DHA Licence for Doctors 2026: GP, Specialist and Consultant Requirements, Sheryan Steps, Prometric Exam, Total Fees and Timeline for Dubai
How doctors get a Dubai Health Authority licence in 2026: GP, specialist and consultant eligibility, recognised postgraduate qualifications, Sheryan and DataFlow steps, the DHA Prometric exam and exemptions, total fees in AED, INR, PKR and EGP, and a realistic timeline.
Dubai remains the first choice for many international doctors: tax-free pay, modern hospitals and a single regulator, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA). This guide covers what a doctor needs for a DHA licence in 2026 at each grade — General Practitioner, Specialist and Consultant — and what it costs.
Which title will you get?
| DHA title | Typical requirement |
|---|---|
| General Practitioner | Recognised medical degree, internship, home licence and 2 years' clinical experience after internship |
| Specialist | Recognised postgraduate qualification (Arab Board, MRCP, FRCS, FCPS in listed specialties, MD/MS from listed institutions, US/European boards) plus required experience after it |
| Consultant | Higher qualification plus several years' experience at specialist level, with evidence of senior practice |
Recognition of your postgraduate degree decides your title and therefore your salary. Check yours in FCPS, MRCP, MD and Arab Board recognition, and confirm with DHA's self-assessment tool (how to use it).
Step by step
- Sheryan account — create your profile and run the self-assessment (Sheryan guide).
- Application and DataFlow — upload degree, internship, licence, experience certificates, Good Standing Certificate and postgraduate certificates; DataFlow verifies them in about 4–8 weeks.
- Eligibility and exam — DHA issues your eligibility; book the Prometric exam for your title (GP: General Practice; specialists: the exam for your specialty).
- Eligibility letter — after passing you receive your eligibility letter. It is valid for a limited period, usually a year, during which you need to secure a job.
- Licence activation — a DHA-licensed employer activates your licence, then handles the visa and Emirates ID.
Do all doctors take the DHA exam?
No. Holders of certain qualifications from listed countries (for example some UK, US, Canadian, Australian and European boards) can be exempt from the written exam and may only have an assessment or interview. Others take the Prometric exam: 150 single-best-answer MCQs in 3 hours, with a pass mark around 60%. Read exam exemptions and how to pass the DHA exam first time.
Total cost of a DHA licence for doctors
| Item | USD | AED | INR | PKR | EGP | Who usually pays |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DataFlow verification | USD 220–320 | AED 810–1,180 | INR 19,500–28,000 | PKR 61,500–89,500 | EGP 11,000–15,500 | Candidate |
| DHA Prometric exam (doctors) | USD 270–290 | AED 990–1,070 | INR 24,000–25,500 | PKR 75,500–81,000 | EGP 13,000–14,000 | Candidate |
| Eligibility and licence issuance | USD 270–410 | AED 990–1,510 | INR 24,000–36,000 | PKR 75,500–115,000 | EGP 13,000–20,000 | Often the employer |
All figures are approximate 2026 ranges, converted at fixed rates (USD 1 = AED 3.67, INR 88, PKR 280, PHP 57). Authorities change fees without notice and your bank adds its own card charge, so confirm the amount on the official portal at the moment you pay.
Add attestation, translation and courier costs. The full list is in DHA exam fees 2026, and the licence fee calculator totals it for you.
How long it takes
- Sheryan and document preparation: 1–3 weeks.
- DataFlow: 4–8 weeks (longer if a university is slow to respond).
- Exam booking and result: 1–4 weeks; the result appears on screen.
- Job offer and activation: 2–8 weeks after you have a sponsor.
Realistically, three to five months from start to licence for a GP with clean documents. The most common delay is experience certificates without exact dates — see the experience certificate format.
Pay and jobs
UAE doctor pay by grade and specialty is in doctor salary in the UAE. For the job search, see how to get a doctor job in Dubai, and join the doctor talent pool so UAE employers can find you.
Frequently asked questions
How many years of experience do I need for a DHA GP licence?
Usually two years of clinical experience after internship, recent and properly documented.
Is FCPS accepted by DHA for specialist title?
FCPS is accepted in a number of specialties, subject to DHA's current list and experience after the fellowship.
Can I get a DHA licence without a job offer?
You can pass the exam and hold an eligibility letter without a job. The licence itself is activated only when a Dubai employer sponsors you.
Can I transfer my DHA licence to Abu Dhabi?
Not directly. DOH requires its own file, though DataFlow work can be partly reused — see licence transfer.
How much does a DHA licence cost a doctor in total?
Roughly USD 760–1,020 in official fees, before attestation and courier costs, with part of it often paid by the employer.
Practice banks for this exam
Chapter-wise MCQs with written reasoning on every question, and timed mocks at the real pass mark.