HAAD/DOH Medical License as GP 2026: Requirements and Gap
Last updated on 27-Oct-2026, by Dr. Muhammad Dr. Muhammad

 

HAAD/DOH Medical License as GP Doctor 2026: Requirements and Practice Gap

DOH GP Medical License Quick Summary

To get a DOH (HAAD) medical license as a GP you need an MBBS or equivalent, a 12-month internship, 2 years of clinical experience after it, a recent good standing certificate, DataFlow verification and a pass in the 120-MCQ DOH GP exam. If you have been out of clinical practice for more than 2 years, you must also complete CME credits and supervised clinical training before you can be licensed, and a gap over 5 years bars non-UAE nationals.

Most GP applications to the Department of Health Abu Dhabi are straightforward on paper. The ones that stall usually have one problem in common: a break in clinical practice. Maternity leave, a family move, years spent preparing for other exams or working outside medicine all count. This page lists the GP licence requirements in one place, shows how the online registration runs, and then explains what DOH does when there is a gap in your practice.

If you want the full licensing route for every physician title, read DOH (HAAD) licence for doctors. For the exam itself, see DOH exam for GPs and specialists.

What are the DOH requirements for a GP medical license?

RequirementWhat DOH expects (Unified PQR)
Basic degreeMBBS, MBChB, MD or equivalent from a recognised medical school
Internship12 months after graduation
Experience2 years of clinical experience after internship, in general practice or an accepted specialty such as internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, Obs and Gyn, family medicine, emergency medicine, cardiology or critical care
Good standingCertificate of good standing from your current or most recent licensing authority, not older than 6 months
VerificationDataFlow primary source verification of degree, internship, licence and experience
AssessmentDOH GP CBT: 120 MCQs in 2.5 hours, result PASS or FAIL, unless you are exempt
Practice gapNo interruption of clinical practice over 2 years, or the gap requirements below are completed first

UAE nationals, children of Emirati women and graduates of UAE universities who obtain the GP title within 2 years of internship do not need the 2 years of experience. The documents themselves are listed on DOH required documents.

How to register online for the DOH GP license?

Everything runs online. There is no paper form and no fixed registration date.

STEP 1
Create UAE PASS and log in to TAMM
Apply for the General Practitioner title and pay the AED 100 application fee. See what TAMM is for the DOH exam.
STEP 2
Complete DataFlow
Upload the documents for primary source verification. DOH gives about 24 working days for this step.
STEP 3
DOH review
DOH checks your file against the PQR, usually within 5 working days of the DataFlow report.
STEP 4
Book and sit the GP exam
Pay the booking fee in TAMM, then use the Pearson VUE link to pick a date. You have a 6-month window.
STEP 5
Get hired and licensed
After a PASS, a DOH-licensed facility links your file, security clearance follows and the licence is issued.

Each screen is shown in the DOH registration guide, and the money side is on DOH exam and licence cost. If you are checking your eligibility before paying, the practice gap is the first thing to look at.

What happens if I stopped practicing for more than 2 years?

The Unified PQR (section 1.7, "Discontinuity of Practice") applies to DOH, DHA and MOHAP alike. A healthcare professional whose clinical practice was interrupted for more than 2 years must, before being licensed:

  • complete CME/CPD credits related to the specialty they practised,
  • complete a clinical training programme accredited by the regulator, in a health facility the authorities recognise, and
  • pass the licensing exam after that, even if they would otherwise be exempt (UAE nationals and children of Emirati women excepted).

For physicians the amount depends on the length of the gap:

Gap in clinical practiceCME/CPD creditsClinical training
2 to less than 3 years404 months
3 to less than 4 years806 months
4 to less than 5 years1208 months
5 to 10 years (UAE nationals and children of Emirati women only)20012 months

In general, non-UAE nationals cannot apply for a licence with a gap of more than 5 years (10 years for UAE nationals and children of Emirati women). Time spent in UAE National Service is not counted as a gap.

A practical point from the files we see: the training months are the hard part, not the credits. Online CME is easy to collect, but an accredited clinical training place in a recognised facility has to be arranged, so plan that first. Ask DOH through TAMM which programmes they accept for your case before you start.

Gap under 2 years
No extra requirement. Apply normally and keep your experience letters dated to the day.
Gap of 2 to 5 years
CME credits plus 4 to 8 months of accredited training, then the DOH GP exam.
Gap over 5 years
Non-UAE nationals generally cannot apply. Rebuild recent licensed practice first.

