Physician Licensing in the UAE

Physician Eligibility Requirements in the UAE

Physicians need an MBBS / MD or recognized equivalent degree from an institution recognized on the authority's approved list.

Internship: physicians 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.

Physician Title Categories

Physicians are licensed under one of five titles, each with its own qualification and experience bar:

• Intern — MBBS/MBChB or equivalent, no experience required.
• Resident — same degree, plus a completed internship and acceptance into an approved residency program.
• General Practitioner — same degree, completed internship, and 2 years of clinical experience. UAE nationals and children of Emirati women are exempt from this experience requirement within 2 years of completing internship.
• Specialist — a recognized specialty qualification, with an experience requirement that varies by tier and nationality.
• Consultant — a recognized specialty qualification plus significantly more experience (2–5 years depending on tier). Tier 3 specialists have a narrow legacy pathway to Consultant with strict conditions — 10+ years of specialist experience, a leadership role, publications, and recommendation letters — available only to those enrolled in a Tier 3 program before June 2017.

Which Tier Does My Qualification Fall Into?

Rather than a single tier per country, several of the largest source countries split across multiple tiers depending on the exact credential you hold:

Source: Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements, jointly issued by MOHAP, DOH, DHA, and Sharjah Health Authority, April 2025 (PQR §4–7, pp.16–34).

Physician Licensing by Authority

DHA — Dubai

Source: DHA CBT Exam Guideline.

DOH — Abu Dhabi

The DOH exam is administered by Pearson VUE — 150 questions within a 3-hour time limit, with a fee of USD 350. Applicants should aim for 65% or higher to pass.

MOHAP — Northern Emirates

The MOHAP exam is a Computer-Based Test administered by Prometric — 100–150 questions over 120–180 minutes, with fees ranging AED 350–800 depending on profession.

How Healthcare Licensing Help Supports Physicians

We manage the technical, administrative, and regulatory heavy lifting for physicians applying to DHA, DOH, or MOHAP — from eligibility review through license activation:

• Eligibility Review — pre-evaluating your medical degree against the PQR's country-based tier system (e.g., DM, DrNB, FNB, or MCh vs. DNB, MD, or MS for Indian applicants) to confirm your exact title — General Practitioner, Specialist, or Consultant — before submitting official files.
• Document Preparation — collecting all necessary documents including transcripts, experience certificates, specialty board certification, Good Standing, and licenses in preparation for DataFlow verification.
• DataFlow Coordination — managing your PSV account and tracking verification of your medical degree, internship certificate, and specialty board 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: Physician Licensing