Working as a NURSE & MIDWIFE in Dubai
(All Steps + Videos + Official Links) – DUBAI DHA License
Hi There,
Welcome to the Ultimate PREMIUM article that will explain you all the steps necessary to work as a Nurse in Gulf and the Middle East countries.
This series of articles has been prepared after extensive research and interaction with past nursing professionals who have tried and been successful in working as a licensed Nurse in the Gulf and Middle Eastern countries. Also, in this series, you will find all the relevant official links for your reference.
The goal of this series of articles is to explain all the basic steps that must be fulfilled by a nursing professional to get legally certified as a working Nurse in the Gulf countries.
We will start with a basic introduction to provide you an initial overview of the process. Once the initial presentation is complete, we will then cover the route to be a Nursing Professional in separate Gulf/Middle Eastern countries.
(Please Note: In this Particular Premium Post we will concentrate on how to work as a Licensed Nurse in Dubai)
Initial Introduction & Overview of the process:
People use the term Gulf countries or the Middle East countries as a single word and assume that the process to work as a nurset in Gulf/Middle East is same or one. However, it is not so.
When you mention words like Gulf countries, Middle East or the United Arab Emirates (UAE), they indicate towards a group of nations. Let us have a look:
Gulf countries
(The Arab states of the Persian Gulf are the seven Arab states which border the Persian Gulf, namely Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Middle East
Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Yemen.
United Arab Emirates
The UAE is a federation of seven emirates – Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, and Umm al-Qaiwain. Political power is concentrated in Abu Dhabi, which controls the vast majority of the UAE’s economic and resource wealth. The two largest emirates — Abu Dhabi and Dubai — provide over 80% of the UAE’s income.
Hence, when a nursing Professional says that he/she wants to settle in the Middle East or the Gulf Countries as a working Nurse, he/she is invariably and most commonly referring to the countries in the UAE and other wealthy countries like Saudi Arabia, Oman, Israel, Kuwait, Bahrain.
Yes, there are provisions where once you get certified by one health board in the UAE, you can migrate to other middle eastern countries. However, for that, you need to wait for some time until you gather adequate working experience in one of the Gulf or UAE countries.
Why this Attraction to work as a Nurse in UAE and Gulf Countries?
UAE and Middle East countries are emerging fast as the ultimate destination for various health professionals including Nursing Professionals from all over the world. The reason being high pay and a cosmopolitan lifestyle in a majority of the Gulf and UAE countries.
The countries in this region are oil rich with the natives having a general high living standard, high paying capacity and increased health awareness. With the rising population, there is an intense demand for Nursing Professionals at various health facilities.
The government also emphasizes a lot on health care. So, overall a perfect working environment with high living standards and high earning capacity attracts many Nursing Professionals from the Asian and South Asian countries (and even western countries) to work as a Licensed Nurse in the Middle East & UAE.
Have a look at the average yearly earning scale of Nursing Staffs in Dubai. It’s a considerable amount. Hence, you should have no surprise on why Nursing professionals and other health professionals, trying hard to start a career in Dubai.
What are the Various Health Boards you Should Know about?
Most of the nursing professionals plan to work in countries of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the reasons mentioned just before. However, many are confused regarding the governing health associations that regulate the nursing or other health specialty related job sectors.
Hence, carefully note down the three health Ministeries Functioning in UAE.
3 Different Health Ministries functioning in UAE:
- MOH which is Ministry of Health passing the MOH you are allowed to work in 5 emirates but not in Dubai or Abudhabi.
- DHA – Dubai Health Authority (previously known as DOHMS – Department of Health and Medical Services) DHA registration is required for working in Dubai.
- HAAD – Health Authority of Abu Dhabi (For those who aspire to work as a Nursing Professional in Abu Dhabi).
Let us make the above data more simplified for you:
As mentioned in the beginning, UAE consists of 7 separate countries and to practice in each country or group of countries, you need to clear the certifying process from the Health Governing Body regulating Professional Nursing for that country.
For Dubai:
Dubai – For which you have to appear DHA exam and then you can work only in Dubai and not anywhere else.
Dubai – For which you have to appear DHA exam and then you can work only in Dubai and not anywhere else.
For Abu Dhabi & Al Ain:
Abu Dhabi and Al Ain – For which you have to appear for HAAD exam and then you can work in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain only.
Abu Dhabi and Al Ain – For which you have to appear for HAAD exam and then you can work in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain only.
For Sharjah and rest:
Fujairah, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Ajman – You have to appear for MOH, and then you can work only in the above mentioned 4 emirates only.
Fujairah, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Ajman – You have to appear for MOH, and then you can work only in the above mentioned 4 emirates only.
So, how do you decide where to apply?
Before you jump to the statement – “I want to practice in the Gulf or the Middle East”, decide carefully where do you want to work.
As mentioned before, UAE or the Gulf is a group of many countries. So, decide where you want to apply based on your requirements and facilities available. For example, if you already have relatives who are settled in Dubai, then it makes sense for you to try for a nursing career in Dubai itself.
So think about which Emirate/Gulf country you wish to practice and then accordingly prepare for the exam and the process. Each examination has its requirements, and you have to go through a systematic process to get selected.
The next natural question would be: Can I practice in all Emirates or Middle East Countries after successfully completing one certifying exam?
License in One of the Emirates or one of the Middle East countries is not valid for others. You can transfer your license from one emirate to another, and that is also a long process but its doable. You will need to fulfill many criteria for that.
Ok Fine! So, what is the best Emirate or Gulf Country for me to try?
For example, if you have relatives settled and working in Bahrain or Kuwait, then it makes sense and much easier for you to try and work as a nurse in Bahrain. You already have an existing help over there.
However, if you are a first timer with no related established help in one of the Gulf countries or if you are just looking for the best Gulf emirate to settle in regards to a good living and pay then two locations should be in your priority list:
Dubai & Abu Dhabi
Dubai and Abu Dhabi are more liberal Emirates than the rest. You will have better transportation and social life here compared to any other emirate or Gulf country. However, the expenses and cost of living also are 3 times higher than other emirates.
