Health Abu Dhabi is independent in making healthcare regulations, medical procedures, and performance optimization thresholds to maintain medical standards in accordance with the global demands.
Therefore, moving to Abu Dhabi from another emirate requires you to get a healthcare license provided by the DOH that regulates the Abu Dhabi Healthcare System. This means that to work in Abu Dhabi, you must have a valid DOH license as per the Federal Law No. 6 of 2023. If you wish to work there with a DHA license, you are not permitted until you transfer or convert the license to a DOH one.
To convert a DHA license to a DOH license, you have to follow a sequential evaluation process under the Department of Health Abu Dhabi by verifying your credentials, including personal, professional, and clinical details. To be eligible for conversions, you need one active license, an experience certificate in your speciality, and practice with a gap not exceeding two years.
Once eligibility is confirmed, you can start the process by submitting the required documents, including a valid degree and previous license, DataFlow report, DOH evaluation application, and payment proof. After submitting all the requirements, the authority will review your credentials and will update the status on the portal as approved or disapproved.
This whole conversion process usually takes five to eight working days after submission, with the full process taking up to 4-8 weeks. At the same time, the overall cost is somewhere between AED 1500 and AED 4,000, covering DOH application charges, DataFlow transfer, and the Good Standing certificate.
In this article, we have provided a complete process, including eligibility, requirements, step-by-step process, time, fees, benefits, and challenges, in detail, to transfer your DHA license to DOH without any issues. However, if you still have any issues, feel free to reach out to our experts.
Who regulates the Healthcare licensure transfer in Abu Dhabi?
The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DOH) regulates healthcare license transfer under Federal Law No. 6 of 2023 from another emirate or another country. It controls examinations, evaluations, and licensing for professionals and facilities.
However, it still coordinates with the other independent authorities, such as DHA and MOHAP, through DataFlow and UAE Pass to allow mobility while protecting patient safety.
Who is Eligible to transfer a medical license from Dubai to Abu Dhabi?
To transfer a DHA license to DOH in Abu Dhabi, medical professionals must first meet the eligibility criteria set by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi. The eligibility ensures that only qualified, experienced, and compliant professionals are allowed to provide patient care.
The criteria include holding an authorized qualification and completing at least two years of relevant professional experience after graduation. The general eligibility checks are outlined below:
- A valid degree from a recognized institution
- The DHA license should last for more than 3 months
- A valid or recently active DHA license
- Required 2 years minimum clinical experience for your profession
- A valid DataFlow verification report
What are the requirements to transfer a DHA license to DOH?
The requirements to transfer a DHA license to a DOH license are an active DHA license, a good-standing certificate for ethical conduct, and a valid PSV report for document verification. The main Requirements are listed below:
- Qualification from an accredited institute
- A valid, active DHA license
- Practice gap not more than 2 years
- 2 years of Minimum required DHA work experience
- Positive DataFlow verification report
- DHA Good Standing Certificate (valid within 6 months)
- DHA exam result (for equivalency or exemption review)
- UAE Pass account
- Emirates ID (if available)
What are the documents required?
The documents required to transfer the license from the DHA to DOH (the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi) include an active license for professional verification, a passport, and an emirate ID for identity verification. The main documents required are provided below.
- Active DHA license copy
- Passport copy
- Emirates ID copy (front and back, if available)
- Recent passport-size photograph
- A recognized Degree or Diploma
- Transcript or marks sheets
- Experience certificate from a DHA-licensed facility
- DHA Good Standing Certificate
What is the complete process to transfer a DHA license to DOH or HAAD?
The process of transferring a DHA license to a DOH or HAAD license follows a structured process that helps the emirate to allow only professionally qualified and ethically sound healthcare professionals to move legally from Dubai to Abu Dhabi.
After completing each stage carefully, including registration, document submission, verification, and exams, to can transfer the license successfully. Below is the step-by-step process to transfer your license to DOH to work in Abu Dhabi legally.
Prove your eligibility for the DOH license
Confirm and prove eligibility before proceeding. The eligibility asks you to have an approved DataFlow report and an active eligibility letter, with a practice gap that must not exceed two years.
