The Complete Process for Nurses to Work in the UAE (Dubai, Abu Dhabi)

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) regulates nursing practice through three main health authorities, each responsible for a specific jurisdiction:

• Dubai Health Authority (DHA): Regulates and licenses healthcare professionals working within Dubai.
  
• Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DOH): Oversees healthcare practice in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.
• Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP): Governs healthcare licensing across the northern and federal Emirates, including Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, and Umm Al Quwain.

Although each authority operates its own digital portal and examination system, the overall licensing process follows the same structure throughout the UAE. Every nurse must complete the following steps:

• Verify educational and professional credentials through DataFlow Primary Source Verification (PSV).
• Submit an application through the appropriate licensing portal (DHA, DOH, or MOHAP).
• Complete the required licensing examination administered by the respective authority.
• Obtain an eligibility certificate confirming qualification to work.
• Secure employment with an approved healthcare facility.
• Activate the professional license under the employer’s sponsorship.
• Complete residence visa processing and medical fitness testing.
• Obtain an Emirates ID to finalize legal residency and employment status.
• Renew the license annually and maintain the required Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours.
  

This unified, step-by-step framework ensures consistent nursing standards and regulatory compliance across all Emirates, regardless of licensing authority.

Step 1: Confirm you meet baseline qualifications (before you spend)

• Education: BSN (or regulator-accepted diploma for assistant/practical nurse tracks) that meets the authority’s Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR).
  
• Professional registration: Active home-country nursing license in good standing.
  
• Clinical experience: Common expectation is ≥2 years post-registration for RN; category-specific exceptions exist and are decided by each authority under its PQR.
  Use the regulator’s self-assessment or PQR pages to check eligibility before you proceed. For Dubai, the DHA Self-Assessment tool is available in Sheryan.
  

Why this matters: applications that do not meet PQR are returned at the end of the pipeline; checking now prevents sunk costs.

Step 2: Choose the correct regulator and create your account

Create the portal account only with the regulator that matches your intended workplace. Cross-Emirate “conversion” is not automatic; each regulator issues its own eligibility/license. 

Step 3: Start Primary Source Verification (DataFlow PSV)

All three regulators require PSV of degree, transcripts, home-country license, and experience letters through DataFlow. You upload scans, pay the fee, and DataFlow contacts the issuing bodies to confirm authenticity. Typical completion window: ~30–60 working days, depending on your school/regulator responsiveness. Start PSV immediately; it is the most common bottleneck. 

Portability: You can reuse/redirect a completed DataFlow report to another UAE authority (e.g., MOHAP allows uploading previous unlocked DataFlow reports), which reduces duplication and cost. 

Step 4: Submit your application for eligibility/evaluation on the regulator portal

After (or in parallel with) PSV, submit your application:

• DHA (Dubai): apply for Professional Registration in Sheryan. Registration = DHA’s confirmation you meet requirements; valid 1 year and must be activated into a license by a facility before you can practice. DHA may require an oral assessment depending on category.
  
• DOH (Abu Dhabi): apply for evaluation via DOH eLicensing; DOH uses Pearson VUE for computer-based exams.
  
• MOHAP (northern/federal): apply for Evaluation of Health Professional via MOHAP eServices; MOHAP explicitly instructs uploading unlocked copies of any previous DataFlow and completing the evaluation workflow online.
  
  Outcome of this step: an Eligibility/Registration/Evaluation decision that says you are cleared for employment in that regulator’s jurisdiction. It is not yet a practice license.

Step 5:Sit the required licensing exam

• DHA (Dubai): computer-based test (CBT) administered by Prometric. DHA CBT guideline documents show ~150 questions, ~3 hours, fee around USD 240; pass marks in DHA CBT guides are around 60% (confirm the current pass mark for your category in Sheryan).
  
• DOH (Abu Dhabi): computer-based exam via Pearson VUE; book directly through Pearson VUE after DOH eligibility prompts. Public Pearson VUE DOH page confirms the testing program.
  
• MOHAP: evaluation commonly includes a Prometric CBT with formats similar to DHA; application and fee flow are within MOHAP eServices.
  

Attempts and fees: each authority sets its own attempts policy and fees; check your portal instructions at time of scheduling.

Step 6: Secure an employer and activate your license

You cannot practice with eligibility/evaluation alone. After you pass the exam and obtain eligibility, a hospital/clinic must hire you and submit the activation on the regulator portal:

• DHA: the facility activates your registration into a professional license; DHA states registration license 1-year valid and must be activated to start practice.
  
• DOH/MOHAP: similar model — employer ties you to the facility license and completes issuance per local rules.
  

Step 7: Residence visa, medical fitness, and Emirates ID

Once the employer issues the offer and initiates work authorization, complete UAE residence visa formalities:

1. Entry permit →
2. Medical fitness examination at DHA-approved centers in Dubai or EHS centers in other emirates →
3. Emirates ID biometrics and issuance →
4. Visa stamping/activation.
   UAE government pages specify communicable-disease screening as part of visa fitness.
   

Step 8: Renewal and CPD

Licenses are generally annual. Keep track of renewal windows and CPD/CME requirements. Dubai’s Sheryan notes that professional registration can be renewed and that license/registration validity is typically one year with a renewal window before expiry. Maintain continuity of practice to avoid reassessment. services.dha.gov.ae

Where the three regulators differ (at a glance)

Cost overview (approximate)

• DataFlow PSV: depends on document count/origin; commonly USD 150–400+ total.
  
• Exam fee: DHA CBT guideline lists USD ~240; DOH/MOHAP fees vary by category and vendor.
  
• Regulator application/activation fees: displayed at checkout in each portal; DHA/MOHAP service pages indicate administrative fees for registration/licensing.

Common pitfalls that delay UAE licensing

• Inadequate experience letters (missing dates, duties, letterhead).
• Good Standing Certificate older than the accepted window.
• Mismatch between portal name spellings and passport/degree.
• Booking an exam before the regulator marks you eligible.
• Letting eligibility lapse (most are ~1 year), forcing re-application.
  These issues are repeatedly flagged in regulator service notes and PSV FAQs; correct them upfront. Ministry of Health and Prevention
  
  

Practical sequence (apply this literally)

1. Check PQR/self-assessment for your regulator. services.dha.gov.ae
2. Open the correct portal account (DHA/DOH/MOHAP). 
3. Start DataFlow PSV; track progress.
4. Submit the portal application; pay fees; await eligibility/evaluation outcome. 
5. Sit the required exam (Prometric or Pearson VUE). 
6. Obtain eligibility/evaluation; find an employer; complete license activation. 
7. Complete residence visa medical fitness and Emirates ID; start work.
8. Maintain CPD and renew annually. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I hold multiple UAE licenses (e.g., DHA and DOH)?
Yes. Each license is jurisdiction-specific; you must meet each authority’s requirements and keep each license active. Regulators may accept redirected DataFlow reports to reduce duplication. 

Does eligibility allow me to practice immediately?
No. DHA registration/evaluation is pre-licensure; you must secure an employer and activate the license in that portal before practice.

Are the passing scores identical across the UAE?
No. DHA publishes CBT details (e.g., 150 items, ~3 hours, fee; pass thresholds around 60% in guides). DOH/MOHAP set their own exam standards; confirm in your portal at the time you book. 

What happens if my eligibility expires before I find a job?
Reapply/renew in the same portal subject to current rules; MOHAP and DHA pages indicate validity windows and renewal options.