Dubai is the most expensive of all. It is truly a global cosmopolitan Emirate with every modern day facilities and comforts. It is no surprise that all the celebrities in the world (Bollywood/Holywood Actors, Politicians, Presidents/Prime Ministers and Sports stars gather in Dubai regularly)
So before you even think about working as a Nursing in Gulf countries do serious research as to where you want to live and work. You can visit this site Dubizzle.com to get an idea about the rent costs in the Emirates.
With the primary Introduction above, let us now get down to the business of knowing all the relevant official details
In this particular premium post: We will be covering the appropriate steps to work as a Nursing Professionals in Dubai (by appearing for the DHA Exams).
The information you are going to read is a roadmap, to make you aware of the steps involved in the process of applying for certification to work as a Nurse in Dubai.
We have tried to make the process easy to understand with the help of flowcharts and videos.
Our goal is to make the process less confusing for you. After reading the article, you will gain an initial understanding of the process. From there, you can proceed with the official steps. Always refer to the official authorities when you start with the real process. Throughout the article, you will find official links whenever it is required.
Also be careful of people who claim to make the process easy for you or get you the license easily. It is always safer and wiser to follow the official route. Hence, use this article as a rough map and from there start your actual journey fulfilling and verifying all the correct steps.
Disclaimer: This post has been written after discussing with past candidates who have tried for certification in Dubai. The official sources were also referred. Throughout the article, you will find the official links and notifications PDF. Though we have tried to provide the latest information, please understand that regulations keep changing from time to time. Hence, you should take this manual as a rough road map that helps you to understand the process better. Our AIM is just to make you understand the process better and this article is not a replacement for official information. Carefully, consider all the official links and PDFs mentioned in the article. Refer to those for the latest updates and use this article for better understanding the series of steps for certification in Dubai to work as a Licensed Nurse
Working in Dubai As a Certified Nursing Professional
(Dubai Health Authority Licensing Exams)
[You are advised to read all the points carefully and then finally co-relate it with the flowchart and pathway of steps in the regular sequence.]
Who Can Apply to DHA for Nursing License to Work in Dubai as a Nursing Professional?
Before we jump into details of the process, let’s get the answer to the most basic question. Who can apply for DHA License?
Any qualified nursing professional from almost any country in the world can apply for the DHA License.
If you have a degree in a particular Nursing Specialty then, you can also apply for the Nursing License in your specialty. (for example, Critical Care Nurse, Community Nurse)
The basic process is same for all the applicants. However, few points like minimum required clinical experience varies depending on the country & nursing board.
With this overview, let us start the first phase in the process of applying for DHA License
Would I Automatically Get a Job as a Nursing Professional After I Pass the DHA Assessment?
The answer is NO!
Passing the DHA assessment DOES NOT mean that you will automatically receive a Job Offer to work as a Nurse coming to your doorstep or email.
The whole purpose of DHA Assessment (assessment exams, documents & experience verification, PSV) is to make sure that you are fulfilling the educational and clinical experience required by the HRD (Health Regulatory Department) & DHA, to be allowed to work professionally as a certified health professional (in your case, a nurse or a nursing specialist) in the Emirate of Dubai.
Hence, once you complete the long process of passing the DHA Assessment (Passing the Prometric or Oral Exams + Positive PSV + Valid educational & experience certificates), then you will just receive an Eligibility Letter by DHA.
Using that Eligibility Letter + Your CV, you would need to apply to various health facilities approved and functioning in Dubai.
In short, you have to hunt for the job.
When you get selected by one of the DHA registered health facilities to join as a Nurse or Nursing Specialist (as per your eligibility), then the facility will provide you with the JOB OFFER LETTER. With this job letter, you will finally apply to get the DHA License to the officially join the health facility.
What are the Various Categories of Nursing Professionals as per DHA?
As per DHA, Nursing professionals are categorized into 4 subtypes based on the educational qualifications and clinical experience. Therefore, depending on the necessary nursing education degree you have along with the documented clinical experience, you can work as one of the 4 types of Nursing Professionals
Registered Nurse (RN)
Assistant Nurse
School Nurse
Nurse Practioner
Specialty Nurse
Point to note:
- Each type has specific educational and clinical experience requirement.
- You will find the detailed qualifications necessary few lines below after the video overview of the process.
- You can only work in the nursing capacity type for which you have acquired the DHA License.
It is just the entire process in a nutshell. From here onwards, we will check in detail, all the steps and requirements in the process to get the DHA License to work as a certified Nurse/Nursing Specialist in Dubai.
DHA Nursing License Process Overview Video
Before, we jump into the process of acquiring DHA Nursing License, check out this 3-minute video giving an overview of the entire process. Note the video carefully. (at least 2 times). The video will act as the starter of the course. After that, read the article that follows.
Phase 1: Arranging All The Necessary Documents and Experience Certificates
The first step before you jump into any certification exam/process is to make sure that you have all the necessary documents as required by the DHA.
All the three Health Ministeries (DHA, MOH & HAAD/DOH) have together released an official and unified list of Educational Documents which every candidate must have before planning to apply for the nursing license in Dubai and other Emirates.
This document is known as
Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR)
It is an elaborate 143-page file mentioning about all the necessary documents that health professional (from every health services must have to apply for the licensure process.) The official links will be given at the end of the article when we recap the entire process with video.
From here on, read all the credentials that a nursing professional should have before applying for the Licensure.
Basic Nursing Licensure Requirements
Nurses applying for licensure must fulfill the following requirements:
- Must be graduates from National and/ or International recognized Nursing college/University.
- For graduates from the UAE universities, the program and university must be accredited by the Ministry of Education (MOE/NQA).
- Qualifications acquired through honorary nature, correspondence or distance learning are not counted towards the PQR requirements.
- Required Bachelor degree must be a minimum of three (3) years full-time course duration.
- All non-UAE national graduate nurses from UAE universities are required to successfully complete (six (6) months) internship post-graduation.
