DHA General Dentist Exam Documents & Guidelines 2026
Last updated on 26-Oct-2026, by Dr. Muhammad Dr. Muhammad

 

DHA General Dentist Documents Requirements for Dentists 2026

DHA Dentist Documents Quick Summary

To apply for a DHA dental licence you need your dental degree and internship certificate, any postgraduate dental certificate, experience letters, your dental licence or registration, a Good Standing Certificate issued within the last 6 months, a valid passport copy and a recent photograph. Surgical dental specialties also need a logbook for the last 2 years. The academic and professional documents are verified through DataFlow, and attestation by the UAE embassy is not required.

This page is a document checklist for dentists applying to the Dubai Health Authority (DHA): general dentists, specialist dentists and consultants. It tells you what to collect, where each document is uploaded and how to prepare it so verification does not stall. Your eligibility for a title is a separate question, covered on our DHA dentist qualification and experience requirements page. The general DataFlow upload rules for all professions are on the DHA DataFlow requirements page.

What documents does DHA require from dentists?

You apply online through Sheryan, the DHA licensing system, and upload clear scanned copies. For a dentist, the full set looks like this:

Dental degree and internship
BDS, DDS, DMD or equivalent, plus your internship completion certificate. Add the transcript if DataFlow asks for it.
Postgraduate dental qualification
Only for specialist and consultant titles: your MDS, clinical master's, residency or board certificate.
Licence or registration
Valid licence to practise from the country of graduation and/or country of last employment, including earlier licences that cover the experience you claim.
Experience letters
One letter for every period of work you claim, signed and stamped by the Medical Director or Human Resources department.
Good Standing Certificate
From the dental council or licensing body of your country of last employment, issued within the last 6 months. See our Good Standing Certificate guide.
Passport and photograph
Valid passport copy, with the same name as in Sheryan, and a recent passport size colour photograph.
Logbook
For surgical dental specialties only: a logbook covering the last 2 years.
Malpractice insurance
Not needed to apply. Evidence of malpractice insurance is required before the licence is issued, when your employer activates it.

Qualifications attestation by the UAE embassy and/or Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not required, because DataFlow verifies the documents with the issuing institutions. If a document is not in English or Arabic, add a certified legal translation.

To complete your online DHA exam registration, please go through the DHA exam general guidelines.

Which documents go to DataFlow and which go to Sheryan?

Dentists often upload everything twice and then wonder why one file is missing from the other system. The split is straightforward:

Stage What you upload Who checks it
DataFlow (primary source verification) Degree, internship certificate, postgraduate certificate, licences or registrations, experience letters, Good Standing Certificate DataFlow, directly with your university, employers and dental council
Sheryan registration Passport copy, photograph, Good Standing Certificate, logbook (surgical specialties), plus your verification and exam results DHA, usually within 5 working days
Licence activation Malpractice insurance and the employment details Your Dubai facility applies, then DHA issues the licence

DHA lists a registration fee of AED 200 for all professional categories. A registration is valid for one year, and a Dubai facility has to activate it into a licence before you can practise.

STEP 1
Check your title in Sheryan
Use the Sheryan self-assessment tool to confirm whether you apply as a general dentist, specialist or consultant.
STEP 2
Collect and scan every document
Get fresh experience letters and a new Good Standing Certificate before you start, so nothing expires mid-way.
STEP 3
Complete DataFlow
Upload all documents at once and answer DataFlow queries quickly. Documents added later cost extra and delay the report.
STEP 4
Sit the exam and register
Book your Prometric exam if one is required, then submit the registration in Sheryan with your positive verification result and exam pass.
Use the verification weeks to study
Most dentists wait several weeks for DataFlow. Spend them on high-yield DHA General Dentist MCQs with explanations.

What are DHA General Dentist General Guidelines?

  • A gap in clinical practice of more than 2 years needs proof of continuing education (CME/CPD) and, depending on the length of the gap, a period of training. A non-UAE applicant with a gap of more than 5 years cannot apply.
  • Experience only counts if you held a valid licence for that work. Self-employed experience is accepted only if you were licensed and can prove the practice was registered.
  • Your dental degree must come from a recognised institution. DataFlow confirms it directly with the university.
  • Experience in non-clinical, part-time or very limited roles may not be counted in full. DHA reviews it against the title you apply for.

How long does DHA document verification take?

DataFlow gives a standard time frame of 15 to 25 working days from payment and a complete set of documents. Complete and accurate documents speed up the process. Delays usually come from:

  • missing documents
  • unresponsive institutions
  • mismatched information, such as a name or date that differs between documents
  • verification backlog

In our experience, the slowest part for dentists is often an old private clinic that has closed or changed owner. Tell your former employers early that DataFlow will contact them.

What should be the format of Experience Letter?

