Professional Directory Guide
International Doctors in Dubai: What You Need to Know
A doctor trained outside the UAE needs a Sheryan account, a DataFlow report verifying their documents (15 working days from payment for a new one) and a pass in DHA's licensing exam, unless a qualification on the PQR's equivalency list, such as a Tier 1 specialty certificate from a listed country, exempts them. After registration, which takes 5 working days on average, a Dubai employer must activate the licence before they can practise; for physicians the licence fee is AED 3,000 for 1 year.
Our free Dubai licence checklist lists the steps, documents and exam exemptions for your profession and country of training.
99,520
Total professionals
24,186
Physicians
5,505
Facilities
46
Specialties
A Truly Global Medical Workforce
Dubai's healthcare workforce is one of the most internationally diverse in the world. On 12 October 2026 the nationality filter on Dubai's medical registry listed 166 nationalities, and the PQR grades specialty qualifications from dozens of countries as Tier 1, 2 or 3.
Where Dubai's Doctors Come From
Dubai's medical registry records each professional's nationality. On 12 October 2026 it listed 24,424 physicians, and the largest nationalities among them were India (6,523), Egypt (2,490), Pakistan (2,443), Syria (1,609), and the UK (1,512).
Nationality is not the same as where a doctor trained. Many physicians hold qualifications from more than one country, and the PQR grades each specialty certificate by the country that issued it, which decides how much experience the doctor needs for a Specialist or Consultant title.
How International Qualifications Are Verified
Dubai's health regulator uses a rigorous credentialing process for all international qualifications:
Primary Source Verification (PSV)
Every degree, diploma, licence and experience certificate is verified by DataFlow Group directly with the issuing institution (PQR 1.4). A new report takes 15 working days from payment.
The Licensing Exam
Unless exempt, applicants sit a computer-based test at Prometric or an oral assessment, depending on the title, in English. A Tier 1 specialty certificate from a country on the PQR's list, such as the UK, USA, Canada or Australia, exempts specialists and consultants; GPs can be exempt through exams such as USMLE Step 3, PLAB or the AMC exam (PQR chapter six).
Oral Assessment
Titles without a computer-based test, and applicants DHA asks, take an oral assessment of at least five scenarios, in Dubai or online (PQR 1.5.3.2). For physicians and dentists it costs AED 500, or AED 2,000 for an urgent slot.
Trained abroad and planning to work in Dubai? Our free Dubai licence checklist lists the steps, documents and exam exemptions for your profession and country of training.
Language Diversity
English is the primary language of medical practice in Dubai, and DHA's licensing exams are held only in English, with no translator allowed at the oral exam (PQR 1.5.3.1). Dubai's diverse workforce also means patients can often find specialists who speak their native language: on 12 October 2026 the registry's language filter listed 79 languages.
Common languages spoken by healthcare professionals in Dubai include English, Arabic, Hindi, Urdu, Tagalog, Malayalam, Tamil, Farsi, French, German, and Russian. Many facilities specifically advertise multilingual staff to serve Dubai's expatriate communities.
Implications for Patient Care
The international diversity of Dubai's medical workforce has several practical benefits for patients:
- Access to physicians trained in different medical traditions and approaches
- Ability to find a doctor who speaks your language and understands your cultural background
- Exposure to best practices from healthcare systems around the world
- Multiple perspectives available for complex cases and second opinions
Browse the full directory of 99,520 professionals on the Zavis Professional Directory.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are international doctors qualified to practice in Dubai?
Every doctor practising in Dubai, wherever they trained, has to meet the PQR requirements for their title, have their documents verified at source by DataFlow, and pass DHA's licensing exam unless they qualify for an exemption. The exam is a computer-based test at Prometric or an oral assessment, depending on the title.
What countries do most doctors in Dubai come from?
Dubai's medical register records each professional's nationality, which can differ from where they trained. On 12 October 2026 it listed 24,424 physicians, and the largest nationalities among them were India (6,523), Egypt (2,490), Pakistan (2,443), Syria (1,609), and the UK (1,512). Its nationality filter lists 166 nationalities across all professions.
Do international doctors in Dubai speak English?
English is the main working language of Dubai healthcare, and DHA's licensing exams are held only in English, with no translator allowed at the oral exam (PQR 1.5.3.1). Many doctors also speak Arabic, Hindi, Urdu, Tagalog or other languages: on 12 October 2026 the register's language filter listed 79 languages.
How does Dubai verify international medical qualifications?
Dubai's health regulator uses DataFlow Group for Primary Source Verification (PSV), which independently verifies every qualification, training certificate, and professional reference directly with the issuing institution. The regulator's Sheryan FAQ gives 15 working days from payment for a new report, or 5 working days to transfer a report already done for another UAE authority.
Can I find a doctor who trained in my home country?
Sheryan's Dubai Medical Registry lets you filter professionals by nationality and by language spoken. Nationality is not the same as where a doctor trained, so ask the clinic about the doctor's qualifications. The Zavis Professional Directory lists the 99,520 records from its 3 April 2026 snapshot with facility and specialty.
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 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.
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.