If you’re planning to work as a physician in Dubai, obtaining a doctor license in Dubai is the essential legal step that lets you practice in hospitals, clinics, and other health facilities across the emirate. This guide walks you through the full process for 2025 — eligibility, document checklist, primary-source verification, exams, fees, typical timelines, and practical tips to speed up your application. 

Quick overview (what you’ll do) 

1. Check eligibility using DHA’s Self-Assessment (Sheryan).  

2. Complete primary source verification (DataFlow).  

3. Apply for DHA eligibility on Sheryan and submit required documents.  

4. If required, book and pass the DHA/Prometric exam (CBT).  

5. Submit final licensing application (job offer, Emirates ID, fees) and receive your license. 

Who issues the doctor license in Dubai? 

The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) is the regulatory body responsible for licensing healthcare professionals in Dubai. You’ll use the DHA Sheryan portal to apply and follow DHA’s Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR). 

Step 1 — Confirm you meet minimum eligibility 

Before starting lengthy verification, use DHA’s Self-Assessment Tool on Sheryan to check whether your education, internship, clinical experience and prior licensure meet the unified PQR. The tool gives an instant indication of eligibility and saves time if you’re not qualifying. 

Common minimums for doctors (typical): 

• Recognized medical degree (MBBS/MD or equivalent). 

• Completed internship/house-job. 

• Minimum clinical experience (varies by grade/specialty — often 2+ years for many grades). 

• Valid professional license from your current or recent practicing country (if applicable). 

Step 2 — Primary Source Verification (DataFlow) 

DHA requires primary source verification (PSV) of qualifications, registrations and experience. DataFlow Group commonly performs this verification for DHA applications. You submit scanned documents and DataFlow confirms them with issuing institutions — this is often the longest part (can take several weeks). 

Tips for DataFlow to avoid delays: 

• Ensure all documents are clear, signed where required, and translated into English or Arabic by a certified translator if necessary. 

• Request Good Standing Certificates (GSC) early — some issuing bodies take time to provide them. 

• Provide contact details for issuing institutions (emails) so DataFlow can reach them quickly. 

Step 3 — Create Sheryan account & submit eligibility application 

• Create an account on the DHA Sheryan portal and fill in your profile (profession = physician / specialty).  

• Upload your verified DataFlow report (once ready), educational certificates, experience letters, internship, GSC, passport, photo, CV, and any other PQR-specified documents.  

• Pay application fees (the portal lists current fees). DHA will assess eligibility and return a decision: Eligible, Conditionally Eligible, or Not Eligible. 

What conditional eligibility means: you may be asked for extra documents, to complete supervised practice, or to pass additional assessments (oral/viva) depending on specialty and grade. 

Step 4 — Take the DHA (Prometric) exam if required 

Many physician applicants must pass the DHA computer-based test (CBT) administered by Prometric. The format and pass mark vary by specialty but typically involve multiple-choice questions (100–150 MCQs) and a 60–70% passing threshold. Results are released within days to a couple of weeks. 

Practical exam tips: 

• Use DHA PQR and specialty syllabus to guide study. 

• Practice Prometric-style MCQs and time yourself. 

• Know retake rules (often limited attempts per year) and fees. 

Step 5 — Apply for the professional license (activation) 

Once you have eligibility and any required exam results: 

• Upload your employment offer letter from a DHA-approved employer (for license activation). 

• Provide Emirates ID/residency details and proof of health insurance (as requested). 

• Pay final licensing and activation fees. 

• DHA issues the license and registers you in the Dubai Medical Registry — your license will appear in your Sheryan profile and you can legally start work once activated. 

Documents checklist (commonly required) 

Exact docs depend on specialty and your background — always confirm on Sheryan and PQR. Typical items include:  

• Recent passport-size photograph. 

• Clear copy of passport (valid). 

• Updated CV / resume. 

• Medical degree certificate(s) and transcript(s). 

• Internship completion certificate. 

• Postgraduate certificates (if applicable). 

• Experience letters / employment certificates (stamped). 

• Current valid professional license(s) from prior countries. 

• Good Standing Certificate(s) (issued within last 6 months). 

• Logbook for surgical specialties (last two years). 

• DataFlow primary source verification report. 

• CBT exam result (if required). 

• Offer letter from Dubai employer (for license activation). 

Fees & timeline (typical estimates for 2025) 

Fees and exact timelines change, so always confirm on Sheryan and Prometric. Typical cost elements: DataFlow verification fees, Prometric exam fee, DHA application fee, license activation fee, and translation/notarization costs. Estimates (indicative range): 

• DataFlow PSV: varies by country/documents (expect several hundred USD).  

• Prometric (DHA) exam: roughly USD 220–280 per exam (varies by test).  

• DHA licensing & activation fees: doctors commonly see totals in the range of AED 1,000–1,500 (varies by grade/spec).  

Timeline example: 

• DataFlow verification: 2–8+ weeks (depends on issuing bodies).  

• DHA eligibility assessment: 1–4 weeks after DataFlow clear.  

• Prometric scheduling and result: bookable within weeks; result in days.  

• Final license activation: a few days after employer documents & fees submitted.  

Common hurdles and how to avoid them 

• Slow Good Standing Certificates: Request GSCs early and confirm processing times. 

• Unverified or poor-quality documents: Use clear scans, get certified translations where needed. 

• Unfamiliar exam format: Practice Prometric-style MCQs and review DHA PQR syllabus. 

• Employer paperwork delays: Send your employer a checklist so they submit the correct, signed offer and corporate documents promptly. 

Special cases: foreign graduates, specialists, and re-licensing 

• Foreign graduates: PQR will identify if additional supervised practice, assessments, or exams are required. Many foreign medical degrees are accepted if verified by DataFlow.  

• Specialists: May need logbooks, specialist certificates, and sometimes peer review or interviews/oral assessments. Surgical specialties often require recent logbook entries.  

• Doctors with previous UAE/Dubai licenses: Provide prior DHA license details — this can speed verification but you still need a current Good Standing certificate and updated DataFlow as required. 

After you get the license — what changes 

• Your DHA license must be renewed annually (fees apply). Keep professional development and any required CPD up to date. 

• Working legally requires employer sponsorship and activation of the license under that employer; self-employment or private practice may require additional approvals/permits. Check the DHA guidance for practice type. 

Practical checklist before you start the process 

1. Run DHA Self-Assessment (Sheryan).  

2. Gather and scan certificates, transcripts, experience letters, internship, and current license. 

3. Request Good Standing Certificates from licensing bodies (start early). 

4. Prepare certified translations for non-English documents. 

5. Register with DataFlow and submit documents for PSV.  

6. Create Sheryan account and monitor progress. 

7. Book Prometric exam only after DataFlow and Sheryan advise it’s required. 

Helpful resources (start here) 

• DHA Sheryan portal / Get Registered — official service page and PQR references.  

• DataFlow Group (DHA verification partner) — for PSV guidance and tracking.  

• Prometric (DHA exam scheduling info) — exam dates, centers and rules. 

FAQ (short) 

Final tips 

• Start DataFlow and request Good Standing Certificates early — they are the most common bottlenecks.  

• Keep a clean, dated folder of all original documents and certified translations. 

• Use official DHA resources for the latest PQR and fee details; regulations change, so always confirm on Sheryan before acting. 

Obtaining a doctor license in Dubai requires careful preparation, patience during credential verification, and focused exam preparation (if needed). Follow the steps above, use the DHA Sheryan portal as your primary source, and keep good communication with your prospective employer — that combination will give you the smoothest path to a Dubai medical license in 2025.