- UAE National nurses are exempted from the experience and internship requirements for the basic entry level.
- Applicants must hold a valid License/ Registration to practice in their home country and/or country of last employment (Where applicable).
- Assistant Nurses and Assistant Midwives cannot work independently and shall work under a registered nurse or midwife.
- All Nurses must hold a minimum of current Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification or others according to the scope of practice.
- Academic transcript must be submitted for credentialing purpose in which determination of disciplines shall be applied.
Necessary Qualifications for Nurses
- What are the RECOGNIZED Nursing Speciality Streams
Special Considerations:
UAE Nationals:
- Are not required to have clinical experience post-internship.
- Specialists with Tier 3 qualifications require at least one (1) years’ experience post qualification in the specialty field.
Non-UAE Nationals:
- Graduates from UAE universities: exempt from experience post-internship.
- Graduates from non-UAE universities: are required to fulfill experience as per their relevant titles according to the PQR.
Now you are clear about the basic educational qualifications and experiences that you should have before you start the process of applying for the DHA (Dubai Health Authority) License to Work As a Nurse in Dubai.
But that is not all. There are few other points also that you need to prepare. Next, we are going to see the essential materials that you need to prepare before you start applying for the DHA Licensure Exams for Dubai.
The Initial Requirements to Complete
B) Educational Qualifications (Already Explained in the Initial Part)
- The certificates must clearly show the job title and duration.
- The certificates must be signed by authorized Human Resource Officer and Medical Officer/Hospital Director.
D) Home Country License or License from the country of previous employment
- The license must cover the minimum Professional Qualification Requirement (PQR)
E) Certificate of Good Standing:
- Issued by the Health Regulatory Authority in the country(s) of last employment
- Mandatory for Physicians, Dentists, and Nurses
- Allied Health and TCAM healthcare professionals: case by case, as it may be requested in certain cases.
- Valid and not older than six (6) months at the time of application for licensure.
The applicant shall provide Good Standing Certificate GSC that meets the following requirements:
- Valid and not older than six (6) months at the time of application for licensure covering the minimum required experiences for the applied title.
- Issued by the health regulatory authority in the country(s) of last employment. In countries that lack regulatory systems, GSC may be accepted if issued officially from the last employer
- The Authorities may request more evidence or conduct investigations if deemed necessary to prove the status of good conduct of the healthcare professional.
- The applicant must declare that he/she has never been convicted of any legal cases, medical malpractice during his/her practice of the healthcare profession or he/she is currently under investigation.
F) Official Log Book of Past 2 Years:
- For surgical specialties and Nursing Duties Completed
- The logbook must have facility stamp and signature of Medical Director or authorized person
G) Medical Fitness Test (If the applicant is 65 or above):
When am I required to submit a medical fitness certificate?
You are required to upload a medical fitness certificate in your application, in the following scenarios:
o If you are 65 years of age or older.
o If you have any physical, mental or emotional condition which may impair your ability to render professional services.
Note: Medical fitness certificate that is issued by one of the medical fitness centers run by DHA.
By now you know about all the documents, educational qualifications and experience certificates that you must have before moving ahead to apply for DHA License to Work as a Nurse in Dubai.
Phase 2: Start with the Application Process
Once you are ready with all your documents now it is the time to start the application process
The first step of the entire process starts with registering at the DHA Website. This process is called as
“SHERYAN”
What is Sheryan?
Sheryan is the name given to the online application system for health facilities and healthcare professionals licensure by the Health Regulation Department (HRD) – Dubai Health Authority (DHA).
Visit the registration page and create an account (The user account will be rejected if you already have an account with DHA)
Below, check and download the official manual of DHA online application process (Sheryan)
Complete Flowchart of the DHA Licensure Process with payment stages
- Log in by creating a username & password at Here
- Fill the application and Upload the initial requirements
- Initial Fees Payment
- Initial review by DHA team (Credentialing)
- PSV (Primary Source Verification)/PSV Fees payment once application approved
- Select a date and Pay for Assessment (Oral/Computer Based Test “CBT”)
- For Further information regarding assessment guideline. Please Click Here
- Assessment Exemption Policy. Please Click Here
- Eligibility letter will be issued once applicant has passed the exam
- Upload the license activation requirements (Offer Letter, Malpractice Insurance from recruiting facility)
- Review by DHA team
- Issue license fees payment
- License delivery through courier and collection of delivery fees
- The Nursing Professional receives the license and now ready to join the hospital providing the offer letter
Now we will look at some of the significant steps in detail and we will start with Primary Source Verification
Primary Source Verification (PSV)
It basically means that all the educational credentials and experience certificates furnished by you will be evaluated and verified for authenticity from all the sources of experience and degrees. It is the most crucial and significant step in the licensure process.
Only when your PSV reports are positive, then only you can complete your licensure procedure. However, if your PSV is unverified or negative your process will be halted.
So, PSV is one of the most crucial steps in the process of applying for Licensure and it starts after the initial application process is started by the candidate.
FAQs on PSV – Primary Source Verification
Below is the flow chart of the PSV process for you. Read it carefully and note all the points
Immediately after applying for the PSV, the next step is to Select the Date of Assessment (Oral & CBT). For a better understanding of what comes after PSV, check out the Flowchart 1 & Flowchart 2 (above).
Select Assessment Date (Oral & CBT)
Healthcare Professionals are required to pass DHA assessment in order to obtain the professional license and practice their profession in the Emirate of Dubai. Depending on the healthcare professional’s category The DHA assessment can be either:
- Computer Based Testing (CBT) or
- Oral assessment
While applying for the DHA assessment, the applicants need to consider the following:
-
- All DHA assessment will be conducted in English language and no translator is allowed to attend the oral assessment.
- Exam fees are non-refundable; this includes re-scheduling, cancellation and/or not attends.
The applicant will be notified of the result (PASS or FAIL) and no further details (such as scores) will be provided.
Upon successfully passing the DHA assessment, the eligibility letter will be issued and considered valid for one year from the date of result.
