To obtain a DHA license in Dubai, healthcare professionals need to fulfill several requirements, including educational qualifications, professional experience, and passing a relevant exam. They must also provide a Good Standing Certificate and undergo Primary Source Verification (PSV) of their credentials. For a healthcare business setup in the UAE, all healthcare workers and facilities in the emirate will need to get a license from the DHA. Getting a DHA license makes sure that the medical care you give meets certain standards for quality, safety, and professionalism. But on the whole, the DHA license protects patients, gives healthcare professionals more credibility, and more. This guide will help support you in understanding DHA license requirements in Dubai and move forward with your healthcare business in Dubai.
Understanding What You Need to Do in Order to Obtain a DHA License in Dubai
Medical professionals and health care facilities in Dubai are required by law to get a DHA license. A wide range of health care workers are covered by the DHA license, such as doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, allied health care professionals, and more. The DHA license also covers a wide range of health care facilities, including hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies.
Essential Requirements to Get a DHA License—Experience and Professional Credentials
To apply, everyone applying must have an accredited qualification in their healthcare field and corresponding work experience. For example, doctors must have a valid medical degree and a license from their country of origin or some other recognised body in that country. You must show real experience by providing experience certificates and sometimes surgical logbooks (if surgeons).
Primary Source Verification (PSV)
DataFlow Group performs the verification of all submitted credentials—a primary source verification service—by checking educational qualifications and professional documents with the primary source institutions. This typically takes three to four weeks to complete.
DHA Testing or Evaluation by Prometric (or other)
Applicants may be required to complete a computer-based test (CBT) or an oral assessment by DHA to verify their clinical knowledge and competencies. Whether there is a CBT or some other assessment depends on the position you are applying for. No candidate will get licensed without passing either the CBT or oral assessment.
Certificate of Good Standing (GSC)
Individuals applying for a license should provide a certificate from a previous licensing authority that verifies that the applicant has no disciplinary action or complaints of malpractice.
Health and Fitness
Healthcare licensees aged 65 years and older must provide a medical certificate from a DHA-approved medical centre in Dubai.
Malpractice Insurance
In order to ensure that malpractice claims are included in coverage, both the healthcare worker and the entity that hires them must present evidence of professional liability insurance.
Adhering to the Law and Being Economical
Candidates must not have any criminal behaviour or malpractice, and they must demonstrate they have sufficient funds to operate the health care business or facility. The candidate must produce, for example, bank statements and documents proving sufficient finances for business licence, etc.
Sending in Documents
Some of the documents required are a copy of your passport and visa, passport size photos, educational and experience certificates, professional licences, and offer letters from health care facilities that you have been offered employment by. All documents must be originals or authenticated copies, and if they are not in English or Arabic, they must be translated.
Obtaining a DHA License
Step 1: Self-Evaluation and Eligibility
To begin, complete the self-evaluation test. This self-evaluation tool will analyse your qualifications and experience against the DHA Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR) and will tell you whether you are eligible right away.
Step 2: Create a Sheryan Account
Sign-up on the DHA Sheryan site to establish a user account. Your Sheryan account will serve as a monitor during your licensing process.
Step 3: Submit your Application and Documents
Begin Primary Source Verification (PSV) via DataFlow Group and upload your documents. Your Sheryan account will allow you to check on the progress of the verification.
Step 4: Pass any Required Assessments
Take and pass the DHA Prometric exam or oral exam for your healthcare profession if required.
Step 5: Register and Activate Your License
Once your documents are verified and you have passed your assessments, you will submit the application for license activation through your Sheryan account. You will need to work for a healthcare centre with a valid DHA license requirements in Dubai that activates your professional license. Various fees apply, based on profession, in the range of AED 1,000 to AED 4,000 to activate a license.
Step 6: Obtain a New License
Renewal of a DHA license lasts one year, but you can extend it for up to three months before it expires by submitting new documentation and paying the renewal fee.
Opening a Business in Health Care in Dubai
Obtaining a DHA license requirements in Dubai is an important step for individuals wishing to start something like a clinic, pharmacy, or a fitness centre in the field of health care.
Ways to Set-Up a Business
Health Care City, Dubai (DHCC): This is a free zone for health and wellness companies with a complete ownership guarantee, purpose-built facilities, and registration with the DHCC Masaar e-services platform. DHCC also provides medical professionals and investors with long-term residency visas to healthcare business setup.
Set-up on the mainland: healthcare companies outside of DHCC must have a DHA license and must set up a legal entity either as an LLC or sole proprietorship. In the Emirates, you will be subject to the business related laws of the locality you are establishing in and the DHA requirements.
Key Steps in Starting a Healthcare Business—Legal Entity Formation
Depending on where you reside, you may be required to register your business with the Department of Economic Development (DED) or the Department of Health and Human Care (DHCC).
For hospitals, clinics or outreach centres to get a license, they must adhere to the requirements and standards of the DHA (Dubai Health Authority) in regard to infrastructure, equipment, cleanliness and safety.
Submit detailed healthcare business setup proposals and plans, staff credentials, and many applications to DHA to complete the approval process. The deliberately thoughtful way the process is done means that outpatient facilities can be sure of the health and safety of patients and also provide a high standard of clinical care.
Benefits of DHA licensure and registration
It provides legal certification that your business or facility is compliant with Dubai rules that govern legal operation of healthcare.
Quality Control: A DHA license requirements in Dubai guarantees the care, safety standards, and ethics of healthcare professionals and facilities.
Market Access: Only licensed by DHA providers can enter into contracts with private insurers and public entities that fund care, which creates more potential work.
Welcoming Environment: Starting in DHCC or mainland Dubai means access to a growing health care market, with many brand-new facilities and a wide variety of patients.
In conclusion
Becoming registered and licensed by the DHA can be a complicated process. However, it is a necessary process for businesses and healthcare professionals that want to healthcare business setup. For healthcare providers, they can legally deliver services and with confidence, provide quality services in potentially one of the most progressive healthcare markets in the world, as long they satisfy the requirements for the license and appropriate guidelines and application processes.
For healthcare entrepreneurs, the on-going processes of the DHA process and leveraging Dubai’s healthcare capabilities can increase a growing business environment with limitless potential.