Moving Your Licence Between DHA, DOH, MOH and SHA

Moving from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, or from Sharjah to Dubai, does not mean starting again. The UAE authorities share one set of rules, the Unified PQR, and those rules let a licensed professional move without a new exam, within limits. This guide sets out what each authority says.

The rule all three share

Under the Unified PQR, if you hold a valid licence from any UAE health authority, you are exempt from the exam at another, as long as:

• you meet the PQR for your title, and did not use up your exam attempts;
• you give a valid Good Standing Certificate and a full Dataflow (PSV) report, as the new authority asks;
• an expired or cancelled licence is no more than six months past its expiry.

You are given the same title you held before. Each authority still runs its own internal process.

Authority by authority

Moving to	What it says
DHA (Dubai)	Within five years of a MOHAP or DOH licence cancellation, the same position without a new assessment, if there is no gap in practice and the PQR is met. DHA accepts Dataflow reports transferred from DOH, SHA and MOHAP, and may verify further.
MOHAP (northern emirates)	A valid DOH or DHA licence is moved by your employer on MOHAP's portal, without a new evaluation. A DHA evaluation and its Dataflow report transfer without another exam. Expired for more than six months: the MOHAP exam applies.
DOH (Abu Dhabi)	Follows the Unified PQR rule above. DOH publishes no separate page on receiving a DHA or MOHAP licence: we check your case.
SHA (Sharjah)	An SHA licence transfers only between SHA-licensed facilities. From another authority, SHA's own assessment applies.

The PQR's six-month window and DHA's five-year window are different rules: DHA's applies to professionals coming to DHA after a MOHAP or DOH cancellation. Check both against your dates before you resign.

A higher title

Moving does not upgrade your title. DHA asks a professional licensed elsewhere who wants a higher title to complete the upgrade with their current authority first. Upgrade, then move.

Your Dataflow report moves too

You do not repeat the Dataflow for each emirate. Reports are transferred between the UAE authorities: DHA, for example, accepts reports from DOH, SHA and MOHAP. Keep your case number. See Dataflow status and report.

• Letting your licence lapse before you move

  The exam exemption needs a valid licence, or one no more than six months past expiry. Plan the move before it lapses.

• Expecting a higher title with the move

  The same title is carried over. A higher title is an upgrade with your current authority first.

• Forgetting the good standing certificate

  The new authority asks for a valid Good Standing Certificate. Order it from your council in time: see good standing for the UAE.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to write the exam again to move from DHA to DOH?

Not under the Unified PQR, if your DHA licence is valid (or no more than six months expired), you meet the PQR for your title and you did not use up your attempts. In our cases, an active DHA licence can be transferred to both DOH and MOH.

Can I move my DHA eligibility to MOH without an exam?

Yes. MOHAP says a DHA evaluation and its Dataflow report can be transferred to an MOH evaluation certificate without another exam.

Do I need a new Dataflow when I change emirates?

Usually not: reports are transferred between the authorities. The new authority may ask for more verification.

Can I move my SHA licence to another emirate?

An SHA licence transfers only between SHA facilities. For another authority, that authority's rules apply; your SHA Dataflow report can be transferred.

Can I hold licences from more than one UAE authority?

Yes. In our cases, a professional can hold DHA, DOH and MOH licences at the same time.

Who applies for the transfer?

For MOHAP, your new employer applies on MOHAP's portal. At DHA and DOH, the new facility activates your licence. Tell us your case and we check the steps.