DOH License Abu Dhabi: Complete Guide for International Doctors (2026)
The DOH (Department of Health) license issued by Abu Dhabi’s health authority is required for all healthcare professionals practicing in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi — including Abu Dhabi city, Al Ain, and Al Dhafra. MediFlow specializes in full-service DOH licensing support for international physicians.
What Is the DOH License?
The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DOH) licenses all healthcare practitioners operating in Abu Dhabi Emirate. Abu Dhabi has one of the UAE’s largest healthcare markets, home to SEHA, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Burjeel, and Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, among others.
The DOH license operates via the Malaffi system and requires completion of the Jawda quality framework for most facilities.
DOH vs DHA: Key Differences
- Jurisdiction: DOH covers Abu Dhabi Emirate; DHA covers Dubai Emirate only
- Scope: DOH-licensed doctors can practice anywhere in Abu Dhabi Emirate, including Al Ain
- Exam: DOH uses Prometric exam (same platform as DHA) — but exam content and specialty categories may differ
- Portal: DOH uses the Malaffi/DOH portal; DHA uses Sheryan
- Exemptions: DOH has specific exemption pathways for senior specialists and sub-specialists
DOH License Requirements
Documents Required
- Medical degree and postgraduate qualifications (DataFlow verified)
- Transcript of records
- Minimum 2 years post-graduation clinical experience
- Good Standing Certificate from current/previous licensing authority
- Valid passport and passport photo
- Emirates ID (if in UAE)
Exam Requirement
Most specialties require a Prometric exam. Senior consultants with 10+ years of experience and strong academic credentials may apply for an exemption assessment. MediFlow evaluates your eligibility.
Step-by-Step DOH License Process
Step 1: DataFlow Primary Source Verification
Identical to the DHA process — all documents are verified through DataFlow Group. If you already have DataFlow results from DHA, these can often be shared with DOH.
Step 2: DOH Portal Application
Create an account on the DOH licensing portal. Upload your verified documents, specialty information, and pay the registration fee.
Step 3: Prometric Exam
Schedule and pass the relevant Prometric specialty exam. MediFlow provides specialty-specific exam preparation guidance.
Step 4: License Issuance
After DOH review and approval, your license is issued. Renewal is typically annual.
Abu Dhabi Doctor Salaries (2026)
- General Practitioners: AED 18,000–30,000/month
- Specialists: AED 30,000–60,000/month
- Senior Consultants: AED 60,000–100,000+/month
Abu Dhabi government hospitals (SEHA, Sheikh Khalifa) generally offer higher base salaries than private sector. All income is tax-free.
Top Employers in Abu Dhabi
- Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi
- Sheikh Khalifa Medical City (SKMC)
- Burjeel Holdings
- SEHA (Abu Dhabi Health Services)
- Mediclinic Middle East (Abu Dhabi)
- NMC Healthcare
- Aster DM Healthcare
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer a DHA license to DOH?
Yes. DHA-licensed doctors can apply for a DOH license without repeating DataFlow. You still need to pass the DOH Prometric exam (if applicable), but the verification stage is bypassed. MediFlow handles the transfer process.
Is the DOH license harder to get than the DHA license?
The requirements are comparable. DOH’s exam standard is slightly different in structure but not significantly harder. The DOH application process can be marginally longer due to additional facility-level requirements.
What is Malaffi?
Malaffi is Abu Dhabi’s health information exchange platform. Healthcare facilities using Malaffi (most in Abu Dhabi) require licensed practitioners to be registered in the system. MediFlow supports your Malaffi registration as part of the licensing package.
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DOH Deep Dive
The DOH Licence — Practising Medicine in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi’s Department of Health regulates the capital’s healthcare system — home to flagship institutions from SEHA’s network to Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi. A DOH licence signals you cleared one of the region’s most respected reviews, and the capital rewards it with some of the strongest packages in the Gulf.
What DOH Review Emphasises
Tier mapping is strict and evidence-driven: board certificates, logbooks and experience letters are read closely, and Consultant recognition expects genuinely consultant-level documentation. The exam requirement follows the national pattern with exemptions for recognised Western boards. Files that anticipate the committee’s reading pass smoothly; improvised ones invite queries that cost weeks.
Working in the Capital
Government-linked groups anchor the market with private tertiary players alongside; academic medicine, research programmes and Arabic-plus-English patient mixes shape daily practice. Al Ain and the Dhafra region extend the same licence beyond the city — often with additional incentives for physicians willing to serve growing communities.
More Questions, Answered
Is the DOH process harder than DHA?
It is thorough rather than harder — the same credentials succeed, presented with the rigour the capital expects. Preparation quality is the real differentiator.
Does a DOH licence cover Al Ain?
Yes — the licence covers the whole emirate: Abu Dhabi city, Al Ain and the Dhafra region.
Which employers hire under DOH?
From large government-linked hospital groups to international private operators and specialist centres — our placement network spans both sectors.
Can I transfer my DHA licence to DOH?
Yes, via the standard inter-authority conversion using your verified history. We sequence it around your new offer so practice never pauses.