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What a doctor trained abroad needs to register in the United Arab Emirates

Read from the regulator's own documents. Each step shows what it costs, who usually pays, and the date we last checked it. Enter your details and we tell you which of these you already meet.

General Practitioner licence (Unified PQR)

Dubai Health Authority · ~5 months · ~AED 1,235 · 12 steps

A five-year medical degree, a one-year internship and two years of clinical experience after it, a current home licence, verified documents and the Authority's exam unless an accepted international exam exempts you. Written against DHA's process; the same rules apply at DOH, MOHAP and SHA.

  1. 1
    Medical degree of at least five years (excluding the internship) from a recognised, accredited medical school
    Source ↗
  2. 2
    Confirm your medical school is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (search.wdoms.org)
    Source ↗
  3. 3
    Valid licence or registration to practise in your home country or country of last employment
    Source ↗
  4. 4
    One-year internship after graduation (or two extra years of experience without one)
    Source ↗
  5. 5
    Two years of clinical experience after the internship in an accepted specialty (medicine, surgery, paediatrics, obstetrics, emergency, family medicine, cardiology or critical care)
    Source ↗
  6. 6
    Certificate of good standing issued within the last six months by the regulator of the country of last employment
    you pay · Source ↗
  7. 7
    No gap of practice longer than five years
    Source ↗
  8. 8
    Primary source verification of your degree, specialty certificate, home registration and experience (DataFlow)
    ~5 weeks · ~AED 1,235 · who pays varies · Source ↗
  9. 9
    Pass the Authority's GP assessment (computer-based, in English; three attempts across all UAE authorities), unless an accepted international exam exempts you
    who pays varies · Source ↗
  10. 10
    Apply to DHA to Get Registered once DataFlow and the exam are done (five working days; registration valid one year)
    ~1 week · who pays varies · Source ↗
  11. 11
    Overseas Employment Certificate from the Department of Migrant Workers, through a DMW-licensed recruitment agency or an employer the DMW allows to hire directly (Filipino workers)
    who pays varies · Source ↗
  12. 12
    A licensed facility activates your licence (a job offer is needed to practise)
    who pays varies · Source ↗

Specialist licence (Unified PQR)

Dubai Health Authority · ~5 months · ~AED 1,235 · 13 steps

A medical degree, internship, a recognised specialty certificate (Tier 1, 2 or 3 in the PQR table), the experience the tier requires, verified documents and the Authority's assessment unless a Tier 1 certificate from a listed country exempts you.

  1. 1
    Medical degree from a recognised, accredited medical school
    Source ↗
  2. 2
    Confirm your medical school is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (search.wdoms.org)
    Source ↗
  3. 3
    Valid licence or registration to practise in your home country or country of last employment
    Source ↗
  4. 4
    Recognised specialty certificate (Tier 1, 2 or 3 in the PQR's Recognized Specialty Certificates table) after a full-time programme of at least three years
    Source ↗
  5. 5
    One-year internship after graduation (or two extra years of experience without one)
    Source ↗
  6. 6
    Experience after the specialty certificate by tier; none for Tier 1 or 2, three years for Tier 3 (two after a sub-specialty certificate)
    Source ↗
  7. 7
    Certificate of good standing issued within the last six months by the regulator of the country of last employment
    you pay · Source ↗
  8. 8
    No gap of practice longer than five years
    Source ↗
  9. 9
    Primary source verification of your degree, specialty certificate, home registration and experience (DataFlow)
    ~5 weeks · ~AED 1,235 · who pays varies · Source ↗
  10. 10
    Pass the Authority's specialist assessment (CBT or oral; three attempts across all UAE authorities), unless a Tier 1 certificate from a listed country exempts you
    who pays varies · Source ↗
  11. 11
    Apply to DHA to Get Registered once DataFlow and the assessment are done (five working days; registration valid one year)
    ~1 week · who pays varies · Source ↗
  12. 12
    Overseas Employment Certificate from the Department of Migrant Workers, through a DMW-licensed recruitment agency or an employer the DMW allows to hire directly (Filipino workers)
    who pays varies · Source ↗
  13. 13
    A licensed facility activates your licence (a job offer is needed to practise)
    who pays varies · Source ↗

Consultant licence (Unified PQR)

Dubai Health Authority · ~5 months · ~AED 1,235 · 13 steps

A medical degree, internship, a Tier 1 or Tier 2 specialty certificate with two or five years of experience after it, verified documents and the Authority's assessment unless a Tier 1 certificate from a listed country exempts you. Tier 3 certificates cannot reach this title.

  1. 1
    Medical degree from a recognised, accredited medical school
    Source ↗
  2. 2
    Confirm your medical school is listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (search.wdoms.org)
    Source ↗
  3. 3
    Valid licence or registration to practise in your home country or country of last employment
    Source ↗
  4. 4
    Tier 1 or Tier 2 specialty certificate in the PQR's Recognized Specialty Certificates table (Tier 3 cannot attain the Consultant title)
    Source ↗
  5. 5
    One-year internship after graduation (or two extra years of experience without one)
    Source ↗
  6. 6
    Two years of experience after a Tier 1 specialty certificate, or five years after a Tier 2 certificate
    Source ↗
  7. 7
    Certificate of good standing issued within the last six months by the regulator of the country of last employment
    you pay · Source ↗
  8. 8
    No gap of practice longer than five years
    Source ↗
  9. 9
    Primary source verification of your degree, specialty certificate, home registration and experience (DataFlow)
    ~5 weeks · ~AED 1,235 · who pays varies · Source ↗
  10. 10
    Pass the Authority's consultant assessment (usually oral; three attempts across all UAE authorities), unless a Tier 1 certificate from a listed country exempts you
    who pays varies · Source ↗
  11. 11
    Apply to DHA to Get Registered once DataFlow and the assessment are done (five working days; registration valid one year)
    ~1 week · who pays varies · Source ↗
  12. 12
    Overseas Employment Certificate from the Department of Migrant Workers, through a DMW-licensed recruitment agency or an employer the DMW allows to hire directly (Filipino workers)
    who pays varies · Source ↗
  13. 13
    A licensed facility activates your licence (a job offer is needed to practise)
    who pays varies · Source ↗

Rules checked 23 Oct 2026 · outcomeOS describes each regulator's published rules; it does not advise on your individual case. · Privacy · Terms

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