Professional Directory Guide
How Medical Licensing Works in Dubai
To get a DHA licence, you open a Sheryan account, check your eligibility with the free Self-Assessment Tool, have DataFlow verify your documents (15 working days from payment for a new report) and pass the licensing exam unless you are exempt. You then apply to Get Registered, which takes 5 working days on average and lets you look for a job, and the Dubai facility that hires you activates your licence, instantly or within 1 working day.
For the steps, documents and fees that apply to your profession, use our free Dubai licence checklist.
99,520
Total professionals
24,186
Physicians
5,505
Facilities
46
Specialties
Overview of Medical Licensing in Dubai
Dubai's health regulator is responsible for licensing all healthcare professionals and facilities in the Emirate of Dubai. Every physician, dentist, nurse, pharmacist, and allied health worker must obtain a valid licence before practising. On 3 April 2026 the register listed 99,520 professionals linked to 5,505 facilities. Of those records, 69,427 held a full-time licence and 30,000 were Registered Only: registered with DHA, with no licence at a Dubai facility.
Who Needs a Dubai Medical License?
Every healthcare professional working in Dubai needs a licence. This includes:
24,186 on the register
7,713 on the register
34,733 on the register
32,888 on the register
The Licensing Process
Licensing runs through Sheryan, DHA's licensing system, under the unified PQR. These are the steps, with the times and fees DHA publishes on each Sheryan service page:
Sheryan account
Register through DHA's single sign-on with a DHA username or UAE PASS. The account gives you the DHA ID that DataFlow and Prometric ask for.
Eligibility check
Answer the free Self-Assessment Tool for the exact title you want; the result is instant. If it says you are not eligible and you disagree, Review Registration Eligibility costs AED 200 plus Knowledge and Innovation fees and takes 10 working days.
Primary Source Verification (PSV)
DataFlow Group verifies each qualification, licence and experience certificate directly with the issuing institution. A new report takes 15 working days from payment; transferring a report done for another UAE authority costs AED 300 and takes 5 working days.
Licensing exam, unless exempt
A computer-based test at Prometric or an oral assessment, depending on the title. All exams are in English. You get three attempts per title across the UAE health authorities, plus one final attempt with a different authority (PQR 1.5.4, 1.5.5). UAE nationals, holders of a valid licence from another UAE authority and holders of a qualification on the PQR's equivalency list are exempt.
Get Registered
Apply once DataFlow and any exam are done: AED 200 plus Knowledge and Innovation fees, about 5 working days on average. Registration is valid for one year and lets you look for a job, but you cannot practise yet. The register shows you as Registered Only (REG).
Licence activation by an employer
A Dubai facility that hires you applies to activate your licence and you approve it in Sheryan. Processing is instant, or 1 working day if your personal records changed. For physicians and dentists the licence fee is AED 3,000 for 1 year, AED 5,000 for 2 years or AED 7,500 for 3 years.
For a personal step-by-step plan, use our free Dubai licence checklist: it covers Sheryan, DataFlow verification and the exam, with the fees and pass scores the regulator publishes.
License Types: FTL and REG
The Dubai Medical Registry shows four licence types: Full-time License (FTL), Part-time License (PTL), Trainee License (TRL) and Registered Only (REG). REG means the professional has completed registration but no Dubai facility has activated a licence for them, so they cannot practise yet. A part-time licence needs approval from the professional's full-time facility, and Sheryan's FAQ says visiting professionals must apply for a full-time licence.
Regulatory Scope: Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the Northern Emirates
Four UAE health authorities issue professional licences and share the unified PQR: DHA in Dubai, the Department of Health in Abu Dhabi (DOH), the federal Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) and the Sharjah Health Authority (SHA). A licence from one does not let you practise under another. A valid licence from one authority does count as licence recognition with the others: you can get the same title without resitting the exam, provided you have not used up your attempts for it, and you still provide a Good Standing Certificate and a full PSV report (PQR 3.1 to 3.5).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is medical licensing in Dubai?
Every physician, dentist, nurse, pharmacist and allied health professional needs a DHA licence to practise in Dubai. Licences are issued through Sheryan, DHA's licensing system, under the unified UAE Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR). On 3 April 2026 the register listed 99,520 professionals, of whom 69,427 held a full-time licence (FTL) and 30,000 were Registered Only (REG), meaning not yet licensed at a Dubai facility.
How long does it take to get a Dubai medical license?
DHA publishes a time for each step rather than one total. The Self-Assessment Tool gives an instant result (a Review Registration Eligibility request, if you need one, takes 10 working days), a new DataFlow verification report takes 15 working days from payment, Get Registered takes 5 working days on average, and licence activation by your employer is instant or takes 1 working day. The exam, if you need it, and finding a job add time that DHA does not publish.
What is the difference between UAE medical licenses?
Dubai (DHA), Abu Dhabi (DOH), the federal Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) and the Sharjah Health Authority (SHA) each issue their own licences. All four apply the same unified PQR, and a valid licence from one counts as licence recognition with another: you can get the same title without resitting the exam, provided you have not used up your exam attempts for it (PQR 3.1, 3.2, 3.5).
Can a doctor with a Dubai license practice in Abu Dhabi?
Only with an Abu Dhabi (DOH) licence as well, because a DHA licence covers Dubai. Under the PQR a valid DHA licence counts as licence recognition, so DOH can grant the same title without the exam, provided you have not used up your exam attempts for it and you present a Good Standing Certificate and a full PSV report (PQR 3.1 to 3.5).
How do I check if a doctor is licensed in Dubai?
Search the Dubai Medical Registry on Sheryan (services.dha.gov.ae/sheryan) by name or DHA unique ID. A licence type of Full-time License (FTL), Part-time License (PTL) or Trainee License (TRL) with a named facility shows a Dubai licence; Registered Only (REG) means no Dubai facility currently holds a licence for that person. The Zavis Professional Directory shows the same fields from its 3 April 2026 snapshot.
Related Guides
Specialist vs Consultant in Dubai: What’s the Difference?
Specialist and Consultant are licence titles under the unified UAE qualification rules (PQR). The experience each title needs, by qualification tier, and how to check a doctor's title on Dubai's register.
FTL vs REG License: What’s the Difference?
On Dubai's medical register, FTL means Full-time License and REG means Registered Only. What each code means for doctors and patients, with counts from the register.
How to Verify a Doctor’s License in Dubai
How to check a doctor's licence in Dubai on the Dubai Medical Registry on Sheryan: what to search, what the title and licence type show, and the signs that someone cannot practise.
How to Choose the Right Medical Specialist in Dubai
A practical guide to choosing the right medical specialist in Dubai. Learn how to evaluate credentials, compare specialists vs consultants, and find the best doctor for your condition.
Data Source
99,520 healthcare professionals across 5,505 facilities. Register snapshot taken 3 April 2026. Source: Dubai's public Sheryan medical register.
Source: Dubai's public Sheryan medical professional register. This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Verify professional credentials directly with Dubai's health regulator before making healthcare decisions.