How can a foreign doctor practice in the Emirates?

Licences issued by the DHA

If you were a doctor in your country of origin and wish to practice in the Emirates, be aware that you will need to take exams administered by the DHA. The DHA issues licenses to doctors under the following qualifications:

The process can take from two (2) months to an entire year.

General practitioner
Specialist
Consultant

The 4-step procedure

Here are the main steps of the procedure:

This first step is completed online, and the following documents must be provided:

  • Educational certificates with transcripts recognized by the DHA Professional Qualifications Requirements (PQR). Educational certificates include diplomas, bachelor's degrees, postgraduate diplomas, etc.;
  • Recent professional experience based on the DHA PQR criteria;
  • A logbook covering the last two years for surgical specialists only. It must be stamped and signed by the medical director or an authorized person;
  • A valid professional license or registration issued by the medical regulatory authority in the country of origin;
  • A valid certificate of good conduct issued no more than six months ago. This is mandatory for physicians, nurses, and dentists;
  • A medical fitness test if the applicant is 65 years of age or older. It must be conducted only by DHA medical fitness centers.

After submitting and validating all documents (which usually takes two weeks), another process called primary source verification (PSV) must take place. Primary source verification involves verifying the applicant’s documents directly with the original or primary source through an international specialized company called “Dataflow”.

This verification covers educational certificates, experience, health license, and certificate of good conduct.

The candidate must then select the date of their assessment (oral or Prometric exam - CBT) and provide the documents required for the exam.

Only once the examination has been completed can the candidate apply for a DHA license to practice medicine in Dubai.

Note: DHA licenses are issued only to healthcare professionals who have a job offer from a healthcare facility recognized by DHA. In other words, it is impossible to obtain the license without finding a job beforehand.