-
- The applicant with “fail” result needs to apply again to re-attend the DHA assessment, no time restriction between assessment dates.
The applicant will be granted three attempts to pass the DHA assessment (Oral or CBT) and will not be permitted to reapply for the DHA license after the third attempt unless he/she obtains an additional DHA Recognized Certificate/qualification as per the published list on DHA website. – In case of assessment exemption, the scope of the exemption is limited to assessment requirement and does not apply to any other requirements for licensure.
required for licensure.
Computer-Based Testing (CBT)
The Computer Based Testing (CBT) is conducted in collaboration with the outsourced provider (Prometric), which provides testing centers in more than 76 countries in the world.
Currently, the exam is offered to the following specialties: • Assistant nurse • Dermatologist • General Dentist • General Practitioner • Orthodontics • Obstetrics & gynecologist • Pediatrics • Physiotherapist • Radiographer • Registered nurse.
(Additional specialties will be added regularly by DHA)
Before scheduling the DHA Prometric exam please note the following points:
-
- HRD will allocate
- Eligibility ID
to the applicant after completing the credentialing and PSV processes; the Eligibility ID will be required to complete Prometric online schedule process.
- HRD will allocate
- Prometric exam can be booked through DHA Prometric website www.prometric.com/DHA
- Exam payment will be collected electronically, acceptable payment methods with Prometric include American Express, MasterCard, and Visa credit cards.
- Arrival at the testing center shall be 60 minutes before the scheduled appointment time to allow for check-in procedure; the DHA exam check-in procedure requires Biometric (Fingerprint) capture to positively identify candidates. Therefore, DHA exams are only available in test centers and countries that are Biometric enabled. Due to local legislation, Prometric exams are unavailable in the following countries: Canada, France, Greece, Ireland and South Africa.
- Reschedule/Cancelling the DHA Prometric exam is possible and should be conducted five calendar days prior to the appointment. Reschedule/Cancel option is available in Prometric website or can be done by calling Prometric Regional Contact Centre. Specific charges will be collected by Prometric for changing the appointment.
- Applicant must present a valid passport to the test center to serve as identification, the passport provided must match the details given during registration.
- All DHA Prometric exams will be conducted in the English language, the exam consists of
- 70 questions most of them are standards multiple-choice with one best answer.
- The timing permitted to complete the exam question is 2 hours.
- Exam result will be based on the total number of correct answers, examinee shall score 60% to be considered as PASS.
- After completing the DHA Prometric exam, a printout will be issued to the applicant, exam result will not be declared, Prometric exam result will be uploaded electronically within five working dates.
- If applicant experience a technical problem during the exam you must notify the Prometric exam center administrative staffs.
Some basic FAQs on Prometric Exams
If my specialty is not listed in Prometric exam list, what will be the mode of my assessment?
For all specialties that are not available through Prometric, an oral assessment will be conducted, in Dubai, by an expert panel of DHA licensed healthcare professionals.
My name is not as per my passport in Prometric website, what shall I do?
Please send an email along with a copy of your passport and reference number to regulation@dha.gov.ae
I have done the PSV payment, when will my eligibility number be activated?
The eligibility number/ID will be activated within 3-5 working days.
My eligibility number/ID does not exist, what shall I do?
Please send an email along with a copy of your passport and reference number to regulation@dha.gov.ae
There are no available dates for assessment, what shall I do?
Please send your concern to regulation@dha.gov.ae
How can re-schedule my Prometric assessment?
Reschedule is done through Prometric website www.prometric.com
5 days prior to the assessment, additional charges will be requested.
Less than 5 days prior the assessment, the applicant is required to repay the full testing fees
How can I re-schedule my oral assessment?
Send an email to regulation@dha.gov.ae
o 5 days prior to the assessment, no additional charges will be requested.
o Less than 5 days prior the assessment, the applicant is required to repay the full testing fees
Oral Assessment
Healthcare Professionals are required to pass DHA assessment to acquire their professional license and to practice in the Emirate of Dubai. The assessment will be conducted either oral or online test (Prometric) depending on professional specialty and category.
To book an oral assessment the applicant has to submit the application online through “Sheryan”. Once the credentialing process and payment for PSV are completed then the applicant can proceed to select the oral assessment date.
Two types of assessment schedules are available
- Normal Assessment.
- Urgent Assessment – with the following privileges:
a) Opportunity for earlier dates in the assessment schedule(in 5 business days)
b) Rare specialty assessment has no fixed schedule. Assessment schedule for such specialties will be arranged as required
Important Notes:
- The DHA professional license will be issued once the applicant successfully completes the assessment and all licensure processes.
- The assessment result (if passed) is issued with an eligibility letter which is valid for one year. If a professional license is not issued during this period, the assessment result will be considered void and the applicant will be required to reappear for another credentialing assessment. (Under special cases, the assessment can be considered valid for 5 years – mentioned below)
- The applicant is allowed to have a maximum of three attempts, to pass the DHA assessment. The applicant cannot take another DHA assessment unless the proof for an upgrade with relevant qualifications or training is provided.
- All assessments will be conducted in English language and no translator is allowed to attend the oral/online assessment.
Official Manual for Applying for Prometric Computer Test and Oral Assessment
What After Assesment Exam?
Finally, you have appeared for the assessment exam after completing all the formalities. Now it is time to wait for the results. The results are simply declared as pass or fail.
Here are the basic FAQs related to what after assessment exams
How do I obtain the result of my exam?
A notification will be sent to your email. If passed successfully, an Eligibility Letter will be issued.
Note: Notification of the result (pass or Fail) and no further details (such as score) will be provided.
If I failed the assessment, when can I appear for a second chance?
There is no grace period to take another assessment. You may re-apply again once the first application is completed.
If I failed the assessment, how can I appear for another exam?
You must apply for a “new Professional License” from the same user account and once the application reaches the assessment step, a new booking must be done.
How can I know if I am exempted from the assessment?
All assessment exemptions are listed in the Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements and in the Exemption from Assessment and Examination Policy.
What after passing the assessment exam?
