lentsThe healthcare system in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is considered to be one of the best in the Middle East region. The government has invested heavily in healthcare infrastructure and services, resulting in a high standard of healthcare for both citizens and expatriates.
The healthcare system in the UAE is a combination of public and private healthcare facilities. The public healthcare system is provided by the government and includes primary healthcare centers, public hospitals, and specialty hospitals. These facilities provide free or subsidized healthcare services to UAE citizens, and expatriates can also access these services by paying a nominal fee.
Types of healthcare licenses in UAE
Several healthcare authorities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are responsible for regulating and overseeing the healthcare system. These authorities include:
- Dubai Health Authority (DHA): The DHA is responsible for overseeing the healthcare system in the emirate of Dubai. It is responsible for regulating healthcare facilities and professionals, setting healthcare policies, and ensuring the provision of high-quality healthcare services.
- Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD): The HAAD is responsible for overseeing the healthcare system in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. It regulates healthcare facilities and professionals, sets healthcare policies, and ensures the provision of high-quality healthcare services.
- Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOH): The MOH is responsible for overseeing the healthcare system at the federal level. It regulates healthcare facilities and professionals, sets healthcare policies, and ensures the provision of high-quality healthcare services across the UAE.
- Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC): The DHCC is a free zone located in Dubai that is dedicated to healthcare services, medical education, and research. It is home to several healthcare facilities, including hospitals, clinics, and medical centers.
These healthcare authorities work together to ensure the provision of high-quality healthcare services to UAE citizens and residents. They also work to regulate and oversee the healthcare system to ensure that it meets international standards and provides safe and effective care to patients.
Exemption criteria for HAAD, DHA, MOH & DHCC Medical license exams
HAAD, DHA, MOH, and DCC are regulatory bodies in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) responsible for licensing healthcare professionals. Each regulatory body has its own criteria for exempting medical professionals from taking their respective licensing exams. Here are the exemption criteria for each regulatory body:
List of recognized countries and healthcare authorities exempted from license exams
- USA
- Australia
- Canada
- Ireland
- New Zealand
- South Africa
- UK
Physicians
All components of the licensing exam as outlined by the Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR) shall not be required of applicants who can provide proof of a current examination pass the record for one of the internationally recognised exams listed below:
| UNTRY | EQUIVALENCY ASSESSMENT | ABBREVATION |
| USA | United States Medical Licensing Examination Step III | USMLE Step III |
| Canada | Medical Council of Canada Qualifying Examination Part II | MCCQE part II |
| Ireland | * Ireland Temporary Registration Assessment Scheme Part III OR * Pre-Registration Examination System |
|
| Australia | Australian Medical Council Examination | AMC |
| New Zealand | New Zealand Registration Examination | NZREX |
| UK | * United Kingdom Professional and Linguistic Assessment * Board Test Part II (GMC) * Membership of the Royal College of Physicians/Surgeons (MRCP and MRCS) Completed all three parts. |
PLAB IIMRCP /MRCS (Complete) |
Consultant Physicians
Candidates who can demonstrate proof of passing one of the HAAD-recognized foreign exams (listed below) will not be required to take any of the PQR-required portions of the HAAD competency-based assessment (examination).
| COUNTRY | EQUIVALENCY ASSESSMENT |
| USA | American Board of Medical Specialty Certification |
| UK | * Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training (C.C.S.T.)or * Certificate of Completion of Training (C.C.T.)or * Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration (CESR) or evidence of inclusion in the Specialist Register in a specialty that is among the UK C.C.T. specialties* or * Certificate of Completion of Training in General Practice |
| Australia | Fellowship of the Royal College/ Colleges Certification |
| Canada | * Specialization Certificate of the RCPSOR
* Certification by the College of Family Physicians Canada (CFPC) |
| Ireland | A Certificate of Full Registration, Medical Council of Ireland |
| New Zealand | Fellowship of the Royal College/ Colleges Certification |
*Note 1: For UK issuing authority, Consultants in posts prior to 1 January 1999 who do not hold a C.C.T., but who hold C.E.S.R. are included in the UK Equivalency Assessment.
The following prerequisites must be met:
- Current status of board certification.
- A licence that has been in effect for at least two years in the most recent nation of practice.
- A certificate of good standing attesting to not less than two years of most recent practice (HAAD may also check an individual’s licensing status online)
- Documents show that a clinical privilege has been active for the past two years of practice.
- Documents demonstrating the clinical privilege to be provided by the sponsoring establishment in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.
Specialist Physicians
The following recognized international examinations (listed below) will exclude applicants who can provide a valid examination pass record from ALL COMPONENTS of the licensing exam as required by Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR):
| COUNTRY | EQUIVALENCY ASSESSMENT |
| USA | American Board of Medical Specialty Certification |
| UK | * Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training (C.C.S.T.)or * Certificate of Completion of Training (C.C.T.)or * Certificate of Completion of Training in General Practice (GPST) * Certificate of Eligibility for Specialist Registration (CESR) or evidence of inclusion in the Specialist Register in a specialty that is among the UK C.C.T. specialties* |
| Australia | Fellowship of the Royal College/ Colleges Certification |
| Canada | * Specialization Certificate of the RCPSOR
* Certification by the College of Family Physicians Canada (CFPC) |
| Ireland | Certificate of Specialist Doctor, Medical Council of Ireland |
| New Zealand | Fellowship of the Royal College/ Colleges Certification |
Must have a valid board certification status.
Please take note that the assessment exemption policy is not available to healthcare professionals with more than a two-year practice break.
We hope that the eligibility criteria for exemption from UAE Medical License Exams (DHA, HAAD, MOH, and DHCC) are clear to you now.
We at TalentScope are one of the top healthcare recruitment agencies in Dubai and UAE. Talentscope can help you with healthcare procurement jobs in UAE. Be it any medical license or any job in the UAE, we will assist you at every step.
Feel free to call us at +971 56 763 5442 if you have any queries.