Question 1

How are the best doctors in Dubai ranked?

Accepted Answer

Doctors are ranked by institutional capacity — professionals practicing at larger DHA-registered facilities are ranked higher. Larger facilities undergo more rigorous peer review, quality assurance, and credentialing processes. Only doctors holding a full-time license (FTL) from the Dubai Health Authority are included in the rankings. This methodology avoids subjective reviews and instead relies on verifiable institutional data from the DHA Sheryan Medical Registry.

Question 2

What does DHA licensing mean?

Accepted Answer

The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) is the regulatory body overseeing all healthcare activities in Dubai. Every doctor practicing in Dubai must hold a valid DHA license, issued through the Sheryan system after verifying medical qualifications, experience, and professional standing. A DHA license confirms that a doctor has met the minimum standards required to practice medicine in Dubai. There are two main license types: FTL (Full-Time License) for doctors practicing full-time at a single facility, and REG (Registration) for doctors with part-time or visiting privileges.

Question 3

How do I verify a doctor's credentials?

Accepted Answer

You can verify any doctor's DHA license status through the official Dubai Health Authority website (dha.gov.ae) or the Sheryan portal. Search by doctor name or license number to confirm their license type, specialty, and facility affiliation. The UAE Open Healthcare Directory sources its data directly from the Sheryan Medical Registry and displays license type (FTL or REG) for every listed professional.

Question 4

What is the difference between specialist and consultant?

Accepted Answer

In the UAE healthcare system, a Specialist is a doctor who has completed specialty training (typically a residency) and holds a specialty license from DHA. A Consultant is a more senior title requiring additional years of experience beyond the specialist level — usually 10+ years of post-specialty practice. Consultants are often department heads or senior clinicians. Both Specialists and Consultants hold DHA licenses, but Consultant status reflects greater clinical experience and seniority.

Question 5

How many doctors practice in Dubai?

Accepted Answer

As of 2026-04-03, there are 24,186 licensed physicians and 7,713 licensed dentists practicing in Dubai, according to the DHA Sheryan Medical Registry. This totals 31,899 doctors across 46 specialties at 5,505 healthcare facilities. Dubai has one of the highest doctor-to-population ratios in the Middle East.

Question 6

What are the most common medical specialties in Dubai?

Accepted Answer

The most common medical specialties in Dubai by licensed doctor count are: General Practitioner (6,922), General Dentist (5,102), Obstetrics & Gynecology (1,510), Pediatrics (1,228), Family Medicine (1,100), and Dermatology (1,072). Surgical specialties like Orthopedic Surgery (917) and General Surgery (729) are also well represented.

Best Doctors in Dubai 2026

Physician Specialties

General Practitioner

Obstetrics & Gynecology

Pediatrics

Family Medicine

Dermatology

Anesthesiology

Internal Medicine

Orthopedic Surgery

General Surgery

Ophthalmology

ENT (Otolaryngology)

Plastic & Cosmetic Surgery

Diagnostic Radiology

Emergency Medicine

Cardiology

Radiology

Psychiatry

Urology

Gastroenterology

Neurology

Clinical Pathology

Endocrinology

Neurosurgery

Pulmonology

Critical Care Medicine

Nephrology

Interventional Cardiology

Rheumatology

Medical Oncology

Neonatology

Anatomic Pathology

Vascular Surgery

Pediatric Surgery

Reproductive Medicine & IVF

Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation

Dental Specialties

General Dentist

Orthodontics

Endodontics

Prosthodontics

Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

Pediatric Dentistry

Dental Implantology

Periodontics

Oral Surgery

Restorative Dentistry

Oral Medicine

Best Doctors in Dubai \u2014 FAQ

Ranking Methodology

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