UAE Medical Residency Programs 2026
UAE Medical Residency Programs Quick Summary
UAE has one of the strongest residency programs in the Gulf, with programs mainly under Dubai Health Authority DHA (Dubai), Department of Health Abu Dhabi DOH/MEAD (Abu Dhabi), Ministry of Health and Prevention MOHAP/EHS (Northern Emirates). The eligibility criteria must be met to apply to any of these programs. EMREE exam is mandatory to be passed with competitive scores.
What are UAE medical residency programs
UAE residency progams are structured postgraduate medical training pathways designed to train doctors in different specialties under supervision. Doctors who have completed MBBS/MD as well as 1 year internship may apply for residency programms offered by main health authorities in UAE, such as;
- Dubai Residency Program (DHA):
This residency program is based in Dubai hospitals, which is competitive for IMGs and having training venues mainly in:
- Dubai Hospital
- Rashid Hospital
- Latifa Hospital
- Hatta Hospital
Popular specialties:
- Internal Medicine
- Family Medicine
- Pediatrics
- Emergency Medicine
- General Surgery
- Orthopedics
- OBGYN
- Dermatology
- Anesthesia
Program duration: 4–5 years depending on specialty.
Monthly Salary / Stipend: Approximate:
- Junior Resident = AED 8,000-18,000
- Senior Resident = AED 18,000-25,000
Application timelines:
- Applications: Jan–Mar
- Interviews: May
- Residency starts: October
- Abu Dhabi Residency (MEAD / DOH)
This residency program is based in Abu Dhabi hospitals.Training hospitals include:
- Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi
- Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City
- Sheikh Khalifa Medical City
- Corniche Hospital
- Burjeel Medical City
Available Specialties:
- Internal Medicine
- Emergency Medicine
- Radiology
- Neurology
- Psychiatry
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatrics
- Family Medicine
- General Surgery
- Urology
- ENT
- Pathology
Program duration: 4–5 years depending on specialty.
Monthly Salary / Stipend: Abu Dhabi programs generally pay the highest stipends in the UAE, approximate:
- R1–R2 = AED 12,000–22,000
- R3–R5 = AED 20,000–28,000
Application timelines:
- Applications: March
- Match: July
- Residency starts: September
- MOHAP / EHS Residency
This residency program covers Emirates of Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, and Umm Al Quwain. Usually less competitive than DHA/DOH for IMGs.
Hospitals may include:
- Al Qassimi Hospital
- Kuwait Hospital Sharjah
- Ibrahim Bin Hamad Obaidullah Hospital
Program duration: 4-5 years, while surgical superspecialties can extend to 6 years.
Monthly Salary / Stipend:
- Junior Resident = AED 8,000–15,000
- Senior Resident = AED 14,000–20,000
Application timelines:
- Applications: March
- Match: July
- Residency starts: September-October
What is eligibility criteria for residency program?
To apply for residency under any of the specialty, candidate is generally required to have;
- MBBS/MD degree from a recognized university.
- Atleast one year internship/house-job post graduation.
- Valid UAE Medical Licensing Exam eligibility (MOHAP, DHA, or DOH).
- Valid exemption documents, if applicable.
- Good academic record & recommendation letters.
- English profeciency test such IELTS or OET score(sometimes).
- IMG graduation should usually be within 5 years.
- No major clinical practice gap.
What are the best strategies for IMGs residency selection?
For IMGs, consider following the best strategies such as;
- Finish DataFlow early
- Prepare strongly for EMREE - High score improves specialty chances dramatically. Competitive specialties often require 80–90+ percentile
- Apply broadly for DHA/DOH/EHS
- Focus on IMG-friendly specialties initially, such as Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Emergency Medicine
- Gain UAE clinical exposure if possible
- Build CV: with the activities such as audits, research, ACLS/BLS, conferences
Is there any Entrance exam for residency?
Yes, most of the residency exams require you to clear EMREE exam which is similar to USMLE Step 2 CK. For comprehensive details regarding EMREE exam, you may watch our EMREE Guideline Video.
Your Comments
"I have recently done fcps part1 in medicine and I want to start my residency in UAE. Plz guide me properly. How can I apply for this and how Dataflow for MOHAP is different than DHA?"
Dr Kiran
Medical Qualification: MBBS, fcps(part1)
City, Country: Hyderabad, Pakistan
"I have finished gnm in 2020 iam having years experience I have passed oman prometric exam on november. I want to work in oman moh hospital how I apply?"
SUBHA
Medical Qualification: GNM
City, Country: Tirunelveli, India
"I am a DHA quqlified Pharmacist and want to appear for MOH. Nowadays, in Uae on Visit Visa and need a job. So can you help.?"
Muhammad Adil
Medical Qualification: Doctor of Pharmacy
City, Country: Dubai UAE.
"i am a doctor graduating from university of Khartoum-Sudan and i have permanent registration at Sudan Medical council as general practitioner and now i do medical attachement in the UK.i want to ask about MOH if its mandatory in my case or there is other route to work in the UAE. kind regards, Mawahib Gabir?"
Mawahib Gabir
Medical Qualification: MBBS(university of khartoum)-Sudan
City, Country: London-UK
"I want to know abt DHA/MOH/haad exam for UAE. I have done 4 years fcps training in radiology but i have not passed part 2 final exam as yet. What is the MOHAP eligibilty criteria? Can i apply for lincencisng exam n in which category please guide me?"
Aisha
Medical Qualification: Mbbs, fcps IM radiology, fcps part 2 in process
City, Country: Islamabad, Pakistan
"Can you please guide me about how to give the MOH licensing exam to practice in Dubai. Kindly tell me the passing criteria and also the level of difficulty of the exam. Also how to obtain the sample papers and application requirements for the same. ?"
Amiti agrawal
Medical Qualification: MS(OBG),FMIS
City, Country: Mumbai, India
"Hello! i really want to apply for the MOH license. Any valid information on how to go about this please? I want someone whos had it to share his/her experience with me please. Thank you!?"
Lara Osisanya
Medical Qualification: Registered Nurse/Midwife
City, Country: Nigeria
"I have done MD Microbiology from GS medical college mumbai and having 6 years of experirnce as a consultant Microbiologist in Hospitals and Private labs, I would like to know if there is Prometric exam centre in India for DHA exam, Shld i select the Medical Microbiology section for my MD Microbiology in prometric HAD exam section? Which books should i read? after passing this exam can i join after 1/2 yrs??"
DR BALAJI BIRAJDAR
Medical Qualification: MD MICROBIOLOGY
City, Country: MUMBAI, INDIA
"I would like to apply for moh. I have one year of experince. How can i apply? Expecting a favourable reply?"
Divya
Medical Qualification: BSc nursing
City, Country: Fujairah
"I have 2 year diploma in anesthesia tech 25 years exp (10 years MOH saudi arabia) (15 years MOH pakistan) having BLS+ACLS+aiation certificates from ksa MOH?"
Tajmuhammadkhan
Medical Qualification: BA 2 years diploma anesthesia
City, Country: Peshawar
"Plz send me model questions of moh dental?"
Ahmad
Medical Qualification: Bds
City, Country: Peshawar