Once the candidate passes the Assessment exam, the eligibility letter will be issued. From that point, you can move to the concluding few steps to get the official licensure to work as a Nurse in Dubai. But understand this, just the Eligibility Letter is not the License to legally work as a nurse in Dubai. There are few more formalities to complete.
Below are some of the most commonly asked questions post the assessment exams
What is the validity of the eligibility letter?
Eligibility letter is valid for one year, from the date of issuance. Once the Eligibility expires, the applicant may apply again (From the same user account) once the earlier application is rejected.
Notes:
The applicants who passed the DHA Assessment will be issued an Eligibility Letter which is valid for one year, however, the validity of the assessment result will be valid for (5) years provided they meet the following criteria.
-
- To apply for new application
- They meet the Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements at the time of re-applying for the Assessment Exemption.
- PSV results are positive, in case additional documents are added for verification / validation.
- They meet any new criteria as set by DHA at the time of application.
Once the eligibility letter is issued, can I start practicing?
A DHA license is required to practice/work professionally as a Licensed Nurse in Dubai. However, the license will only be issued when the applicant is selected to work for a registered health facility in Dubai.
After the eligibility letter is issued, you must have a valid Job/Offer Letter from a certified Hospital/Dental Clinic/Health Facility in Dubai. You must upload a copy of the Job Offer and Medical Malpractice Insurance (both will be issued to you by the health facility providing you the job offer) to proceed further with issuing of the DHA license.
I am unable to find the name of the health facility in the step of uploading the offer and medical malpractice insurance, what shall I do?
Please ensure that the service related to your specialty is available in the hiring facility.
- You will be issued a DHA license only when you upload an offer letter from a registered health facility in Dubai. Along with the offer letter you will need to upload the medical malpractice insurance too. (both will be issued to you by the health facility providing you the job offer)
- If you do not have an offer yet from any of the hospitals, then you will need to hunt for the job. You will need to apply to various hospitals with your credentials, DHA Eligibility letter.
- Your eligibility letter is valid for one year in which you must find a job. Or else it will expire and you will most probably have to give exam again.
- Notes:The applicants who passed the DHA Assessment will be issued an Eligibility Letter which is valid for one year, however, the validity of the assessment result will be valid for (5) years provided they meet the following criteria
-
- To apply for new application
- They meet the Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements at the time of re-applying for the Assessment Exemption.
- PSV results are positive, in case additional documents are added for verification / validation.
- They meet any new criteria as set by DHA at the time of application.
-
- Notes:The applicants who passed the DHA Assessment will be issued an Eligibility Letter which is valid for one year, however, the validity of the assessment result will be valid for (5) years provided they meet the following criteria
(Please Note: The applicant must ensure that the facility he/she is opting to work for has his/her specialty listed and licensed by DHA.)
Once, the eligibility letter is issued, the next step is to submit/upload the license activation requirements (Offer Letter & Medical Malpractice Insurance) at DHA. Once you do so (along with the associated fees for the step), DHA will issue the license and you will receive the license via post.
Quick Recap: After passing the exam, the documents to be submitted (together with the FEES payment for the License) are as follows:
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Offer letter from recruiting facility, and it must be issued recently (last 3 months), mentioning the professional title, facility stamp, and signature of Medical Director or authorized person.
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Medical fitness test (if applicant age is 65 and above), if the attached report validity expired during the process
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Malpractice Insurance from recruiting facility
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Labor card from the recruiting facility. Check this official link to know more about Labour Card
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Passport Copy if the attached one validy is expired
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If the facility name that applicant is applying for is not shown it means that the facility needs to add applicant specialty and then the license can be issued
Issuing the license after the submission of these documents takes about two working days, after which the successful applicant will be authorized to practice in the territory of Dubai. (For abroad nursing professionals, you will receive the license via post)
Common Qs:
I did not receive my license card although it has been issued more than 5 days ago. What do I do?
Please email Zajel customer care office on info@zajel.com or to contact their toll-free 80021111
What is the validity of DHA license?
The DHA license is valid for 1 year, applicable for renewal within 3 months of its expiry.
We have covered all the details in the process of applying for certification to work as a nurse in Dubai.
Go to the next page of this article to find further details regarding the overall Fees, currency calculator/converter to calculate the cost few additional points on Good Standing Certificate, the collection of official documents and the video recapping the entire step of getting a DHA License
What is the approximate costs of all the steps for getting the license from DHA
Check out the official pricing list of DHA Licensing Costs of all the Steps. The prices are mentioned in AED (United Arab Emirates Dirham). The fees mentioned are from the official HRD fees published.
- Below you will find the calculator/converter. Using the calculator you will be able to convert AED to your local currency and calculate the total cost for you.
What is Good Standing Certificate? (GSC)
In this article, the word good standing has been used in two contexts:
- During the preliminary phase of applying for the DHA License when you are uploading your documents to DHA website
- You provide a Good Standing Certificate from your last employers/hospital or clinic/Health Regulatory Body, stating in their official letter regarding your satisfactory conduct, work experience, and other work-related specializations.
- Issued by the health regulatory authority in the country(s) of last employment. In countries that lack a regulatory system, GSC may be accepted if issued officially by the last employer.
- The DHA Authorities or during the Primary Source Verification (PSV) may request more evidence or conduct investigations if deemed necessary to prove the status of good conduct of the healthcare professional.
- The applicant must declare that he/she has never been convicted of any legal cases, medical malpractice during his/her practice of the healthcare profession or he/she is currently under investigation.
- Applying for GSC from DHA, after you have received your DHA license and selected to or working in a health facility enlisted at DHA
The basic FAQs of GSC certificate are as follows:
What do you mean by Good Standing Certificate (GSC) or equivalents?
Good Standing certificate is a certificate issued by the Medical Council / Regulatory body, confirming the healthcare professional Good Standing (Lack of any malpractice) of his/her recent practice.
What is the validity of a Good Standing Certificate (GSC)?
Good Standing Certificate is valid for 6 months, from the date of issuance unless stated otherwise
How can I apply for a GSC from DHA?
