DOH Abu Dhabi Licensing Exam (Formerly HAAD): Requirements, Exam Format & Fees 2026
Everything about the Department of Health Abu Dhabi licence — who needs the DOH (ex-HAAD) exam, experience requirements by profession, Pearson VUE exam format, pass marks, fees, timelines and how it compares with DHA and MOHAP.
Still searching for the “HAAD exam”? You are not alone — the Health Authority Abu Dhabi was renamed the Department of Health (DOH) in 2018, but the old name refuses to die. Whatever you call it, the DOH licence is the gateway to Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and the Western Region — home to Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, SEHA and a fast-growing private sector.
Who needs a DOH licence?
Every clinician practising in the emirate of Abu Dhabi: physicians, dentists, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, allied health professionals and traditional-medicine practitioners. A DHA or MOHAP licence does not cover Abu Dhabi, although a current UAE licence with experience can shorten the DOH process. Our comparison of DHA vs MOHAP vs DOH explains when each one makes sense.
Eligibility requirements
Requirements follow the UAE Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR), so they largely match DHA and MOHAP:
- General Practitioner: MBBS plus internship and typically 2 years’ post-registration experience.
- Specialist: recognised postgraduate qualification (MD, MS, MRCP, FRCS, board certification, etc.) plus 3 years’ experience after the qualification.
- Consultant: specialist criteria plus typically 3–5 further years and, for many boards, a Tier 1 qualification.
- Registered Nurse: BSc Nursing (or diploma from listed countries) plus 2 years’ experience; the experience must be recent.
- Pharmacist: BPharm/PharmD plus 2 years’ experience.
- Allied health: bachelor’s or diploma in the discipline plus 2 years’ experience; some titles require a licence in the home country.
A current home-country licence and a Good Standing Certificate are mandatory for all clinical titles. See our Good Standing guide.
The DOH exam format
Unlike DHA and MOHAP, DOH delivers most of its computer-based assessments through Pearson VUE rather than Prometric. The content, however, is the same style of clinical MCQ that every GCC authority uses, so Prometric-pattern practice transfers directly.
- Questions: 100–150 single-best-answer MCQs depending on the title.
- Duration: 2–3 hours.
- Pass mark: approximately 60%; the exact scaled cut-off is not published.
- Content: clinical scenarios weighted towards common presentations, patient safety, ethics and UAE-relevant public-health topics.
Some titles are exempt from the exam if you hold a recognised Tier 1 qualification (e.g. US board certification, UK CCT, Australian fellowship). Check the PQR for your exact profession.
Step-by-step process
- DataFlow PSV — verification of degree, licence and experience. Start here; it is the longest step (guide).
- Application on the DOH TAMM/Mueen portal — upload documents, pay the application fee.
- Exam eligibility — once documents pass review, you receive authorisation to schedule with Pearson VUE.
- Sit and pass the exam.
- Job offer and licence activation — the facility submits your file for the licence. Only then does the licence become active.
Realistic end-to-end timeline: 3–5 months, with DataFlow taking 4–8 weeks of that.
Fees (approximate, 2026)
- Application: USD 30–60
- Exam: USD 280–350
- Licence activation: USD 270–820 depending on title
- DataFlow: USD 300–650
Our GCC fee guide compares these against every other authority.
DOH vs DHA: which should you choose?
| Factor | DOH (Abu Dhabi) | DHA (Dubai) |
|---|---|---|
| Exam delivery | Pearson VUE | Prometric |
| Major employers | SEHA, Cleveland Clinic AD, SSMC, NMC, Mediclinic | Dubai Health, Mediclinic, Aster, American Hospital |
| Cost of living | Lower rent than Dubai | Higher |
| Competition | Moderate | Highest in the GCC |
| Licence transfer | Recognised for DHA/MOHAP with experience | Recognised for DOH/MOHAP with experience |
If your target hospital is in Abu Dhabi, go DOH directly — there is no advantage in “starting with DHA”. If you are flexible, apply where your CV matches the job market; our eligibility check tells you which authorities your qualifications satisfy.
How to prepare
Because the DOH exam uses the same GCC clinical blueprint, candidates prepare with Prometric-style question banks for their title — General Practice, Registered Nurse, Pharmacist and the specialist banks. Our profession pages such as DOH exam for nurses and DOH exam for doctors map the blueprint to a study plan.
Frequently asked questions
Is the HAAD exam the same as the DOH exam?
Yes. HAAD was renamed the Department of Health Abu Dhabi in 2018. The licence, exam and portal are all now branded DOH.
Is the DOH exam conducted by Prometric?
Most DOH assessments are delivered by Pearson VUE, not Prometric. The MCQ format and clinical content are equivalent, so Prometric-style practice remains the right preparation.
Can I work in Dubai with a DOH licence?
Not directly. You need a DHA licence for Dubai, but a DOH licence with UAE experience simplifies the DHA transfer process.
How long is the DOH licence valid?
Licences are typically issued for one to two years and renewed with continuing-education (CME/CPD) credits.