HAAD/DOH Medical Practitioner Licence Abu Dhabi: Cost 2026
Last updated on 27-Oct-2026, by Dr. Muhammad Dr. Muhammad

 

HAAD/DOH Medical Practitioner Licence in Abu Dhabi 2026

DOH Medical Practitioner Licence Quick Summary

The DOH (formerly HAAD) medical practitioner licence lets a GP, specialist or consultant practise in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. You get it in two stages: you apply in TAMM, clear DataFlow and pass the DOH exam (unless exempt), and then a DOH-licensed facility that hires you links your file and the licence is issued for 1 or 2 years. Official fees from application to a 2-year licence come to roughly AED 5,200 to 5,700.

Many doctors think passing the DOH exam is the licence. It is not. The exam result makes you eligible, and the licence itself is issued only when an Abu Dhabi facility takes you on. This page explains that second half: what the licence covers, how it gets activated, what it costs, how long it lasts and how you keep it. For the eligibility rules and the full application route, read our guide to the DOH (HAAD) licence for doctors.

What is the DOH medical practitioner licence?

It is the professional licence the Department of Health Abu Dhabi issues to physicians who work in a DOH-licensed hospital, clinic or centre in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain or Al Dhafra. It is tied to one professional title and to the facility that employs you. HAAD (Health Authority Abu Dhabi) was the old name of the regulator, so a "HAAD licence" and a "DOH licence" are the same thing today.

A DOH licence does not let you work in Dubai or the northern emirates. Those are covered by DHA and MOHAP, although a valid licence can usually be transferred between the three authorities for the same title.

Which medical practitioner titles does DOH license?

TitleMain requirement (Unified PQR)DOH assessment
General PractitionerMBBS or equivalent, 12-month internship, 2 years of clinical experience after internshipCBT, 120 MCQs in 2.5 hours
SpecialistRecognised postgraduate qualification; experience depends on its PQR tier (Tier 1 and 2 none, Tier 3 three years)CBT (100 MCQs in 2 hours) in 8 specialties, oral assessment in the others
ConsultantSpecialty qualification in Tier 1 (2 years after it) or Tier 2 (5 years after it); Tier 3 cannot apply as consultantCBT or oral, by specialty

You sit either the CBT or the oral for your title, never both. The specialty list and the oral format are on DOH oral exam, and GP exam detail is on DOH exam for GPs and specialists.

How do you go from exam pass to an active licence?

STEP 1
Apply and verify
Create a TAMM account with UAE PASS, apply for your title and complete DataFlow primary source verification. See the DOH registration guide.
STEP 2
Pass the exam or get an exemption
Results show as PASS or FAIL in TAMM. A PASS for the same title is accepted for 5 years.
STEP 3
Get hired by a DOH-licensed facility
You cannot apply for the licence on your own. The facility links your approved application in TAMM, and DOH expects this within 3 months of approval.
STEP 4
Security clearance and licence fee
DOH runs a security check (about 5 working days) and the licence fee is paid. Malpractice insurance fees may also apply.
STEP 5
Licence issued
The licence is issued for your title at that facility. If you change employer later, the new facility has to transfer it.

The step that takes longest is usually the job, not the paperwork. Most candidates start applying to Abu Dhabi employers as soon as their result is out. Our page on finding a job after the DOH exam explains how that link works in practice.

How much does a DOH medical practitioner licence cost?

The total depends on your title and how many documents DataFlow has to verify. These are the official DOH fees (Licensing Procedure Manual, Circular 151/2024) for a first-attempt pass and a 2-year licence:

StageGPSpecialist (CBT)Specialist (oral)
TAMM applicationAED 100AED 100AED 100
DataFlow PSVAED 1,260AED 1,680AED 1,680
Exam (one attempt)AED 570AED 550AED 100
Licence (2 years) and additional feeAED 3,350AED 3,350AED 3,350
Approximate totalAED 5,280AED 5,680AED 5,230

The licence fee for physicians is AED 2,500 for 1 year or AED 3,250 for 2 years, plus an AED 100 additional application fee. It falls due only after a facility links you, and many employers pay it, but check your contract. Retakes, extra documents, malpractice insurance, attestation and travel are not in these figures. The stage by stage breakdown is on DOH exam and licence cost. Always pay the amount TAMM shows at the time, because DOH can revise fees.

