Professional Directory Guide
FTL vs REG License: What’s the Difference?
On Dubai's medical register, FTL means Full-time License and REG means Registered Only: those are the labels the registry's own licence-type filter uses, alongside Part-time License (PTL) and Trainee License (TRL). A REG professional has completed DHA registration but holds no licence at a Dubai facility, and Sheryan's FAQ says a registration must be activated into a licence by a hiring facility before the professional can practise. In Zavis's snapshot of the register taken on 3 April 2026, 69,427 records were FTL and 30,000 were REG, and none of the REG records named a facility.
99,520
Total professionals
24,186
Physicians
5,505
Facilities
46
Specialties
What the Codes Mean on the Register
Every professional on the Dubai Medical Registry carries a licence-type code. The registry's own filter gives each code a label:
- FTL: Full-time License
- PTL: Part-time License
- TRL: Trainee License
- REG: Registered Only
The codes describe licence status. FTL, PTL and TRL are licences tied to a named Dubai facility. REG means the professional is registered with DHA but holds no licence at a Dubai facility. In Zavis's 3 April 2026 snapshot of the register, 69,427 records were FTL, 30,000 were REG, 51 were PTL and 41 were TRL. Every FTL, PTL and TRL record named a facility; none of the REG records did.
FTL: Full-time License
A full-time licence is the licence to practise at a Dubai facility. The facility applies for it through Sheryan's Activate Professional License service once the professional is registered, and the professional approves the request in their own Sheryan account.
FTL facts (Sheryan service pages and FAQ)
- Activated by the hiring facility, which must hold an active facility licence; the professional needs valid malpractice insurance, and non-UAE nationals a valid labour card
- The professional may also practise in the branches of their full-time licence facility
- The full-time facility can allow the professional to apply for part-time licences elsewhere
- Visiting professionals must apply for a full-time licence to practise clinically
- The facility renews it from 90 days before expiry; a full-time licence expired for more than 6 months cannot be renewed
REG: Registered Only
REG means the professional has passed DHA's registration step (eligibility, DataFlow verification and any exam) and is listed on the register, but no Dubai facility currently holds a licence for them. Sheryan's FAQ calls an active registration “like an eligibility proof to start searching for a job in Dubai” and says it must be activated into a licence by a hiring facility first.
REG facts (Sheryan service pages and FAQ)
- Granted through the Get Registered service: AED 200 plus Knowledge and Innovation fees, about 5 working days on average
- Valid for one year; renewable in the 3 months before it expires (AED 200)
- No facility is named on the register
- The professional cannot practise in Dubai until a facility activates a licence
Part-time and Visiting Doctors
Part-time work has its own licence type, the Part-time License (PTL). Sheryan's FAQ says the full-time facility has to approve the option that lets the professional apply for part-time licences, and sets a maximum number of part-time permissions. Visiting professionals are covered by the same FAQ: they must apply for a full-time licence to practise clinically. Neither case is what REG describes.
What This Means for Patients
If a doctor shows as REG with no facility, they do not currently hold a licence to practise at a Dubai facility. A doctor you are booking should show FTL, PTL or TRL with the facility you are visiting.
The licence type says nothing about clinical skill. For that, look at the doctor's title (Specialist or Consultant), their specialty and their experience with your condition.
Verify License Type
You can check any professional's licence type on the Dubai Medical Registry on Sheryan, or in Zavis's snapshot on the Zavis Professional Directory. Each listing shows the licence type alongside the name, title and facility.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does FTL mean in Dubai medical licensing?
FTL is the Dubai Medical Registry's code for a Full-time License, the label its licence-type filter uses. It is an active licence to practise at a named Dubai facility, which applies for it and activates it through Sheryan. Sheryan's FAQ says a professional may also practise in the branches of their full-time licence facility.
What does REG mean in Dubai medical licensing?
REG is the registry's code for Registered Only. The professional has completed DHA registration, which Sheryan's FAQ describes as eligibility proof to start looking for a job in Dubai, but no Dubai facility currently holds a licence for them. They cannot practise in Dubai until a hiring facility does.
Is an FTL doctor better than a REG doctor?
Neither code measures clinical skill. Both groups have met the same registration requirements for their title. The difference is whether a Dubai facility currently holds a licence for the professional: an FTL doctor can see patients at the named facility, and a REG doctor cannot practise in Dubai until a facility activates a licence.
Can a REG doctor treat patients in Dubai?
Not until a facility activates their licence. Sheryan's FAQ says a registration must be activated into a licence by a hiring facility before the professional can practise. Once that happens, the register shows a licence type such as FTL and names the facility.
Is REG a part-time or visiting doctor licence?
No. Part-time work has its own licence type, the Part-time License (PTL), which the professional's full-time facility has to allow, and Sheryan's FAQ says visiting professionals must apply for a full-time licence to practise clinically. REG means registered only, with no licence at a Dubai facility.
How many FTL vs REG professionals are in Dubai?
In Zavis's snapshot of the register taken on 3 April 2026, 69,427 records were FTL, 30,000 were REG, 51 were PTL and 41 were TRL. Among physicians the split was 15,654 FTL and 8,488 REG. None of the REG records named a facility.
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.
How Medical Licensing Works in Dubai
How DHA licensing works for doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals: Sheryan, DataFlow verification, the licensing exam, registration and licence activation, with the times and fees DHA publishes.
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.