MOHAP and DHA License Exam to Work in UAE: Which to Choose
Last updated on 27-Oct-2026, by Dr. Muhammad Dr. Muhammad

 

MOHAP and DHA License Exam to Work in UAE 2026: Which One to Choose?

MOHAP or DHA License Quick Summary

A DHA licence lets you practise in Dubai only, while a MOHAP licence covers the Northern Emirates (Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and, depending on the facility, Sharjah) and federal facilities. Abu Dhabi needs a DOH licence. Choose the authority of the emirate where you expect to work: you can pass more than one exam, but failed attempts count across all three authorities, and a valid licence in one can usually be transferred to another in the same title without a new exam.

The UAE does not have one national medical licence. Each emirate's facilities are licensed by a health authority, and the licence you hold decides where you can work. For most doctors, dentists, nurses and allied staff coming from abroad the real choice is between the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP), with the Department of Health (DOH) for Abu Dhabi as the third option. This page answers one question: which licence should you go for, and where will it let you work? For the DOH side, see our MOHAP Prometric vs DOH Pearson VUE exam comparison.

Where does each UAE licence let you work?

LicenceWhere you can practiseGood to know
DHA (Dubai Health Authority)Government and private facilities in the emirate of DubaiFacilities inside Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) free zone are licensed by the Dubai Healthcare City Authority, not DHA.
MOHAP (Ministry of Health and Prevention)Private facilities in the Northern Emirates (Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah) and federal facilitiesSince July 2025 the Sharjah Health Authority regulates licensing for local government and private facilities in Sharjah. If your offer is in Sharjah, ask the employer which authority will issue your licence.
DOH (Department of Health Abu Dhabi)Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al DhafraExam through Pearson VUE, booked via TAMM. See the DOH licence for doctors.

So the old idea that "MOHAP covers Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain" is mostly right, with two changes: Ras Al Khaimah belongs on the list too, and Sharjah now has its own authority for many facilities.

MOHAP vs DHA: what is the same and what differs?

Both authorities follow the same Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR), so the eligibility rules for a given title are nearly identical. A GP needs 2 years of clinical experience after internship under either, and a Tier 1 or Tier 2 specialist needs none. Both run their written exams at Prometric centres worldwide, and both send you through DataFlow primary source verification. The differences are in the process.

PointDHAMOHAP
Where you applySheryan portal (self-assessment, then Get Registered, AED 200)MOHAP portal with UAE PASS (Health Professional Evaluation, AED 500 for physicians)
Exam vendorPrometric CBT, or an oral assessment for some titlesPrometric CBT
Pass markResult shown as PASS or FAIL; no percentage published60%
After passingEligibility letter, valid 1 year, used to find a Dubai employerEvaluation certificate; the facility then applies for the licence
Attempts3 in total, counted across DHA, DOH and MOHAP together

Step by step guides: DHA exam requirements for physicians and dentists and how to register for the MOHAP exam.

Which UAE licence should you choose?

Start with where the job is. A licence is activated by the facility that employs you, so the emirate of your offer, or the emirate where you most want to live, should decide it. A few practical points from candidates we have worked with:

Choose DHA if
You have a Dubai offer, or you want time to job hunt. The 1-year eligibility letter lets you apply to Dubai facilities before you have an employer, and Dubai has the largest private sector.
Choose MOHAP if
Your offer is in Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah or Umm Al Quwain, or in a federal facility. MOHAP publishes its 60% pass mark, which some candidates find easier to plan around.
Not sure yet?
Pick one authority and pass it well. A valid licence can later be moved to another authority in the same title, so you are not locked in. Sitting all three "just in case" spends attempts you may need.

Can I pass both MOHAP and DHA exams simultaneously?

Yes, you can apply to both and pass both; nothing in the rules stops you. Think about whether you need to, though. Under the PQR the 3 attempts are shared across DHA, DOH and MOHAP, so a fail in one counts against the other. And once you hold a valid licence from one authority, the PQR lets the others recognise it without a new exam, as long as you move in the same title, your attempts are not exhausted and the licence has not been expired or cancelled for more than 6 months. DHA also exempts applicants within 5 years of a MOHAP or DOH licence cancellation if there is no gap in practice.

Can you hold two licences at the same time? Neither authority publishes a route for working full time under two authorities at once. Your licence is tied to the facility that sponsors you, the first DHA licence is always full time, and DHA asks for proof of cancellation with other authorities when someone licensed elsewhere applies for a higher title. In practice, plan on one active licence and transfer when you change emirate. The conditions are in our guide on how to convert a MOHAP licence to DHA or DOH, and the steps are on how to transfer a DHA or MOHAP licence to DOH.

