Professional Directory Guide
How to Verify a Doctor’s License in Dubai
Open the Dubai Medical Registry on DHA's Sheryan site (services.dha.gov.ae/sheryan), choose Professionals and search by the doctor's name or DHA unique ID; you do not need to log in. Each result shows the title, such as Specialist Internal Medicine, the licence type and, for licensed professionals, the facility. A licence type of Registered Only (REG) with no facility means the person is registered with DHA but does not hold a licence to practise at a Dubai facility.
Go straight to the Dubai Medical Registry search on Sheryan.
99,520
Total professionals
24,186
Physicians
5,505
Facilities
46
Specialties
Why Verify Before Your Appointment
Dubai's register listed 99,520 healthcare professionals linked to 5,505 facilities on 3 April 2026, and about 30% of those records were Registered Only, with no licence at a Dubai facility. Checking a doctor takes a minute: DHA's public registry is free and needs no login.
Verification protects you from unlicensed practitioners, confirms the doctor's specialty matches your needs, and ensures they are actively affiliated with the facility you plan to visit.
Step-by-Step: Using DHA Sheryan
Open the Dubai Medical Registry
Go to services.dha.gov.ae/sheryan and open the Medical Registry (the full address is in the link below). It is free and needs no login.
Choose Professionals and search
On the Professionals tab, type the doctor's name or DHA unique ID into Find a Professional. Use the English spelling shown on the clinic's website.
Narrow the results if needed
Filters include License Type, Category, Speciality, Facility, Area, Language, Nationality and Gender.
Read the result
Check the title (which starts with the grade, such as Specialist, Consultant or General Practitioner), the licence type and the facility. Full-time License (FTL), Part-time License (PTL) and Trainee License (TRL) are licences; Registered Only (REG) is not.
Cross-reference with the facility
Confirm the doctor is listed at the facility where you plan to see them. If there's a mismatch, contact the facility directly.
Open the Dubai Medical Registry on Sheryan.
Using the Zavis Professional Directory
The Zavis Professional Directory provides an alternative interface to browse the 99,520 records in its 3 April 2026 snapshot of the register. You can filter by specialty, category, facility, and area. Each listing shows the professional's name, grade, licence type, and facility. Check Sheryan for the current record.
Red Flags to Watch For
Be cautious if:
- The doctor does not appear in the Dubai Medical Registry at all
- Their licence type is Registered Only (REG), or no facility is named
- Their listed specialty doesn't match what they claim to practice
- They are not affiliated with the facility where you found them
- They refuse to provide their license number when asked
If you encounter any of these issues, report them to Dubai's health regulator through its complaints line or website.
Verification for Other Emirates
DHA Sheryan only covers Dubai. For other emirates, use the respective portals:
- Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi's health regulator (doh.gov.ae)
- Sharjah, Ajman, RAK, UAQ, Fujairah: the federal health regulator (mohap.gov.ae)
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I verify a doctor's license in Dubai?
Open the Dubai Medical Registry on Sheryan (services.dha.gov.ae/sheryan), choose Professionals and type the doctor's name or DHA unique ID into the search. The result shows their title (which starts with the grade, such as Specialist, Consultant or General Practitioner), licence type and facility. You can also use the Zavis Professional Directory, which holds a snapshot of the same register taken on 3 April 2026.
Is the DHA Sheryan portal free to use?
Yes. The Dubai Medical Registry on Sheryan is public: you can search professionals and facilities without an account or a fee. It covers professionals registered or licensed in Dubai only.
What should I check when verifying a doctor?
Check that (1) the licence type is Full-time License (FTL), Part-time License (PTL) or Trainee License (TRL), and not Registered Only (REG), (2) a facility is named and it is the one you plan to visit, (3) the specialty matches what the doctor offers, and (4) the title (Specialist, Consultant or General Practitioner) matches how they describe themselves. If anything does not match, ask the facility or contact DHA.
Can I verify doctors from Abu Dhabi or other emirates?
DHA Sheryan only covers Dubai. For Abu Dhabi, use the Abu Dhabi health regulator's portal (doh.gov.ae). For other emirates, check the federal health regulator's portal (mohap.gov.ae). Each health authority maintains its own registry of licensed professionals.
How often is the Dubai professional register updated?
DHA does not publish an update schedule for the Dubai Medical Registry, so treat the Sheryan search as the current record. The Zavis Professional Directory holds 99,520 records from a snapshot of that register taken on 3 April 2026, so check Sheryan for the current status of any licence.
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.
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 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.