If you want to practise medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy or allied health in Abu Dhabi, you need a licence from the Department of Health — Abu Dhabi (DOH). Many applicants still call it the “HAAD licence” after the authority’s former name; it is the same regulator and the same legal requirement. Here is the full 2026 pathway, without the jargon.
Every healthcare professional working in an Abu Dhabi facility must hold a valid DOH licence — doctors, dentists, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, radiographers, physiotherapists and other allied roles. A licence issued by Dubai’s DHA or by federal MOHAP does not let you practise in Abu Dhabi; each emirate’s regulator is separate, though the underlying steps are similar.
Whatever your profession, a DOH application moves through the same sequence. Fees are paid to the official portals (the DOH licensing platform, DataFlow Group and the exam provider) — never to an intermediary.
| Stage | What happens | Indicative 2026 timeline |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Eligibility (PQR) | Your qualifications and experience are checked against DOH’s Professional Qualification Requirements for your title and specialty | Days, once documents are ready |
| 2. DataFlow PSV | Primary Source Verification of your degree, licence and experience letters | 4–8 weeks (most variable) |
| 3. DOH exam | Computer-based assessment for your profession and specialty, unless exempt | 2–4 weeks to schedule |
| 4. Licence issuance | DOH reviews the completed file and issues the licence | ~3–17 working days |
| 5. Activation | Licence tied to your employing facility so you can practise | Once employer confirmed |
DOH publishes Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR) that set the minimum degree, registration and experience for each title. As a rule of thumb most licensed roles need a recognised qualification plus around two years of relevant post-qualification experience, evidenced by dated experience certificates. Getting your title and specialty mapped correctly to the PQR before you pay for anything is the single most important step — an applicant assessed under the wrong category is the most common reason files stall.
Most applicants sit a computer-based DOH assessment testing clinical knowledge and specialty competency. However, professionals holding a current, valid licence from a recognised “Tier 1” country may qualify for an exemption. Tier 1 typically includes the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland, among others. Exemptions are never automatic — DOH reviews your evidence and confirms whether you may skip the exam, so treat it as something to verify, not assume.
Exact figures depend on your profession, specialty and document set, and DOH updates its schedule periodically. The ranges below are indicative for 2026 planning only — confirm current amounts on the official portals at the time you apply.
| Item | Paid to | Indicative range |
|---|---|---|
| DataFlow PSV | DataFlow Group | Varies by profession & number of documents |
| DOH exam | Exam provider | Per attempt (retakes charged again) |
| Licence issuance / activation | DOH | Varies by title and facility |
A DOH licence is not permanent — it must be renewed, typically every two years, with continuing professional development (CPD) and a clean disciplinary record. Diarise the expiry the day you receive the licence; a lapsed licence can mean you cannot legally work until it is restored.
Nearly every avoidable delay in an Abu Dhabi application comes from the same two sources: a qualification mapped to the wrong PQR category, or a DataFlow file that verifiers reject. Both are avoidable with an upfront review — qualifications assessed against DOH criteria, documents checked page by page and your DataFlow file prepared by people who know exactly what Abu Dhabi verifiers look for. That is what our fixed-fee packages cover, starting at US$499, with government and third-party fees passed through at cost. Not sure whether you are exempt from the exam, or which category you fall under? Send us your details and we will map your case before you spend a dirham.
Yes. The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DOH) is the current regulator and the licence is often still called a HAAD licence out of habit. It is the same authority; the name changed, the requirement to hold a valid DOH licence to practise in Abu Dhabi did not.
Most applicants sit a computer-based DOH assessment for their profession and specialty. Professionals holding a current licence from a recognised Tier 1 country — such as the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or Ireland — may qualify for an exam exemption, subject to DOH review of your evidence.
Plan for roughly three to six months end to end in 2026. DataFlow primary source verification is the most variable stage at around four to eight weeks; exam scheduling and final licence issuance add a few weeks each once your documents are cleared.
Fixed-fee packages from US$499 — PQR eligibility, DataFlow, exam and DOH activation handled end to end, with government fees at cost.
See packages & pricing