Decided on Dubai?
The DHA GP exam is a Prometric MCQ paper of clinical scenarios. Our DHA GP QBank has 5,000 MCQs with explanations.

What do both exams need from you before you book?

The groundwork is the same for both, and doing it once properly saves time:

  • Qualification and internship recognised under the PQR, with your home registration or licence still valid.
  • Experience letters that match your licence dates. MOHAP counts experience from the date your licence was issued, and both authorities question a gap in practice of more than 2 years.
  • Good Standing Certificate from your current regulator, no older than 6 months when you apply.
  • DataFlow verification addressed to the authority you apply to. A report done for one authority can often be transferred, but DOH wants a report addressed to DOH. See DHA DataFlow requirements and MOHAP DataFlow requirements.

Dentists follow the same pattern: the MOHAP general dentist exam guide and DHA dentist qualification and experience requirements cover each side. For all the MOHAP titles and QBanks, browse the MOH UAE exam page; for Dubai, the DHA exam page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work in Dubai with a MOHAP licence?

No. Facilities in Dubai need a DHA licence (or a Dubai Healthcare City Authority licence inside DHCC). If you hold a valid MOHAP licence, you can usually move to DHA in the same title without sitting the DHA exam, provided you meet the PQR transfer conditions.

Which emirates does a MOHAP licence cover?

MOHAP licenses private facilities in Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, and federal facilities. Sharjah's local government and private facilities have been regulated by the Sharjah Health Authority since July 2025, so confirm with a Sharjah employer which licence you need.

Does failing the DHA exam affect my MOHAP attempts?

Yes. The PQR allows 3 attempts in total across DHA, DOH and MOHAP, not 3 per authority. A fail with one authority is counted when you apply to another, so prepare properly before your first attempt anywhere.

Is the MOHAP exam easier than the DHA exam?

Neither authority publishes pass rates, so there is no fair comparison. Both test the same clinical knowledge for a given title in a Prometric MCQ format. MOHAP publishes a 60% pass mark, while DHA reports only PASS or FAIL.

Do I need a job offer before applying to DHA or MOHAP?

No. You can apply, complete DataFlow and pass the exam on your own. The licence itself is issued or activated only when a UAE facility employs you. DHA's eligibility letter is valid for 1 year, which gives you time to find a Dubai employer.

Your Comments

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

Dr Ajmal Khan (Bhopal, India): MOHAP and DHA licence details for a dentist

"Hello, i wish to apply for MOHAP and DHA license in order to work in UAE, kindly provide me the details and qualification and experience requirements for mohap exam, i am currently practicing in INDIA."
Dr Ajmal Khan
Medical Qualification: BDS
City, Country: Bhopal

Team Interface: For the General Dentist title both authorities ask for a BDS, internship, 2 years of clinical experience after it, a valid licence and a recent Good Standing Certificate. Pick the emirate you want to work in first, since attempts are shared. The MOHAP side is in our MOHAP general dentist exam guide, and you can practise with the MOH UAE general dentist Qbank.
Prabha (Navi Mumbai): histopathology syllabus and pattern for DOH and DHA

"Sir/madam, Would u kindly let me know about Histopathology syllabus for haad and DHA exam and also the exam pattern. Is there any syllabus material available to study for the same? "
Prabha
Medical Qualification: MBBS, MD pathology
City, Country: Navi Mumbai

Team Interface: Neither authority publishes a detailed histopathology syllabus, and pathology titles may sit a CBT or an oral depending on the title; DHA shows which one in the Sheryan self-assessment. See the DHA exam syllabus page, and for the Northern Emirates our MOHAP pathologist examination guide.
Jessabelle (Malaysia): housemanship done, medical officer in surgery, how to apply

"Hi I am dr jessabelle Wong I would like to practice in uae and dubai I completed 2 years of housemanship and currently 2nd year medical officer practising in general surgery Please Kindly provide me details so I can apply further. Also MOHAP General surgery MCQs."
Jessabelle
Medical Qualification: Mbbs (doctor)
City, Country: Malaysia

Team Interface: Without a specialty qualification you would apply as a General Practitioner, which needs 2 years of clinical experience after internship; your medical officer years in general surgery count towards that. For Dubai apply through Sheryan; for the Northern Emirates through the MOHAP portal. The GP route is explained in clinical experience required for DHA GP.
Snigdha Maity (Kolkata, India): MDS periodontology, will 2 years experience count for Oman or Dubai?