  • On the official letterhead of the clinic or hospital
  • Your full name, exactly as in your passport
  • Your job title (for example General Dentist)
  • Exact start and end dates (day, month, year)
  • States that the role was full-time and clinical
  • Signed by HR or the Medical Director, with name and designation
  • Stamped by the institution

If you worked in a small private practice with no HR department, the owner or clinical director signs. The clinic's licence and your own licence for that period should support the dates.

Frequently Asked Questions

What documents are required for the DHA general dentist exam?

Your dental degree and internship certificate, experience letters, a valid dental licence or registration, a Good Standing Certificate issued within the last 6 months, a valid passport copy and a recent photograph. Specialists add their postgraduate certificate, and surgical dental specialties add a logbook for the last 2 years.

Do dentists need embassy attestation for DHA?

No. Attestation by the UAE embassy or Ministry of Foreign Affairs is not required, because DataFlow verifies your documents directly with the issuing institutions. Documents not in English or Arabic need a certified legal translation.

How old can my Good Standing Certificate be?

It must be issued within the 6 months before your application. It should come from the dental council or licensing body of your country of last employment. Get it close to the date you submit.

Is malpractice insurance needed when I apply?

No. Malpractice insurance is needed when your employer activates your registration into a licence, not when you apply or sit the exam.

How long does DataFlow take for dentists?

DataFlow's standard time frame is 15 to 25 working days from payment and a complete set of documents. It takes longer if an employer or university is slow to reply or a document has to be re-verified.

Who signs the experience letter if I worked in a private clinic?

The clinic owner or clinical director, on the clinic letterhead, with the clinic stamp. It must show your job title, exact dates and that the work was full-time and clinical, and you should have held a licence for that period.

Your Comments

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

khalil ahmed (Quetta, Pakistan): procedure, syllabus and fee with orthodontic training

"i want to know the procedure and dha exam syllabus & fee. i have done my 2 years training of master degree in orthodontics major subject of dentistry."
khalil ahmed
Medical Qualification: BDS
City, Country: quettq ,pakistan

Team Interface: A specialist dental title needs a completed programme: DHA accepts a clinical master's of at least 2 years or a residency of at least 3 years. Once your degree is awarded, check your tier in Sheryan. See the DHA orthodontics syllabus and the DHA exam cost guide.
Minnat (Mumbai, India): is Prometric separate from the DHA exam?

"I m a dentist practicing in India since february 2010. i would like to appear for the DHA (U.A.E.)I would like to know the schedule for the exam in 2015, n is a prometric exam required prior to appearing for the dha exam, or is the peometric exam enough to start a practice in the U.A.E, especially in Dubai. Kindly guide me through the complete procedure for a dentist with a B.D.S. degree to practice in U.A.E, either in a government or private hospital, or setting up my own private dental clinic in Dubai. Thanks a ton"
Minnat
Medical Qualification: B.D.S
City, Country: Mumbai, India

Team Interface: They are the same exam. DHA sets it and Prometric delivers the computer-based test. Passing it is one step: you then register with DHA and a Dubai facility activates your licence. Opening your own clinic needs a separate facility licence. The DHA Prometric step-by-step guide covers the full route, and current dates are on the DHA exam schedule.
nabelaah (Karachi, Pakistan): how can a BDS apply for DHA or MOH?

"salam. i have completed my bds plz tell me the criteria that how can i apply for the DHA or MOH examz and how can i work in dubai as a dentist."
nabelaah
Medical Qualification: BDS
City, Country: karachi pakistan

Team Interface: For a general dentist title, DHA asks for a BDS, a completed internship and 2 years of clinical experience after internship. Pick DHA for Dubai or MOHAP for the northern emirates. Compare the DHA dentist requirements with the MOHAP dentist requirements.
hamzah j nisar (Mumbai, India): dental intern planning a job in Dubai

"i m a dental student intern from rajiv gandhi university of health science i ll b soon doing hospital management course i would like to know what i have to do if i hv to secure a job in dubai govt or private health care sector in Dubai."
hamzah j nisar
Medical Qualification: b.d.s
City, Country: mumbai,india

Team Interface: To work clinically as a general dentist you first need your internship and then 2 years of experience. A hospital management role is non-clinical, so ask the employer whether it needs a DHA licence at all. The DHA dentist requirements page explains the clinical route.
Tabasum ferdoss (India): criteria for DHA or MOH as a dentist

"I have completed my BDS please tell me the criteria that how can i apply for the DHA or MOH exams and how i can work in dubai as a dentist...!!!! "
Tabasum ferdoss
Medical Qualification: BDS
City, Country: INDIA

Team Interface: The criteria are on our DHA dentist requirements page: BDS, internship and 2 years of experience for a general dentist. The documents you will need are listed above on this page.
Dr Mahak Gera (India): MDS Periodontics, how to practise in the UAE

"Hi. I am currently pursuing my MDS in Periodontics and i will be completing it in May, 2016. I want to practice in UAE. Can you help me guiding how to go about it ? Warm Regards Dr. Mahak Gera "
Dr Mahak Gera
Medical Qualification: M.D.S
City, Country: India

