Dubai remains one of the most popular destinations for nurses from Nigeria, India, the Philippines, Kenya, Ghana and elsewhere. Tax-free salaries, modern hospitals and a large expatriate community are strong attractions. To work as a nurse in Dubai, you need a licence from the Dubai Health Authority (DHA). Here’s how the process works.
The UAE has three main health regulators: the DHA (Dubai), the Department of Health (Abu Dhabi) and the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) for the northern emirates. Requirements, fees and exam formats change, so always check the DHA’s official Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR) and the Sheryan portal.
Who can apply?
To apply for a Registered Nurse licence, you generally need:
- A recognised nursing qualification. DHA’s requirements have been changing towards a bachelor’s degree as the standard for RNs, with some diploma holders still eligible under specific conditions. Check the current PQR for your qualification.
- A valid licence or registration in your home country (or the country where you trained or worked).
- Relevant post-qualification clinical experience. The minimum is usually around two years for registered nurses, though this depends on your qualification and category. Experience should be recent and continuous.
- A good standing certificate from your regulator.
Step 1: Create a Sheryan account
DHA licensing is managed through the online Sheryan system. Create an account, select your professional title (for example, Registered Nurse) and complete an eligibility assessment.
Step 2: Upload documents
Commonly required documents include:
- Passport copy and passport photograph
- Nursing degree or diploma certificate and transcripts
- Home licence and good standing certificate
- Experience certificates with dates and duties
- Basic Life Support (BLS) certificate, usually from an approved provider
Step 3: Primary source verification (DataFlow)
DHA uses primary source verification, usually through DataFlow Group, to confirm your education, licence and experience directly with the issuing institutions. Tips:
- Start early. Verification can take weeks to months, especially if schools or hospitals respond slowly.
- Make sure names match on every document.
- Inform your school and employers that they’ll be contacted.
Step 4: Book and sit the DHA exam
After eligibility is confirmed, you’ll be able to book the DHA licensing exam. It’s typically a computer-based multiple-choice exam delivered by Prometric, available at test centres in many countries.
- Content: clinical nursing knowledge across medical-surgical, maternity, paediatrics, mental health, critical care, pharmacology, infection control, ethics and priority setting.
- Format and pass mark: confirmed in your exam eligibility details. Check the DHA’s current guidance.
- Attempts: there’s a limit on the number of attempts, so prepare thoroughly before your first sitting.
Some candidates with certain qualifications or licences from specific countries may be exempt from the exam. Check whether this applies to you.
Step 5: Pass and receive eligibility
After passing the exam and completing verification, you’ll receive an eligibility letter. This allows you to apply for jobs and can be valid for a limited period (often one year), during which you must activate your licence.
Step 6: Get a job and activate the licence
- A DHA-licensed facility hires you and sponsors your work visa.
- The facility requests activation of your licence through Sheryan.
- You’ll complete a medical fitness test and Emirates ID process in the UAE.
How to prepare for the DHA nursing exam
- Use the official exam outline if available and focus on high-yield areas: ABC prioritisation, lab values, common medications, infection control and emergency care.
- Practise timed questions daily.
- Revise core topics such as sepsis, diabetes, cardiac care, maternity emergencies and paediatric dehydration.
- Learn safety principles: medication rights, patient identification, falls and pressure ulcer prevention.
Common reasons for delays
- Not meeting the experience requirement (or gaps in experience)
- Name mismatches across documents
- Slow responses from schools or employers during verification
- Expired home licence or BLS certificate
Avoid recruitment scams
- Legitimate employers rarely charge nurses large recruitment fees. Be wary of anyone asking for money to “guarantee” a job or licence.
- Verify job offers directly with the hospital and check the facility is DHA-licensed.
- Never hand over your original certificates to agents.