If you were a doctor in your home country and wish to practice in the Emirates, know that you will need to undergo examinations with the DHA. The DHA issues licenses to physicians according to the following titles:
General Practitioner Specialist Consultant
The procedure can take from two (2) months to a full year.
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Initial Application
This first step is done online, and you will need to provide the following documents:
Educational certificates with transcripts recognized by the DHA Professional Qualifications Requirements (PQR). These include academic certificates such as diploma, license, postgraduate diploma, etc.; Recent professional experience based on the DHA’s PQR criteria; Logbook for the last two years for surgical specialists only. It must be stamped and signed by the medical director or an authorized person; Valid professional license or registration issued by the medical regulatory authority of the home country; Valid certificate of good conduct not older than six months. It is mandatory for physicians, nurses, and dentists; Medical fitness test if the applicant is 65 years old or above. It must be conducted only by DHA-approved medical fitness centers.
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Primary SourceVerification (PSV)
After submission and validation of all documents (which usually takes two weeks), another process called Primary Source Verification (PSV) must take place. PSV involves verifying the applicant’s documents directly from the original or primary source, by an international specialized company called “Dataflow.”
This verification covers educational certificates, experience, health license, and certificate of good conduct.
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Assessment
The candidate must then select the date for their assessment (oral or prometric exam – CBT) and provide the necessary documents for the exam.
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DHA License
Only after completing the examination can the candidate apply for their DHA license to practice medicine in Dubai.
Note: DHA licenses are only issued to healthcare professionals who have a job offer in a healthcare facility recognized by the DHA. In other words, it is impossible to obtain the license without securing employment beforehand.