- Apply online by using your username and password.
- Pay the GSC fees, for Normal: 510 DHS (it will take 15 working days), for Urgent: 1010 DHS (it will take 5 working days).
- Your Facility Medical Director must approve your GSC application.
- To be reviewed by HEALTH REGULATION DEPARTMENT (HRD).
- Issue the letter
The DHA good standing certificate is issued but I did not receive a copy, what shall do?
The letter is forwarded to the registered email address in your Sheryan account. If you wish to change the email address, please contact regulation@dha.gov.ae requesting the same.
I have paid the good standing certificate fee and have been waiting for a long time but still did not receive it. What shall I do?
Please check with the medical director, as the application might be pending in their account for approval of the application to proceed.
My license has been canceled during my good standing certificate application (after paying the required fee), what shall I do?
Since the application is canceled automatically when the license is canceled. You should apply again (for the same type of good standing letter) and not proceed to payment, then contact regulation@dha.gov.ae to do the necessary for the new application.
My license status is revoked/ suspended; can I apply for a good standing certificate?
Yes, you can do so manually (must visit the office to finalize the payment). However, the letter will not be issued as “good standing certificate” but as a “letter of current status” instead.
Check out the official document on the Good Standing Certificate
Good Standing Certificate Application Process
All the Official Links that you should know
(Click on the links and the link will open in a separate tab)
Official Dubai Health Authority Website (DHA)
DHA Sign In & Registration Link
Details about Online Registration System: Sheryan
How to use Shreyan: Official Manual
DHA Link to Professional Licensing for HP
Dubai Health Care Licensing Procedures (All Categories)
DHA New Professional License Procedure
Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR)
DHA PRIMARY SOURCE VERIFICATION Notification(PSV)
DHA PRIMARY SOURCE VERIFICATION (PSV)
DataFlow Website for DHA PSV Booking
Dataflow DHA PSV Manual PDF (All Steps)
Dataflow PSV Application Video
Link to DHA Assessment Exams Points
DHA CBT and Oral Assessment Exam Registration Manual
Policies for Exemption from DHA Assessment Exams
DHA Assessment Official PDF (CBT Prometric + Oral Assessment)
CBT – Computer Based Testing (PROMETRIC) [DHA Assessment]
Nursing Specialties for CBT – DHA
Good Standing Certificate (GSC)
Dubai Health Authority (DHA) FAQs
Download PDFs Related to DHA
Download all the PDFs related to DHA from the Box mentioned below:
Dubai Nursing License
Official DHA Nursing License Files
Go to the next slide to check the Video Explaining the Entire DHA Process
(You will also find multiple choice questions for review)
DHA Nursing License Process Overview Video
Now we have seen the entire DHA process in detail. So, have a look at the DHA Overview Video again. This time, you will have a much better understanding of the video
DHA Application Process – Step by Step Video
Sample Questions for DHA Nursing MCQs Assessment Practice
Please note that these are just the sample questions collected from the recall memory of the candidates who have previously appeared for the DHA Licensing exam. Hence, use these questions for your general assessment. We will gradually keep adding more questions for you to assess.
Before Wrapping up the Article, some of the important FAQs for Health Professionals (including Nursing) to recap the process
1) You have to understand that UAE is composed of 7 emirates, similar to 7 separate countries.
Dubai – For which you have to appear DHA exam and then you can practice only in Dubai and not anywhere else.
Abu Dhabi and Al Ain – For which you have to appear for HAAD exam and then you can practice in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain only.
Fujairah, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Ajman – You have to appear for MOH and then you can practice only in the above mentioned 4 emirates only.
So think about which emirate you wish to practice and then accordingly prepare for the exam and the process. Each examination has its own site and you have to go through a tedious process to get selected.
2) Can you practice in all emirates?
License in One Emirate is not valid in other. You can transfer your license if you get one from one emirate to another, and that is also a long process but its doable. You would require to work for a minimum period of a certain time before you can start the process of applying for the Nursing Professional License in a separate emirate.
3) Which is the best Emirate for you to Work as a Nursing Professional?
Dubai and Abu Dhabi are more liberal Emirates than the rest. You will have better transportation and Social life here than anywhere else. But then the expenses also are 3 times higher than other emirates. Dubai is the most expensive of all. So research where you want to live. You can visit this site Dubizzle.com to get an idea about the rents going on in each emirate.
4) What can be your approximate living cost in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Sharjah?
If you are arriving alone to stay and practice then obviously you can share an apartment and save a lot. But along with a family, it can get expensive. A small family living in a decent 1 BHK with all expenses included will require 8000-10,000AED monthly. (You need to calculate the costs by converting in your native currency and check for the affordability). There can also be additional expenses based on your lifestyle.
5) How much can you earn in Dubai as a Nursing Professional
This is the most famously sorted after question. It all depends on which clinic or Hospital you get a job and which Specialist you are. Of late, due to increase in the number of available Nursing Professionals, salary has decreased. Experienced nurses should get an average salary of 90,000 AED to 120,000 AED Annually.
Check some of the screenshots of approximate average salary
6) What is going to be your likely maintenance expenses in Dubai?
Rent will eat a large chunk of your salary if you are the sole earner in your family. A studio costs around 4000 – 7000AED Depending on its size and area you choose to live.
1 BHK around 5000-8000AED
2 BHK 6500-10000AED
Electricity bills – between 150 – 350 AED per month
Grocery – 600 – 1000 AED Per month for a family of 2-4
Conference fees – yes mandatorily you need 40 CME points to renew your license every year – 3000AED (maybe borne by your employing clinic)
Transportation cost – If you travel by Metro – around 200 AED
If you have your own vehicle then first, you need to get a driving license which will cost around 6000AED, if you pass in the first attempt (Driving test is like doing another graduation in UAE) and then the vehicle cost.
Miscellaneous expenses.
The basic cost of living keeps varying. Hence it is always better that you keep track of the living costs in Dubai by assessing the reliable money transaction companies. Check the links below, where you will find adequate information that will help you in planning your cost of living.