Team Interface: With a completed MDS you can apply as a specialist periodontist. The experience you need depends on the tier DHA gives your qualification, and the Sheryan self-assessment tool will tell you. Keep your MDS certificate and any logbook ready for DataFlow.
Saddam Hussain (Peshawar, Pakistan): BS dentistry with one year experience

"I am Saddam Hussain I am graduated from Khyber medical university Peshawar I completed my BS dentistry in 2018 I have one year experience and currently I am working in private dental hospital which I occuring endodontics, prosthesis and conservatory procedure please guide me about DHA exam Thanks"
Saddam Hussain
Medical Qualification: BS dental
City, Country: Peshawar, Pakistan

Team Interface: For a general dentist title DHA asks for 2 years of clinical experience after internship, so you will need another year before you can apply. Use the time to prepare with the DHA General Dentist Qbank.
Sidrah (Pakistan): who signs the experience letter and good standing certificate?

"I am a dentist from Pakistan. I have 4 yrs of experience. I have worked at a private practice for 4 yrs. Can someone tell me from whom should I get the experience letter written? And who should sign and stamp it? And also about the good standing certificate. Should the authority send it or should I get it made from authorities and upload it in documents? Any help is kindly appreciated!"
Sidrah
Medical Qualification: BDS
City, Country: Pakistan

Team Interface: The practice owner or clinical director signs and stamps your experience letter on the clinic letterhead, with your title and exact dates. You request the Good Standing Certificate from your dental council yourself and upload it; DataFlow then verifies it. Our Good Standing Certificate page explains how to get it.
Yashashwini. V (Bangalore, India): MOH exam with 2 years experience

"Hi.. I am having 2years of clinical experience after bds degree in India and I want to take up MOH exam. Kindly guide me out.. thanking you."
Yashashwini. V
Medical Qualification: Bds
City, Country: Bangalore, India

Team Interface: The MOHAP process for dentists is explained on our MOHAP registration page, and you can practise with the MOH UAE General Dentist Qbank.
Sadeeq ullah (Kabul, Afghanistan): how to start a dental job in the UAE

"Hello I am bds and want to start job in uae kindly guide me through ths process ."
Sadeeq ullah
Medical Qualification: BDS
City, Country: Kabul afghanistan

Team Interface: Check your eligibility in Sheryan, then complete DataFlow with the documents listed above, then pass the DHA exam, then register. A Dubai employer activates your licence. The DHA exam general guidelines walk through each stage.
Dr.Kainat (Rahim Yar Khan): criteria for DHA or MOH exams

"I have completed my BDS please tell me the criteria that how can i apply for the DHA or MOH exams and how i can work in dubai as a dentist...."
Dr.Kainat
Medical Qualification: Bds
City, Country: Rahim Yar Khan

Team Interface: You need a BDS, a completed internship and 2 years of clinical experience after internship. The full criteria are on our DHA dentist requirements page.
Dr Kavya mohan (Kerala, India): 2 years in private practice, how to apply

"Hi,I have worked at a private practice for 2years after bds degree in India and how can i apply for the DHA or MOH exams and how i can work in dubai as a dentist Kindly guide me out.. thanking you."
Dr Kavya mohan
Medical Qualification: BDS
City, Country: Kerala & India

Team Interface: Two years of licensed clinical work after internship meets the general dentist experience rule. Make sure your experience letter is on the clinic letterhead, signed and stamped, then follow the DHA exam general guidelines to apply.
Dr.Aishwarya Sarbada (India): documents needed for the DHA exam

"I completed my BDS 1 year back, Im working as a general dentist since 2 years i.e. (since my internship) and soon Im gonna take admission into hospital management in Dubai. So can I know what documents are required for DHA exam??and what all I need to do etc.. "
Dr.Aishwarya Sarbada
Medical Qualification: BDS
City, Country: India

Team Interface: The full list is at the top of this page. Remember that DHA counts experience after internship, so your general dentist experience starts from the date your internship ended. A hospital management course is study, not clinical work, so it does not need a licence.
Farhan ullah (Peshawar, Pakistan): BS Dental Technology and the DHA exam

"I have completed Bs in Dental technology now i want to apply for DHA exam... now i want detail about DHA exam."
Farhan ullah
Medical Qualification: BS In Dental technology
City, Country: Peshawar pakistan

Team Interface: Dental technologists are licensed under DHA's allied health titles, not as dentists. See our DHA technician and technologist exam page for that route.
Tamanna (India): eligibility criteria for a general dentist

"what is the eligibility criteria for general dentist for dha exam. i want to work as dentist in uae pls help me."
Tamanna
Medical Qualification: BDS
City, Country: India

Team Interface: A BDS (or equivalent), a completed internship and 2 years of clinical experience after internship, with a valid licence for that work. Details are on our DHA dentist requirements page.

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