Does a practice gap affect DOH exam exemption?

Yes. A GP can be exempt from the DOH exam with USMLE Step 3, PLAB I and II, AMC, LMCC, NZREX and similar exams on the PQR list (PQR 21.7), but only if the exam was passed within 5 years and there is no gap of more than 2 years. Once the gap rules apply, the exemption no longer saves you the exam. The full lists are on DOH exam exemption and experience criteria.

Back after a break?
Clinical recall fades faster than you think. Start timed GP MCQs while your DataFlow and training are in progress.

Dentists in the comments below can practise with the DOH General Dentist QBank, and pediatricians with the DOH Pediatrics QBank. Every DOH QBank is listed on our DOH exam page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much experience do I need for a DOH GP license?

Two years of clinical experience after a 12-month internship, in general practice or one of the accepted specialties. UAE nationals, children of Emirati women and UAE graduates who apply within 2 years of internship are exempt from the experience rule.

What counts as a gap in clinical practice?

Any interruption of clinical practice longer than 2 years, for whatever reason. Time in UAE National Service is not counted. DOH judges it from your verified licences and experience letters.

How many CME credits do I need after a 3-year gap?

Under the Unified PQR a physician with a gap of 3 to less than 4 years needs 80 CME/CPD credits and 6 months of accredited clinical training, then must pass the licensing exam.

Can I get a DOH license after a 6-year gap?

In general no, if you are not a UAE national or a child of an Emirati woman. The PQR bars non-UAE nationals with a gap of more than 5 years. Rebuilding recent licensed practice elsewhere is usually the way back.

Can I register for the DOH GP exam online from outside the UAE?

Yes. You need UAE PASS to log in to TAMM, and you can then apply, complete DataFlow and book the exam at a Pearson VUE centre abroad.

Your Comments

Readers have asked us these questions over time. Tap any question to open it and read our reply.

Entisar (Muscat): Arab Board Emergency Medicine, do I need an exam?

"Iam holding Arab board post graduate speciality in Accident and Emergency Medicine with 2 years post certificate experience. . I would like to know do I have to sit for exam in case if I will work in Emirates. "
Entisar Abd éminemment Salih Mohamed
Medical Qualification: Arab board of health specialisation
City Country: Muscat

Team Interface: Most specialists do sit a DOH assessment. Emergency medicine is not on the specialist CBT list, so it is assessed by an oral exam unless your qualification is on the PQR exemption list. See DOH oral exam.
fatima (Riyadh, KSA): Saudi GP license, documents for the DOH exam in KSA

"I already have the Saudi medical license as GP doctor ,,, what are the DOH/HAAD documents requirements to sit for the DOH exam center in KSA ?? "
fatima
Medical Qualification: MBBS medicine & surgery
City Country: KSA - Riyadh

Team Interface: The documents are the same wherever you sit, and you can take the exam at a Pearson VUE centre in Saudi Arabia. Check Saudi licence transfer to DOH first, as a Saudi licence may have its own route.
Amin (Khartoum, Sudan): MD clinical pathology, do I sit an exam?

"Iam MD post graduate speciality in clinical pathology/ hematopathology with 3 years post certificate experience. . I would like to know do I have to sit for exam in case if I will work in Emirates."
Amin
Medical Qualification: MD
City Country: khartoum. Sudan

Team Interface: Pathology is not one of the DOH specialist CBT specialties, so the assessment for that title is an oral exam unless you hold a qualification on the PQR exemption list. See DOH oral exam.
Dr shoukat Vistro: MBBS and DCH, specialist or resident for DHA?

"Salam sir reply plz. I am MBBS. DCH. For DHA. Is it possible as specialIst or resident .kindly guide me. And where preparation and how and where apply for prometric exam. "
Dr shoukat Vistro
Medical Qualification: MBBS. DCH
City Country: ---

Team Interface: A diploma counts for the specialist title only if the PQR country tables name it; otherwise you apply as a GP. For DHA, check your title with the Sheryan self assessment tool before you apply.
Arpit (Delhi, India): is MBBS plus MRCP accepted as specialist?