Renting in Dubai: How to find your perfect home
Dubai offers a high standard of living to expats, who flock there for the opportunity to live and work in this rapidly developing economy. In fact, with a whole host of family friendly attractions, Dubai attracts everyone from highly paid execs, to young professionals, families and students.
Cost of living in Dubai: Your guide
Whether you’re retiring, temporarily relocating or moving to Dubai for good, it’s helpful to have a picture of what life there will cost as an expat. The standard of living in Dubai is very high. In fact, the opportunity to live well in an interesting place is exactly why many foreigners go there.
7) Can you work multiple clinics/hospital setups at the same time?
There will be your primary clinic which hires you. (Please note that it will be the health set up that will provide you the Job Offer and the Malpractice insurance that you will upload at the DHA website to get the DHA Working License)
If the original clinic or health establishment provides you the No Objection Certificate then and only then you may work in the maximum of 2 clinics as part-time. However, it is highly likely that most of the health establishment would not provide you the permission to work in two establishments at the same time.
8) Will your Visa be sponsored?
You can ask the company to sponsor your visa. If a company is sponsoring your Visa, they are also obliged to give you Malpractice Insurance, Health Insurance and bear your License Expenses. This is the labor law and they have to do it. If they choose to not do this you can remind them of labor law. Please don’t get exploited.
You need to note that, the recruiting company will provide you with the following details:
Offer letter from recruiting facility, and it must be issued recently (last 3 months), mentioning the professional title, facility stamp, and signature of Medical Director or authorized person.
Malpractice Insurance from recruiting facility
Labor card from the recruiting facility. Check this official link to know more about Labour Card
9) What all documents you need to submit?
We have discussed in detail about all the documents that you need to submit or arrange for the DHA application process. All your BDS, MDS certificates, degree, Internship completion, Experience letter from your employers, log book of past 3 years, attempt certificate, Registration certificate and most importantly Transcript from your university.
10) What are the Assessment Exams?
Once your documents are successfully evaluated – you would need to appear for Assessment Exams. (It can be Written or Oral, depending on the type of Professional License being applied for)
The Written Exam is Prometric Controlled MCQs based exam. (We have discussed in detail the Prometric exams in the first slide of this article)
You have to carry your passport in your examination center.
Exam results are declared as Pass or Fail in 5 days.
Once you clear your exam you are given an Eligibility letter with which you can hunt for a job. (Mentioned clearly in the 1st Page of the article)
11) How many months does it take before you give the exam?
It completely depends on how fast the exam authority is processing your application. The process starts with your application at the DHA website and from there completing all the formalities till you arrive at the stage of Prometric or Oral Assessment Stage. From the first day of your applying, it should take 45- 60 days before you are asked to appear for the exam.
(See the 2 flow charts below, to check the approximate time distribution for all the major steps in DHA Licensure process)
12) How many times do I need to make payment during the entire process?
The entire process of getting a DHA License consists of multiple substeps.
Also, there are multiple time where you would need to pay the Fees to
(Directly to DHA + Dataflow Company for PSV + Prometric for Written Assessment)
You need to make around 4 Payments in the complete DHA Process.
(See the 2 flow charts above, to check the Fees Payment in the major steps in DHA Licensure process)
13) What is the total cost of the DHA Examination?
The cost slightly varies depending on the type of license and the stream in which you are applying for the license. For example, if you are applying for a General nursing License, it will cost you approximately to a max of 2300 AED as a first-time applicant.
In the previous slides of the article, we have attached a calculator for you to calculate the total expenditure of the DHA License process.
14) Do I need to get documents attested?
DHA does not require attestation of documents. MOH and HAAD require attestation from External Affairs and UAE Embassy from your home country. Cost of that will come around $500 – $700 depending how many documents you are getting attested.
15) What are the various types of licenses given by DHA?
DHA provides a wide array of licenses covering various health services, Medicine (General, Specialist & Medical Support Staffs), Dentistry (General Dentist, Specialist Dentist, Dental Clinical Support Staff) & Nursing . Hence, depending on your professional qualification and clinical work experience you can apply for the License you are qualified for. To understand all the educational details and clinical experiences necessary for your preferred DHA License,Read the PQR Document
16) What is the result type of DHA Assessment Exams?
The DHA Assessment results are either PASS or FAIL. (Both in Prometric Written Exams or DHA Oral Exams)
17) What after you clear the DHA Assessment Exam?
After you clear the DHA Assessment Exam, you will receive the Eligibility Letter. Then you have to start the Job Hunting and apply to all various health facilities. So, you will need to hunt down health facilities and apply with your resume. Please make sure that the setups you are applying to are registered at the DHA website. Also, carefully note that the facility has the post for which you have the DHA Eligibility letter.
Where can you search for the Jobs? Check the links below to website for finding jobs.
18) What is the status of your Eligibility Letter?
Your eligibility letter is valid for one year in which you must find a job. Or else it will expire and you will most probably have to give exam again.
19) What should I expect once my Job Application Letter is Accepted by a Dubai Based Health Facility?
- Verify that the health facility is listed in the approved lists of the Dubai Health Facility official list.
- Verify that you are being offered the Job for which you are qualified.
- The Health Facility will provide you an OFFICIAL JOB LETTER + Malpractice Insurance + Labour Card
- You will need to upload your Official Job Offer Letter + Malpractice Insurance to the DHA website to get the DHA License so that you can move to Dubai.
20) Once I get a job, the points that I need to keep in mind?
Once you get a job, you are on probation period for 6 months. Which means that you can leave the job or the employer fires you and no one is to pay penalty. If you leave the job within 1 year of joining, and your understanding is not good with your employer, you can be banned for one year. So please don’t do that.
You are eligible for one full month of paid leave once you complete 1 year.
No one can make you work for more than 8 hrs per day to read and sign your offer document carefully. Always read your documents of employment and contract papers very carefully before signing on any dotted line.
