Three UAE health authorities. Three separate licensing systems. Three different portals. One of the most common and expensive mistakes international healthcare professionals make when planning their UAE career is applying to the wrong authority — or assuming that one UAE licence automatically works across the whole country.
It does not. The UAE operates a federated healthcare licensing structure where each emirate’s regulatory authority issues its own professional licence with its own eligibility criteria, documentation requirements, examination systems, and ongoing obligations. A DHA licence issued by the Dubai Health Authority authorises you to practise in Dubai. It does not authorise you to practise in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, or anywhere else.
This guide explains the differences between DHA, DOH, and MOHAP — which authority you need, how the processes differ, and how to make an informed decision about your UAE licensing pathway based on where you want to practise and what kind of healthcare facility you are joining.
The Three UAE Health Authorities Explained
DHA — Dubai Health Authority
The Dubai Health Authority regulates the entire healthcare sector within the Emirate of Dubai. It was established in 2007 and is the licensing body for all healthcare professionals — doctors, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, physiotherapists, and all allied health disciplines — working in Dubai-based hospitals, clinics, diagnostic centres, and healthcare facilities.
The DHA uses the Sheryan portal for professional registration and licence management. Dataflow PSV is mandatory for first-time applicants. The DHA Prometric examination is required for most professional categories. The DHA is widely regarded as having one of the most clearly documented licensing processes in the GCC, which is one reason Dubai attracts a disproportionate share of international healthcare talent.
Dubai’s private healthcare sector includes major hospital groups such as Mediclinic Middle East, King’s College Hospital Dubai, Aster Hospitals, and Burjeel Medical City, alongside an extensive network of clinics and specialised centres.
DOH — Department of Health Abu Dhabi
The Department of Health Abu Dhabi — formerly known as HAAD (Health Authority Abu Dhabi) — is the regulatory authority for all healthcare professionals working in Abu Dhabi. It governs both the SEHA public hospital network, which includes major institutions such as Sheikh Khalifa Medical City and Mafraq Hospital, and the substantial Abu Dhabi private sector including Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and Burjeel facilities in the capital.
DOH uses the Malafi system for licence management. Dataflow PSV is mandatory, though post-2017 DHA reports may be transferable at a reduced fee. DOH has its own examination requirements separate from the DHA Prometric system, and its qualification requirements can differ by specialty and classification level.
MOHAP — Ministry of Health and Prevention
The Ministry of Health and Prevention is the federal UAE authority that governs healthcare licensing across the Northern Emirates: Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman, Fujairah, and Umm Al Quwain. MOHAP also has oversight responsibilities at the federal level, though DHA and DOH operate their respective systems with considerable autonomy.
MOHAP manages its own portal and licensing examination pathway. For healthcare professionals targeting employment in Sharjah or the Northern Emirates — including growing private hospital groups and government-linked facilities — a MOHAP licence is the required credential.
DHA vs DOH vs MOHAP: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Factor | DHA | DOH | MOHAP |
| Emirates Covered | Dubai only | Abu Dhabi | Sharjah, RAK, Ajman, Fujairah, UAQ |
| Licensing Portal | Sheryan | Malafi | MOHAP portal |
| Dataflow Required | Yes — mandatory | Yes — mandatory | Yes — mandatory |
| Exam System | DHA Prometric (CBT) | DOH exam pathway | MOHAP exam pathway |
| Passing Score | 60% | Varies by category | Varies by category |
| Max Exam Attempts | 3 | 3 | Varies |
| DHA PSV Transfer | N/A (origin) | Eligible post-2017 | Eligible post-2017 |
| Licence Validity | 1 year (renewable) | 1 year (renewable) | 1 year (renewable) |
| Application Portal | services.dha.gov.ae | DOH Malafi system | MOHAP digital portal |
How to Choose the Right UAE Healthcare Licence
Step 1 — Follow Your Employer
The most important factor is where your employing healthcare facility is located. Your employer’s emirate determines which licence you need. There is no choice in that decision. A Dubai hospital requires DHA. An Abu Dhabi facility requires DOH. Sharjah requires MOHAP.
If you are still at the stage of choosing between job opportunities across different emirates, the licensing implications are worth weighing. DHA has the largest volume of private sector opportunities and the most clearly documented international licensing pathway. Abu Dhabi has the largest individual hospital facilities and government healthcare networks. Sharjah offers competitive opportunities with a growing private sector.
Step 2 — Consider Cross-Licensing If You Want Flexibility
Some healthcare professionals — particularly specialist consultants — seek licences from multiple UAE authorities to maximise their practice options. If you hold a DHA Prometric exam result and a positive Dataflow report, you can transfer elements of your DHA application to DOH or MOHAP rather than starting completely from scratch. The transfer of a post-2017 DHA Dataflow report to another UAE authority takes approximately five working days.
