DOH Licence for Dentists in Abu Dhabi 2026: General and Specialist Dentist Requirements, the Pearson VUE Dental Exam, DataFlow, Fees in AED and INR, Timeline and Pay
How dentists get a Department of Health Abu Dhabi licence in 2026: general, specialist and consultant dentist eligibility, recognised postgraduate qualifications, the DOH DataFlow package, the Pearson VUE dental exam and pass mark, fees in AED, INR, PKR and EGP, the timeline and dentist pay in Abu Dhabi.
Abu Dhabi's dental market is quieter than Dubai's but steadier: hospital dental departments, large clinic groups and family practices in the capital and Al Ain. Every dentist needs a licence from the Department of Health Abu Dhabi (DOH), formerly HAAD. The route resembles Dubai's with two differences: the exam is delivered by Pearson VUE, and DOH uses its own DataFlow package.
Which title will you get?
| Title | Typical requirement | Exam |
|---|---|---|
| General Dentist | Recognised BDS or DDS (usually five years), completed internship, about 2 years of clinical experience after internship | DOH general dentistry exam |
| Specialist Dentist | Recognised postgraduate qualification (MDS, MSc, board or fellowship) in the specialty plus post-qualification experience | Specialty exam, unless exempt |
| Consultant Dentist | Recognised higher qualification and substantial specialist experience | Often exempt, with possible interview |
The UAE's unified qualification framework classifies your postgraduate degree into a tier, which decides your title and the experience you need. Check your qualification in the specialist dentist guide and exam exemptions, and run the free eligibility check.
Documents you need
- BDS/DDS certificate and transcripts, internship completion certificate.
- Postgraduate certificates for specialist or consultant titles.
- Current registration with your home dental council.
- Experience certificates with exact dates, title and HR contacts (format guide).
- Good Standing Certificate issued within six months (guide).
- Passport, photograph and a valid BLS certificate.
The DOH process, step by step
- DOH account through the Abu Dhabi government portal, choosing Dentistry and your title. An employer's HR can also open the file through the facility system.
- DataFlow verification of the DOH package, usually 4–8 weeks (DataFlow guide).
- Assessment and eligibility. DOH confirms your title and whether you sit the exam.
- The DOH dental exam at Pearson VUE, or an interview where required.
- Licence issuance and facility linking. The licence becomes active when an Abu Dhabi facility employs you.
Allow 3–5 months with clean documents. Internship certificates without exact dates and private-practice experience letters without a registered letterhead are the usual causes of delay.
The DOH dental exam
- Format: computer-based single-best-answer MCQs, usually around 100–150 items with clinical photographs and radiographs.
- Pass mark: about 60%.
- Delivery: Pearson VUE centres in the UAE and abroad. A Prometric booking will not work for DOH.
- Blueprint: restorative and endodontics, prosthodontics, periodontics, oral surgery and oral medicine, paediatric dentistry and orthodontics, oral radiology, infection control and ethics.
Prepare with the DOH exam for dentists page, the General Dentist question bank and the dentist sample questions with answers. Exam windows are on the DOH exam dates page.
DOH licence fees for dentists (2026)
| Item | USD | AED | INR | PKR | EGP | Who usually pays |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DataFlow verification (DOH package) | USD 240–340 | AED 880–1,250 | INR 21,000–30,000 | PKR 67,000–95,000 | EGP 12,000–16,500 | Candidate |
| DOH dental exam (Pearson VUE) | USD 220–280 | AED 810–1,030 | INR 19,500–24,500 | PKR 61,500–78,500 | EGP 11,000–13,500 | Candidate |
| 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.
A general dentist usually pays about USD 730–1,030 in official fees before attestation and courier costs. All DOH fees are in DOH exam fees 2026, and the licence fee calculator totals them.
Dentist salary in Abu Dhabi
| Title | Monthly (AED) | USD | INR | PKR | EGP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Dentist (basic salary) | AED 12,000–25,000 | USD 3,270–6,810 | INR 287,500–599,000 | PKR 915,000–1,906,000 | EGP 160,000–333,500 |
Salaries are approximate 2026 monthly, tax-free ranges for a mid-experience (3–5 year) hire, blended from published pay scales, recruiter ranges and offers our placement team has seen. Home-currency figures use fixed rates (USD 1 = AED 3.67, SAR 3.75, QAR 3.64, INR 88, PKR 280, PHP 57). Always go by the offer letter.
Private clinics commonly add a percentage of billing above a monthly target, so total earnings can be well above the basic. Hospital dental departments pay a higher fixed salary. Compare countries in dentist salary in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar.
DOH or DHA?
The licence follows the clinic, not your preference. A DHA licence does not cover Abu Dhabi, and a DOH licence does not cover Dubai. If you have no offer, choose the emirate where you are most likely to be hired; Dubai has more dental vacancies, Abu Dhabi has less competition. The Dubai route is in the DHA licence for dentists, and moving between authorities is explained in licence transfer.
Next steps
Run the eligibility check, read how to get a dentist job in the UAE, and join the dentist talent pool so Abu Dhabi clinics can see your profile. The DOH authority page is kept current.
Frequently asked questions
Is the DOH dental exam conducted by Prometric?
No. DOH exams are delivered by Pearson VUE. DHA, MOHAP and most other Gulf regulators use Prometric.
How many years of experience does a general dentist need for DOH?
Usually about two years of clinical experience after internship, with exact dates on every certificate.
Can I use my DHA dental licence in Abu Dhabi?
Not directly. You need a DOH licence, though your DataFlow report can shorten the process.
What is the DOH dental exam pass mark?
About 60%, with the result shown after the exam.
How long does a DOH dental licence take?
About 3–5 months with complete documents, most of it DataFlow.
Practice banks for this exam
Chapter-wise MCQs with written reasoning on every question, and timed mocks at the real pass mark.