Dentist Licensing in the UAE
Everything a dentist needs to know about getting licensed to practice in the UAE — across DHA, DOH, and MOHAP — in one place.
Dentist Eligibility Requirements in the UAE
Dentists need a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) from an institution recognized on the authority's approved list.
Internship: dentists must complete one year of internship post-graduation. Without proof of internship, two additional years of experience are required instead. No separate internship is required where the internship was already part of undergraduate training.
Post-internship clinical experience: generally 2 years of clinical experience post-graduation is required; specialists may need more depending on their tier. Consultants face additional conditions, including a clean disciplinary record — no notice or warning letter within the past five years.
Dentist Tier System
Dentists' PQR is classified into 3 tiers based on home/training country: Tier 1 is typically exempt from the exam and certain experience requirements, Tier 2 is typically exempt from certain experience requirements, and Tier 3 is not exempt and may be restricted from certain titles.
Which Tier Does My Qualification Fall Into?
| Country | Recognized Dentist Qualifications | Tier |
|---|---|---|
| India | Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) | Tier 3 |
| Pakistan | Fellowship of College of Physicians and Surgeons (F.C.P.S.), clinical master's degree | Tier 3 |
| Philippines | Philippine Board, clinical master's degree | Tier 3 |
| Bangladesh | Fellow of the Bangladesh College of Physicians & Surgeons (exam-based), Master of Surgery (MS) | Tier 3 |
| United Kingdom | Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training (CCST) + inclusion in the General Dental Council Specialist Registry | Tier 1 |
| United Kingdom | Membership/Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons in a dental specialty, Intercollegiate Specialty Fellowship, clinical master's degree | Tier 3 |
Source: Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements, jointly issued by MOHAP, DOH, DHA, and Sharjah Health Authority, April 2025 (PQR Dentist chapter, pp.55–64).
Dentist Licensing by Authority
DHA — Dubai
| DHA General Dentist Exam | |
|---|---|
| Duration | 3 Hrs |
| Number of Questions | 150 |
| Fee | USD 280 |
| Pass Score | 60% |
Source: DHA CBT Exam Guideline.
DOH — Abu Dhabi
The DOH exam is administered by Pearson VUE — 150 questions, with a 180-minute time limit. The passing score is 65% or higher.
MOHAP — Northern Emirates
The MOHAP exam is a Computer-Based Test administered by Prometric — 150 questions over 180 minutes. The passing score is 60%.
How Healthcare Licensing Help Supports Dentists
We manage the technical, administrative, and regulatory heavy lifting for dentists applying to DHA, DOH, or MOHAP — from eligibility review through license activation:
- Eligibility Review — pre-evaluating your dental degree against the PQR's tier system to confirm your exact title — General Dentist, Specialist, or Consultant — before submitting official files.
- Document Preparation — collecting all necessary documents including transcripts, experience certificates, dental degree and specialty certification, Good Standing, and licenses in preparation for DataFlow verification.
- DataFlow Coordination — managing your PSV account and tracking verification of your dental degree and specialty certification across issuing institutions.
- Exam Guidance — Booking and scheduling support for your DHA (Prometric), DOH (Pearson VUE), or MOHAP (Prometric) licensing exam, tailored to your title category.
- Application Handling — managing your Sheryan, TAMM, or MOHAP portal profile and regulatory communications.
Explore profession-agnostic details on our DHA, DOH, and MOHAP licensing services pages.
Frequently Asked Questions: Dentist Licensing
A Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) or Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) from an institution recognized on the authority's approved list.
Yes — dentists' PQR is classified into the same 3-tier system as physicians, based on training country. India, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Bangladesh generally fall into Tier 3; the UK spans Tier 1 and Tier 3 depending on the specific qualification.
No. DHA and MOHAP both use Prometric computer-based exams, while DOH uses Pearson VUE. All three require Primary Source Verification (PSV) via DataFlow first — DOH and MOHAP require PSV to be fully completed before you sit the exam, while DHA allows you to sit the exam concurrently with PSV.
Ready to Start Your Dentist Licensing Journey?
Book a free consultation. We'll assess your degree, tier, and clinical background to map your fastest route to a DHA, DOH, or MOHAP license.