Paying for the exam once is cheaper
A failed attempt means another booking fee and weeks of delay. Practise timed GP MCQs before you book Pearson VUE.

How long is a DOH licence valid, and how do you renew it?

The DOH fee table offers a 1-year and a 2-year licence term. Before it expires, the licence is renewed through TAMM, normally by your facility. To renew you must have completed the mandatory CPD hours DOH sets for your profession; the DOH CPD/CME page gives the current requirement, and the TAMM CPD line (800 555) answers case questions.

Keep your CPD certificates as you go rather than collecting them in the last month. Late renewal can stop you working until the licence is active again.

Can you transfer another licence to DOH instead?

Yes, in many cases. Under the Unified PQR, a valid DHA or MOHAP licence for the same title can usually move to DOH without a new exam, and doctors licensed in Saudi Arabia have their own route. See DHA or MOHAP licence transfer to DOH and Saudi licence transfer to DOH. If your licence lapsed long ago, the gap of practice rules apply.

Who needs a DOH licence and who does not?

Anyone providing clinical care in a DOH-licensed facility in Abu Dhabi needs one. Dentists, nurses and allied health staff hold their own DOH licences under their own titles: see DOH requirements for dentists and DOH nursing licence. Purely academic or administrative roles are decided case by case, so ask the employer and DOH before you assume no licence is needed.

Dentists preparing for the general dentist exam can practise with the DOH General Dentist QBank, and Obs and Gyn specialists with the DOH Obs and Gyn QBank. Every DOH QBank is listed on our DOH exam page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is passing the DOH exam the same as getting the licence?

No. A PASS makes you eligible for the title. The licence is issued only after a DOH-licensed facility hires you, links your application in TAMM, security clearance is done and the licence fee is paid.

How much does a DOH licence cost for a GP?

Using the official fees, a GP who passes first time pays about AED 5,280 in total: AED 100 application, about AED 1,260 DataFlow, AED 570 exam and AED 3,350 for a 2-year licence with the additional fee. The licence part is often paid by the employer.

How long is the DOH medical licence valid?

DOH lists a 1-year and a 2-year licence term. You renew through TAMM before expiry, and you need the mandatory CPD hours for your profession.

Can I apply for the DOH licence without a job offer?

You can apply in TAMM, complete DataFlow and pass the exam without a job. The licence itself needs a facility to link your file, so the job comes before the licence.

Does USMLE exempt me from the DOH exam?

Only for the General Practitioner title, and only USMLE Step 3, passed within 5 years with no practice gap over 2 years (PQR 21.7). Step 1 or Step 2 CK alone does not exempt you, and the internship and experience rules still apply.

Can I use my DOH licence in Dubai?

No. Dubai is regulated by DHA. A valid DOH licence can usually be transferred to DHA for the same title without a new exam, but you need a DHA licence to work there.

Your Comments

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

Anwesh babu Poosala (Hyderabad, India): USMLE and ECFMG certified, eligible for the DOH licence?

"Hi Im Indian citizen. I cleared all my USMLE steps and Im ecfmg certified. I graduated from India. Am I eligible to apply for DOH medical practitioner licence in Abudhabi. If yes what all documents are required to be submitted. Please guide me through the process. Thank you, Anwesh "
Anwesh babu Poosala
Medical Qualification: MBBS, ecfmg certified
City Country: Hyderabad, India

Team Interface: As a GP you still need the internship and 2 years of clinical experience after it. A USMLE Step 3 pass within 5 years, with no practice gap over 2 years, is on the PQR exemption list for the GP exam. Details are on USMLE and the DOH exam.
mohsin (Hyderabad): where to prepare for the DOH test in Pakistan

"Aoa, I would like to ask that from where I can prepare for the DOH test in pakistan."
mohsin
Medical Qualification: BDS
City Country: hyderabad

Team Interface: You can prepare at home with the DOH General Dentist QBank and sit the exam at a Pearson VUE centre in Pakistan once DOH approves you. Centre and booking details are on DOH Pearson VUE exam in Pakistan.
R Pranav (India): exam and licence needed to work as faculty?

"Sir, please tell me if I need to appear for any exam if I want to work as faculty in my subject. Do I need to have license? Thanks& regards Dr Pranav kumar"
R Pranav
Medical Qualification: MD Medical Microbiology
City Country: India

Team Interface: If the post includes laboratory or clinical work in a DOH-licensed facility, you need a DOH licence for the matching title, with the exam or oral that title requires. For a purely academic post, ask the university and DOH, because that is decided case by case.
Ravina kumar (India): how many questions in the DOH exam?

