SHA Sharjah Health Authority License 2026: Who Needs It, Exam, Fees and Timeline
The Sharjah Health Authority is the UAE's newest regulator. This guide explains when you need an SHA licence instead of MOHAP, the Prometric exam format, indicative fees, the 10 to 16 week timeline, and how a DHA or MOHAP Dataflow transfers.
Until recently, a healthcare professional working in Sharjah applied to MOHAP, the federal Ministry of Health and Prevention, the same as in Ajman, Fujairah or Ras Al Khaimah. The Sharjah Health Authority changed that. SHA now licenses professionals for facilities under its jurisdiction, which means a growing share of Sharjah hospitals and clinics require an SHA licence rather than a MOHAP one.
Because the authority is young, reliable information is scarce and most of what circulates on forums is guesswork. This guide sets out what is known as of September 2026, where SHA borrows from the established UAE process, and the one question that decides everything: which authority governs your employer.
SHA or MOHAP: which licence do you need?
It depends on the facility's registration, not on your preference or your profession. Sharjah facilities are split: some have moved under SHA, others remain registered with MOHAP. If you apply to the wrong authority, the file is a full restart.
Before you open any file, get written confirmation from the employer's HR of which authority their facility is registered with. If you do not have an employer yet, MOHAP remains the safer default for Sharjah and the Northern Emirates because it covers more facilities, and verified Dataflow data can be transferred to SHA later.
The SHA authority page and MOHAP page are kept updated as the jurisdiction list evolves.
Who can apply
SHA uses the standard UAE tiering. For physicians:
| Tier | Minimum experience | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General Practitioner | 2 years post-internship | Entry tier for general practice |
| Specialist | 3 years in specialty after board certification | Same recognised-board lists as the wider UAE |
| Consultant | 5 or more years post-specialty | Sub-specialty depth and leadership evidence expected |
Nurses, pharmacists, dentists and allied health professionals follow the same qualification and experience baselines as MOHAP: a recognised qualification from an institution on the UAE's accepted lists, current home-country registration, two years of relevant experience and a Good Standing Certificate issued within the last six months.
The eligibility check tells you which UAE tier you fit before you commit to Dataflow fees.
The SHA licensing process, step by step
- SHA account and file. Register through the SHA portal, or have a sponsoring Sharjah facility open the file on your behalf. Upload passport, photograph, degree and transcripts, internship or registration certificate, experience letters with exact dates and HR contacts, Good Standing Certificate, home-country licence and BLS or ACLS as applicable.
- Dataflow verification. SHA requires the standard primary source verification report. If you already hold a DHA, DOH or MOHAP Dataflow, the verified documents transfer into an SHA-specific package, which saves several weeks. Request the transfer through Dataflow; do not simply forward the old PDF.
- Evaluation and exam eligibility. SHA reviews the file and issues eligibility for the Prometric assessment. 1 to 2 weeks in our experience.
- Prometric MCQ. 100 to 150 questions over 2 to 3 hours depending on cadre, pass mark 60%, sat at any Prometric centre worldwide. The blueprint follows the UAE pattern for your profession, so the same preparation used for MOHAP or DHA applies. Use the practice exam banks for your title.
- Licence issuance and facility linking. The practice permit is issued after a pass and activated when the SHA-registered facility links you as an employee.
Documents and attestation
SHA follows the three-stage UAE attestation route for foreign documents: home-country Ministry of Foreign Affairs, then the UAE Embassy in the issuing country, then the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Start attestation early; it is frequently the slowest part of the entire process and is outside every authority's control. The documents checklist lists everything by category.
SHA licence fees in 2026 (indicative)
| Item | USD |
|---|---|
| SHA application and evaluation | 60 to 130 |
| Dataflow PSV report (new) | 220 to 320 |
| SHA Prometric exam | 180 to 260 |
| Licence issuance | 190 to 330 |
| Total out of pocket | 470 to 910 |
A Dataflow transfer from another UAE authority is cheaper than a new report. Because SHA is still publishing and revising its fee schedule, treat these as ranges and confirm on the portal at the time of payment.
Timeline
- SHA portal file and uploads: 3 to 7 days
- Dataflow verification: 5 to 9 weeks (shorter with a transfer)
- Evaluation and exam eligibility: 1 to 2 weeks
- Prometric exam: 2 to 4 weeks to book and sit
- Licence issuance and facility linking: 1 to 3 weeks
Total: 10 to 16 weeks, comparable to MOHAP and slightly longer during busy periods as the authority scales its evaluation capacity.
Preparing for the SHA exam by profession
Because the SHA blueprint follows the UAE pattern, the preparation resources built for MOHAP and DHA apply directly. Nurses should work through the SHA exam for nurses guide and the nursing practice questions; general practitioners the SHA exam for doctors guide and the GP practice questions; pharmacists, dentists and allied health professionals their own pages under the Prometric exam guides. Plan for at least four weeks of preparation and three full-length timed mocks, and sit the exam as soon as eligibility is issued rather than letting it lapse.
Two mistakes that restart an SHA file
- Filing with SHA when the facility is MOHAP-registered (or the reverse). Get the facility's registration authority in writing from HR before starting.
- Forwarding a DHA or MOHAP Dataflow PDF instead of requesting an SHA transfer package. SHA needs its own authority-specific report generated from the verified data.
Renewal
SHA licences are valid for one year and renewed through the portal, usually by the employer. CME hours are required under SHA's framework and audited at renewal, so keep your log current from day one. The renewal and CME guide compares requirements across the UAE authorities.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I work in Dubai or Abu Dhabi with an SHA licence?
No. SHA covers Sharjah facilities under its jurisdiction only. Dubai requires DHA and Abu Dhabi requires DOH. Verified Dataflow data transfers, so a second licence is faster than the first.
Does my MOHAP licence still work in Sharjah?
For facilities registered with MOHAP, yes. For facilities that have moved under SHA, you will need an SHA licence. Ask the employer.
Is the SHA Prometric exam different from the MOHAP exam?
The format, length, pass mark and blueprint follow the UAE pattern for each profession, and preparation is interchangeable. The Prometric exam guides list the syllabus per profession and authority.
How long does SHA licensing take?
10 to 16 weeks typically, driven mostly by Dataflow. A Dataflow transfer from another UAE authority can bring it under 10 weeks.
I have a job offer from a Sharjah hospital. Who opens the file?
Either you or the facility's HR. Facilities that are SHA-registered usually prefer to open the file themselves so it is linked from the start. Confirm with HR which approach they use.
Practice banks for this exam
Chapter-wise MCQs with written reasoning on every question, and timed mocks at the real pass mark.