Step 3 — Assess Your Qualification Category
Each UAE authority sets its own Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR) by specialty. Some specialties or training backgrounds that qualify straightforwardly under DHA may require additional examination under DOH, or vice versa. This is particularly relevant for professionals trained outside the major English-speaking countries and Western Europe. A pre-application eligibility assessment against the specific authority’s PQR is always recommended before beginning any fee-bearing application.
Dataflow PSV: What Changes Between Authorities
All three UAE health authorities require Dataflow Primary Source Verification, but how the reports relate to each other matters practically.
DHA uses a dedicated gateway portal (dha.dfgateway.com). DOH and MOHAP use their own Dataflow pathways. Post-2017 DHA Dataflow reports can be transferred to DOH or MOHAP for an administrative fee and a five working day processing period, avoiding the need for a completely fresh verification.
If you are applying to two UAE authorities simultaneously — for example, targeting both DHA and DOH opportunities — it is possible to initiate DOH and DHA Dataflow verifications in parallel to reduce overall timeline. Managing parallel verifications requires careful document tracking to ensure the right LOAs and document sets are directed to each authority’s specific Dataflow pathway.
Which UAE Licence Does StaffBank Place Into Most?
The majority of international healthcare professionals placed by Carter Wellington Global Recruitment Group and StaffBank Outsourcing Solutions into UAE roles hold DHA licences, reflecting Dubai’s position as the largest private healthcare market in the UAE and the authority’s well-defined international licensing pathway. However, StaffBank manages the complete licensing journey for DHA, DOH, and MOHAP placements — supporting international healthcare professionals across all three systems from the sourcing stage through to activation.
Our Dataflow and licensing service manages PSV initiation, documentation review, portal submission, and active tracking for all UAE health authority applications. Hospital clients managing simultaneous hires across multiple UAE emirates benefit from consolidated licensing oversight, with one point of contact managing multiple authority pathways in parallel.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between DHA, DOH and MOHAP licences in the UAE?
DHA (Dubai Health Authority) licences authorise practice in Dubai only. DOH (Department of Health Abu Dhabi) licences cover Abu Dhabi. MOHAP (Ministry of Health and Prevention) licences cover Sharjah, RAK, Ajman, Fujairah, and Umm Al Quwain. The three systems are administered separately, use different portals — DHA uses Sheryan, DOH uses Malafi, MOHAP has its own portal — and require separate Dataflow PSV submissions in most cases. There is no automatic cross-recognition between them, though post-2017 DHA Dataflow reports may be transferable to DOH or MOHAP for a reduced fee.
Can I hold a DHA licence and a DOH licence at the same time?
Yes. It is possible to hold licences from multiple UAE health authorities simultaneously, which allows healthcare professionals to work across different emirates. Each licence must be separately obtained and maintained, including separate Dataflow verifications (or transfer where eligible), separate exam requirements, and separate renewal processes. Many specialist consultants who split their practice between Dubai and Abu Dhabi hold both DHA and DOH licences concurrently.
Which UAE health authority licence is best for international healthcare professionals in 2026?
The answer depends on where your employer is based. If you are joining a hospital or clinic in Dubai, you need a DHA licence. If your employer is in Abu Dhabi, you need a DOH licence. If you are working in Sharjah or the Northern Emirates, you need MOHAP. Many international recruiters and RPO firms position candidates into Dubai first because DHA licensing pathways are the most clearly defined and the Dubai private healthcare sector is largest in volume, but Abu Dhabi’s SEHA network and major private groups also offer substantial opportunities for internationally trained professionals.
Is it easier to get a DHA or DOH licence for doctors?
Both DHA and DOH have rigorous licensing standards, but the processes differ in their administrative structure. DHA uses the Sheryan portal with Prometric-based assessment that is well-understood internationally. DOH Abu Dhabi uses the Malafi system and has its own examination pathway. For physicians from recognised training backgrounds — UK, USA, Canada, Australia, Ireland — both authorities process applications relatively efficiently when documentation is complete. The more important factor is usually your specialty and classification level, not which authority, as specialist and consultant categories require more documentation under both systems.
What happens to my DHA licence if I move to a job in Abu Dhabi?
If you relocate from a Dubai employer to an Abu Dhabi employer, your DHA licence remains valid but inactive once your Dubai employment ends. You cannot legally practise in Abu Dhabi on a DHA licence alone — you need a DOH licence. If your DHA Dataflow report was issued after 2017, you may be eligible to transfer it to DOH at a reduced administrative fee and without repeating the full verification process. The transfer takes approximately five working days. Your DOH application will still require meeting DOH-specific qualification and experience requirements and may require a separate examination.