"i am preparing to appear for DOH exam in the coming dates, how many questions does this exam have?"
Ravina kumar
Medical Qualification: MBBS
City Country: India

Team Interface: The DOH GP exam is a CBT of 120 MCQs in 2.5 hours, and the result is PASS or FAIL. Format and topics are on DOH GP exam questions.
Rajindarnath (India): how to register, preparation and exam dates

"I am a physician. how can i register for DOH exam and is there any preparatory course for good preparation of this exam and what are the exam dates."
Rajindarnath
Medical Qualification: M.D(physician)
City Country: India

Team Interface: You register in TAMM with UAE PASS. There are no fixed exam dates: after approval you book any free Pearson VUE slot within the 6-month window. See DOH Pearson VUE exam schedule.
Yasir Raza (India): dental technician wanting the DOH exam

"i am a dental technician. I want to work in UAE. Pls help me to get DOH exam."
Yasir Raza
Medical Qualification: Dental Technician
City Country: India

Team Interface: Dental technicians apply under an allied health title, not the physician or dentist route, and the PQR sets the qualification and experience for that title. Start with the documents list on DOH required documents.
Dr. Zilley Huma (India): USMLE Step 2 CK and 3 years in pediatrics, exempt?

"I am concerned about DOH exam exemptions because i have cleared USMLE Step2 CK and working as pediatric since last 3 years. Am i eligible for exemption?"
Dr. Zilley Huma
Medical Qualification: MBBS
City Country: India

Team Interface: No. The PQR GP exemption names USMLE Step 3, not Step 2 CK. With MBBS alone you would apply as a GP and sit the CBT; the exemption lists are on DOH exam exemption criteria.
Dr Shusma (India): prospects in Abu Dhabi compared with Dubai

"What are the prospects of working in Abudhabi after clearing DOH exam. Is it true that Abudhabi is a better place then dubai as far as the salary and other facilities are concerned."
Dr Shusma
Medical Qualification: MDS Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon
City Country: India

Team Interface: Neither DOH nor DHA publishes pay scales, and packages vary by employer more than by emirate. Compare complete written offers, including housing and allowances. Job search tips are on finding a job after the DOH exam.
sapna (Kerala, India): BDS 2016, can I sit the exam from my own country?

"I passed my BDS in 2016. Anyone pls guide me for. Can i sit for exam from my own country? Sir pls guide me, will be grateful to you."
sapna
Medical Qualification: BDS
City Country: Kerala, India

Team Interface: Yes, DOH exams run at Pearson VUE centres outside the UAE, including India. A general dentist needs the internship plus 2 years of licensed experience; see DOH Pearson VUE exam in India.
Dr. Rubina Rohan (Oman): over 10 years in Obs and Gyn, specialist or consultant?

"I have sufficient expeirence as Obs Gynae doctor which is over 10 years in Oman. Should i apply as consultant or specialist. Pls reply, will be grateful to you."
Dr. Rubina Rohan
Medical Qualification: FCPS obs gynae
City Country: Oman

Team Interface: It depends on the PQR tier of your FCPS: consultant needs 2 years after a Tier 1 qualification or 5 years after a Tier 2 one, and Tier 3 cannot apply as consultant. Use the DOH title check in TAMM, and see DOH Obs and Gyn exam.
Amir khan (India): DOH registration and exam schedule

"Want to work in UAE specially in Abu Dhabi. Pls guide me for DOH registration and exam schedule."
Amir khan
Medical Qualification: diploma in dialysis therapy
City Country: India

Team Interface: Dialysis therapists apply under an allied health title in TAMM, and the PQR sets the qualification and experience for it. The steps are in the DOH registration guide.
Dr. Suriya (India): fresh BDS without house job, can I apply?

"I have recently passed my BDS exam. But don't have completed my house job or any other experience. Can i still apply for DOH exam."
Dr. Suriya
Medical Qualification: Bds
City Country: India

Team Interface: Not yet. A general dentist trained outside the UAE needs the internship and then 2 years of licensed clinical experience. The rules are on DOH requirements for dentists.

Pass the DOH exam, then get licensed

Prometric-style clinical MCQs with explanations for the DOH GP exam. For the licence route, see DOH licence for doctors.

Enroll in DOH GP QBank