Dental professionals in Dubai and MOH exams

First of all, it is good to know that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation of seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras al Khaimah and Umm al Qaiwain. Political power lies mainly in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Both are a major source of income for the country, as much as 80% of the UAE’s total income. As the emirates are more and more known as a land of opportunities, the emirates is beginning to become a true destination for dental professionals and assistants. In this article we would like to explain to you how you can work as a Dutch dental professional in the UAE.

Different emirates, different regulations

Once a dentist in the Netherlands and registered in the BIG register, you can start working anywhere in the Netherlands. In the UAE it works differently. There are three different health organs spread over the different emirates. If you have passed the exam at one of the health authorities, you may only work in those emirates that fall under the relevant health authority. The three health organs are as follows:

1. Dubai Health Authority (DHA): After successfully completing the exam, you are only allowed to work in Dubai.
2. Health Authority of Abu Dhabi (HAAD): after successfully completing the exam, you can only work in Abu Dhabi
3. Ministry of Health (MOH): After successfully completing the exam, you are only allowed to work in the other emirates: Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras al Khaimah, Umm al Qaiwain.

It is therefore important to think carefully in advance about where you want to work. Also keep in mind that the license application can take up to eight months.

Step-by-step plan

1. Make a list of the emirates in which you want to work, with the emirate where you prefer to work at the top and the emirate where you prefer not to work at the bottom.
2. Check which governmental health organ your chosen emirate falls under.
3. Examine the process associated with that particular health organ. For example, check which documents you need to apply for your license.
4. Collect all documents required for your application.
5. Start the application for your license.

In this article, we will take a closer look at how to apply for a license in Dubai for the DHA.

Application for a DHA license

To start working as a licensed healthcare professional in Dubai, you must successfully complete the DHA exam/assessment. The process consists of the following steps:

1. Start your application online on the DHA website via the ‘Sheryan’ portal. You will have to fill in several fields until you get to the point of applying for the exam/assessment.
2. After you have successfully completed the exam you will receive a eligibility letter. Within 1 year of receiving this letter, you must search for a workplace.
3. Once hired for a job, you get a DHA license.

The DHA exams

The DHA exams have a total duration of three hours and consists of 100 multiple choice questions. Of this, the actual exam time is two and a half hours. The remaining half hour is intended to identify your data and to prepare yourself for the exam. The results of the exam will be sent to you digitally within 48 hours. You have passed the DHA exams with a score of 60% or higher. This means that you must answer at least 60% of the questions correctly.

Passed DHA exam

Didn’t pass the DHA exam? Then it’s not over right away. You get a total of three attempts to pass the exam. If someone has failed all three times, there is still a chance. In that case you have to re-apply for an exam for a higher title. Example: if a regular dentist has failed three times, he/she cannot apply for the fourth time, unless a certificate of additional training in a specialty recognized by the DHA is presented. An application for a similar or even lower title is then no longer allowed.

How can we help you with your license application?

Would you like to have assistance with the application for your license? Or would you like to be trained for the exam? Then we can help you with this. You can contact the PRO department for this by sending an email to [email protected]. We will then contact you as soon as possible.