"Kindly advise if they consider MRCP as specialist for someone who is just MBBS+MRCP passed . "
Arpit
Medical Qualification: M.MED in Family Medicine
City Country: Delhi, India

Team Interface: MRCP Part 1 alone does not give the specialist title or an exemption. Whether full MRCP with your training counts depends on the PQR tables and training length, and DOH decides at review; see DOH exemption and experience criteria.
Dr Saleena (Kerala, India): DOH exam for dentists in Abu Dhabi

"I would like to work as dentist I have Abudabi and know the exam Doh for dentist "
Dr Saleena
Medical Qualification: B.D.S
City Country: India Kerala

Team Interface: The DOH general dentist exam is a CBT of 150 MCQs in 3 hours, after internship and 2 years of licensed experience. Practice questions are on the DOH General Dentist QBank.
muneeza munir shaikh (Karachi, Pakistan): cannot find radiology as a discipline

"i want to appear in DOH examination but i cannot find my discipline i-e radiology. "
muneeza munir shaikh
Medical Qualification: mbbs,practicing as sonologist
City Country: karachi pakistan

Team Interface: Radiology as a specialist title needs a recognised postgraduate qualification in radiology; it is assessed by oral exam. With MBBS and sonology experience you would apply as a GP and sit the 120-MCQ GP exam.
soumya sen (Kolkata, India): DNB 2012, registered 2014, DataFlow done in 2014

"I have passed DNB in June 2012 but registered with the state medical council (for DNB) in Sept 2014. My DOH dataflow verification has been done in 2014. What is my position with regard to eligibility to sit for the DOH exam . Thanks. "
soumya sen
Medical Qualification: MBBS, DNB (Anaesthesiology)
City Country: Kolkata, india

Team Interface: A new application needs current verification, so expect DataFlow to verify at least your recent licences and experience again. Anaesthesia is a specialist CBT specialty; your title depends on the PQR tier of DNB and your continuous practice since. See DOH DataFlow process.
Amalia Dandan (UAE): DataFlow approved but cannot book the exam

"My data flow is approved but I couldnt book online for exam. "
Amalia Dandan
Medical Qualification: Midwifery
City Country: UAE

Team Interface: After DOH approves your file, you pay the booking fee in TAMM first; the Pearson VUE scheduling link appears only after that. The steps are on booking the DOH exam via TAMM.
sruthi (Calicut, India): BSc nursing 2015, no experience

"I completed bsc in 2015 and i dont have any experience. Am I eligible for DOH. If yes then in which category and how to apply for DOH. "
sruthi
Medical Qualification: bsc nursing
City Country: calicut,indian

Team Interface: The Registered Nurse title needs no minimum experience under the Unified PQR, but a long period without practice can bring in the gap rules on this page. See DOH nursing licence.
Dr Gul (Russia): Russian graduate with FCPS Pediatrics, eligible as specialist?

"I graduated from Russia in 2000 since then I worked in Pakistan as a medical officer then done my post graduation in pediatrics from CPSP. Am I eligible for the post of specialist or not? "
Dr Gul
Medical Qualification: FCPS
City Country: Russia

Team Interface: FCPS Pakistan is listed in the PQR, and its tier decides how much experience you need after it. Details are on DOH pediatric specialist eligibility.
roy (Abu Dhabi): MSc speech pathology with 2 years experience

"I am holding post graduate degree in Speech pathology (MSc) currently working In India having Two years experience. Could any of you please tell me how to apply for exam."
roy
Medical Qualification: MSc speech patholo
City Country:abu dhabi

Team Interface: Speech therapists apply under an allied health title in TAMM, and the PQR sets the requirements for that title. The application steps are in the DOH registration guide.
Dr. Jan (Punjab, Pakistan): USMLE passed and MD (USA), exempt from the DOH exam?

"I have passed usmle steps and now MD(USA). Do i still have to give DOH exam or i am exempted from it?"
Dr. Jan
Medical Qualification: MD(USA)
City Country: Punjab, Pakistan

Team Interface: For the GP title, USMLE Step 3 passed within 5 years, with no gap over 2 years, is on the exemption list. Specialist exemption rests on US board certification. See USMLE and the DOH exam.
Amina khan (India): past papers and passing percentage for the dental exam

"i wold like to give HADD exam for dentists to be eligible to practice in UAE.i would like to have past 6 years model papers for the same and also would like to know the passing percentage for the same."
Amina khan
Medical Qualification: BDS
City Country:india

Team Interface: DOH does not release past papers, and results are reported only as PASS or FAIL. See DOH exam passing criteria.

Prepare for the DOH GP exam

Clinical MCQs with explanations in the DOH GP format. For the full exam guide, see DOH exam for GPs and specialists.

Enroll in DOH GP QBank