Go to the next page for the final slide of this premium article. In the next slide read about:
What are the points that you must be careful and sensible about while applying for a DHA License
Points that you must be careful and sensible about while applying for a DHA License & Deciding to Work in Dubai or Any Other Emirate As a Health Professional
Read about destinations and choose which one is right for you
UAE is a group of many emirates. Dubai is one of them. It is a global village and one of the most popular destinations in the world for travel and works. However, it is also one of the costliest places in the UAE and World. The first step to take is, therefore, to gather as much information on potential destinations before you take any other action. The internet is full of blogs and forums which can give you a good starting idea of what it’s like to live and work in the different countries in the Gulf. Once you have gathered your first information and have a good assumption of which country would be right for you, you can move to the following steps.
Reach out to peers/friends/seniors/relatives who are living and working there already
Once you have finalized on the emirate you want to shift and work, (let’s consider Dubai as an example), then start the next process of searching and connecting with any possible known person out there. They may be your direct acquaintances or you may be knowing them through others. Connect with all who can potentially provide you with information and ideas.
As much as reading from the internet can provide you with some clues on the working conditions, it’s only through interactions with people with first-hand experience that you can get the most important information.
If you have first relatives, then it is the most convenient scenario for you. You will not only get a temporary place to settle in in your initial days but you will also get the support to adjust to the new places.
If you do not know anyone directly, then you would need to take the indirect route to connect with people who can help you.
What Information should you generally ask for?
Ideally, you will speak to people who are both from your same country and your same career area. Through your network of friends and colleagues, try to talk or email people who can tell you as much as possible about the Licensing process, official address that you need to know, quality of work, the compensation packages, the cost of housing, transportation, schooling for your children or employment for your spouse.
Caution:
If you don’t know anyone, try to get introduced, or even you may try to connect with people you don’t know on social networks by searching for their location and qualification. If you introduce yourself politely enough there are strong chances they will spare some time to give you the advice you need.
But its always preferable to contact someone unknown via a common acquaintance. There are instances where people have become very annoyed when other unknown people have tried to pester or contact with a direct request to provide help and information for DHA License or work. You have to understand that everyone is NOT open to connect with you at the cost of their privacy. So, do not be forceful.
The best way to connect with an unknown person (who may help you in working in UAE) is to contact them gently and indirectly via others.
If you can, then Visit the Place Once & Make a Financial Planning
If it is possible for you, then please visit the emirate where you want to work once.
- One of the best ways to enter the healthcare recruitment system is to actually meet the people who are already working as health professionals in your desired specialty.
- Find a reason (and also if it is financially feasible for you) to go to your destination country for a few days on a work trip, or even as a personal trip.
- Most Gulf countries allow tourist visits, which you can use to meet the people you need. There is great value in setting up meetings with hospital HR managers to introduce yourself, your peer contacts for a coffee or a dinner, visit healthcare facilities, licensing authorities or employment agencies (but make sure you choose only the most reliable and professional ones).
- The goal of such scouting trips is primarily to get a first-hand idea of the place, create some real contracts and get an understanding of how the healthcare services work in Dubai or the other Arab Emirates.
If such scouting trips are not feasible for you, then, create a detailed financial planning and assessment of the process to apply for and work in Dubai or any of the Emirate.
One of the most crucial aspects is the financial feasibility of the entire process of applying for the DHA License and then shifting and starting a professional and personal life in Dubai or Any other Emirate. It involves expenditures.
Hence, it is crucial that you asses your finances – Not only for the process of applying for DHA License but also to manage the cost of living and maintenance in Dubai, Abu-Dhabi or any other emirate.
In the previous slides of this article, we have discussed in detail about the expenditures and also mentioned some of the highly trusted financial links to calculate the average living cost in Dubai. Check the links again below:
Cost of living in Dubai: Your guide
Whether you’re retiring, temporarily relocating or moving to Dubai for good, it’s helpful to have a picture of what life there will cost as an expat. The standard of living in Dubai is very high. In fact, the opportunity to live well in an interesting place is exactly why many foreigners go there.
Starting the Process of Licensing
Shall I take the Help of Professional Agencies to help me in getting the Licenses?
- Get a complete understanding of the Licensing process of various health boards of Emirates and always follow the official steps as mentioned.
- Be extremely cautious and careful while negotiating with any agency that is offering paid services to help you in acquiring the licenses. There are many fraudulent out there, who can take advantage of the candidates’ urgency to cheat them of money.
- NEVER give any agent hand cash for the process. You will most probably never get the money back.
- In case of any doubt regarding the agency that is helping you in the Licensure process, always refer with the official embassy in your country.
- It does not mean that all the agencies are doubtful. There are many reputed ones which have been guiding candidates for years. Hence, the onus is on you to choose the proper agency. Read the reviews and assess the feedbacks. Being alert is the best option.
Understand and Fulfil all the Criteria of the Licensing Steps necessary for your health profession specialty
Because most healthcare staffs in the Gulf are expats, every country has set up some complex procedures to ensure that there is an appropriate validation of the professional’s license and everybody meets professional standards to work.
Licensing can be long and difficult, and in some cases, the professional might not be able to achieve licensing at all. For this reason, hospitals and other healthcare employers strongly prefer to forward job offers to candidates who have already passed their licensing exams.
This avoids offering the job to people who aren’t licensed yet and wasting time. Also having undergone the licensing steps and verifications gives you the necessary credibility that your intention to come live and work in the country is serious.
Start gathering information about Approved Health Facilities and Keep improving your CV
From the day you start the licensing process, start gathering information about all the approved health facilities in Dubai that can offer you a job related to your health degree qualification. Around 5 years back people used to travel and look for the jobs in job fairs and traveling abroad. However, in the current times, it is much easier finding the information online. Also, keep documenting all your academic achievements, degrees & also the documentation of your after education clinical experience.
With this, we conclude this post of explaining all the steps to acquire DHA License to work as a licensed Nursing Professional in Dubai.
We hope that this article will make it easier for you to understand the process of applying for the DHA license to work as a Licensed Nursing Professional in Dubai.