"Respected Sir/Maam I am Dr. Snigdha Maity done my BDS from Bhubaneswar, India in the year 2013 and after that I had a work experience of 2 years. In 2016 I joined MDS and passes in 2019 with specialization in periodontology. I am highly interested to work in Oman or Dubai. Do this 2 years work experience will be accepted? And kindly please tell me the procedure of examination, when do they conduct, and which site I have to refer Thank you very much ."
Snigdha Maity
Medical Qualification: Master of Dental Surgery
City, Country: Kolkata, India

Team Interface: For a specialist dentist title in Dubai, what counts is the tier of your MDS and the experience after it; the 2 years before the MDS matter mainly if you apply as a general dentist. There are no fixed exam dates: you book Prometric after approval. See DHA dentist requirements, and for Oman the OMSB general dentist eligibility page.
Chikadibia Ama (Owerri, Nigeria): doing housemanship, how to work as a GP in Dubai

"Am a Nigerian, currently doing my housemanship. I will like to work as a general practitioner in Dubai. can somebody give me valuable information on a way forward to practice in Dubai. Thanks ."
Chikadibia Ama
Medical Qualification: MBBS
City, Country: Owerri, IMO state, Nigeria

Team Interface: Finish housemanship, get full registration in Nigeria, then build 2 years of clinical experience in GP-accepted specialties. After that, run the Sheryan self-assessment, complete DataFlow and book the DHA exam. Our DHA GP study material page shows what to prepare in the meantime.
Iqra (Karachi, Pakistan): MSc microbiology, no experience, can I train in the UAE?

"Hi, i live in Pakistan and have no such experience can u guide me can i get some experience in uae? As even a trainer, and what documents would i need to apply? "
Iqra
Medical Qualification: Msc in applied microbiology
City, Country: Karachi, Pakistan

Team Interface: The licensing systems do not offer trainee posts to unlicensed applicants from abroad, so the usual route is to gain experience at home first. Laboratory titles have their own qualification and experience rules, and the authority assigns the title from your documents. Start with our MOHAP lab technician exam guide and DHA technician and technologist exam.
Seema Burh (Raipur): registration and documents for a nurse

"Want to practice in a broad. I need information for registration and documentation."
Seema Burh
Medical Qualification: Bsc nursing
City, Country: Raipur

Team Interface: With a BSc Nursing you would apply as a Registered Nurse, which needs no minimum experience under the current PQR. Documents and steps are on DHA exam for nurses and midwives for Dubai and MOHAP nurse exam requirements for the Northern Emirates.
Majed khan (Abbottabad, Pakistan): endoscopy technician, how to sit MOHAP and DHA

"AOA sir I am endoscopy technician in govt hospital in Pakistan having 2 years experience. and i can Assest the Consultant in various procedures like UGIE.Colonoscopies Diagnostic and therapeutics .. as well as In ERCP procedures.. I also Do All kinds of Disinfectant procedures like both Automatic and Manual and Also Chech out The Endoscope Leakage procedure... kindly let the know the procedure to sit in MOHAP nd DHA exam. i am very much interested to work in Gulf/Dubai. ."
Majed khan
Medical Qualification: Endoscopy technician Diploma 2 years
City, Country: Abbottabad Pakistan

Team Interface: Technicians apply the same way as other professionals: Sheryan for Dubai, the MOHAP portal for the Northern Emirates. Whether a 2-year diploma fits a licensable technician title is decided from your documents, so run the Sheryan self-assessment first. See DHA technician and technologist exam.
Siraj ahmad (Swat, Pakistan): master's in microbiology, MOHAP exam

"Hi every one this siraj Ahmad from Pakistan I have done master degree in microbiology I am interested that I give mohap exam in uae and start good carier in uae."
Siraj ahmad
Medical Qualification: Master of microbiology
City, Country: Swat pakistan

Team Interface: MOHAP evaluates laboratory professionals through the same Health Professional Evaluation service, and the title depends on your degree and experience. Our MOHAP lab technician exam guide covers eligibility and topics, and the MOHAP registration guide shows the application steps.
Dr khadijah ibrahim (Tando Adam, Pakistan): MBBS, husband works in Dubai, how to get a doctor's job

"I want to do job in dubai being a doctor.coz my husband worked in dubai as a sales executive officer in global food industries And beverages ."
Dr khadijah ibrahim
Medical Qualification: Mbbs with wmo (comission passed)
City, Country: Tando adam pakistan

Team Interface: Living with your husband in Dubai makes DHA the natural choice. As a GP you need 2 years of clinical experience after house job and no gap in practice over 2 years, then Sheryan, DataFlow and the exam. The details are on DHA requirements for GPs, specialists and consultants.

Pass your UAE licensing exam the first time

Attempts are shared across the UAE authorities, so make the first one count. Practise Prometric style questions for Dubai, or the MOH UAE GP Qbank for the Northern Emirates.

Enroll in DHA GP Question Bank