Submit all the necessary documents
Submit all the necessary documents, including your passport, Emirates ID if available, previous license, education and experience certificates, Good Standing Certificate, and DataFlow report. Missing any document can end or delay the transfer.
Log in to TAMM using UAE Pass
This step is mandatory to transfer your data to the DOH officially. Log in using UAE Pass with the same email that is linked to your DataFlow account to connect your existing records and safely link them to the Abu Dhabi Healthcare Department.
Transfer DataFlow report
Once logged in there the next step is to transfer the DataFlow report by choosing the option to transfer an existing report. Select your previous authority, DHA, then link the report to DOH. It will directly transfer your complete verified data to DOH.
Apply for evaluation with the DOH authority
Apply for evaluation with the DOH authority by following the process below.
- Create an Account on the DOH Portal
- Select the Evaluation Service
- Enter Personal and Professional Details
- Pay the Evaluation Fees (AED 250–500)
- Receive the Evaluation Outcome
Authority review and assessment
The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi will review your documents, DataFlow status, exam history, and experience duration. They may approve the transfer or disapprove if not aligned with what they need.
Receive the evaluation letter
You will receive an evaluation letter that has your professional title, speciality, and registration number mentioned on it if DOH approves your transfer. This letter lets you apply for jobs in Abu Dhabi.
Secure employment
You must receive a formal job offer from a licensed DHA facility if you plan to work in Abu Dhabi Legally. Whereas, without an offer, a license transfer cannot proceed.
License issuance by the employer
After you get the job, the employer submits the employment contract, facility approval, insurance details, and your evaluation letter to help you get an active professional license to legally start working in Abu Dhabi.
After license activation rules
After license activation, strict rules apply. You can hold only one active license with one authority. All eligibility letters become inactive. You cannot work in another Emirate. To move again, you must transfer the active license or pass a new authority exam.
How much time is required to transfer a professional license from DHA to DOH?
The time required to transfer a professional license from DHA to DOH is typically two to three months (approximately 60–90 working days) when the process is followed correctly and all documents are submitted in a complete and consistent manner.
However, if errors occur or if documents contain mismatched or irregular information, the process can be significantly delayed, often extending beyond the two-to-three-month timeframe.
What is the fee to convert a DHA License into a DOH license?
The fee to convert a DHA License into a DOH license is somewhere around AED 15,00 to AED 4,500. However, the transfer cost depends on consultation charges, evaluation and the DataFlow transfer fee. Some of the main cost sections are:
| Fee Component | Cost (AED) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| DOH Evaluation Fee | 250 – 500 | Fixed cost for license evaluation |
| DataFlow Transfer Fee | 210 | Fixed cost for document transfer |
| Good Standing Certificate | 520 | Fixed cost to prove DHA’s good standing |
| Consultation Charges | Varies | Depends on the consultancy used |
What are the benefits of converting the DHA license to the DOH?
The benefits of converting the DHA license to the DOH include a growing healthcare sector that creates a higher demand for specialists, which often leads to better salary packages. Additionally, major healthcare events create professional development opportunities, helping doctors and nurses advance their careers effectively. The 5 main advantages for professionals to move to Abu Dhabi include.
- Higher Demand for Specialists due to the growing healthcare sector
- Better Salary Packages due to higher demand
- Government-Backed Healthcare Programs
- Structured Licensing Process providing clear and smooth licensing services
- Professional Development Opportunities due to major healthcare events
What are the challenges of converting the license to the DOH?
The challenges of converting the DHA license to a DOH license include an unclear document verification process and whether or not an exam is required. Along with these non-specific consultation fee can lead to delays or rejection. The major challenges are:
- Stricter criteria for validating the credentials
- Waiting until your license reaches three months
- Complex to understand the new portal
- Non-refundable variable fees
How Felix Happich License Consultants can help you with licensure transfer to DOH?
Felix Happich Healthcare License Consultancy offers professional assistance in converting your DHA license to DOH. Our experts will handle every stage, from eligibility verification to document submission, ensuring full compliance with regulations. With our support, the transfer process will be quick and accurate.
