Dubai Health Authority — Manual for Licensing Health Facility v1.2, Manual for Licensing Healthcare Professionals v1.4 (both effective 30/09/2026) and Manual for Professional Assessment v1.1,
chapter by chapter

Facility Licensing Manual s 19.1Management personnel duties

Facility management must comply with laws, circulate DHA circulars, settle fines, and ensure the Medical Director governs clinical care.

Facility Licensing Manual ss 5.1-5.12General rules

A facility must obtain a DHA licence before providing health services and ensure compliance with licence conditions; applications are only accepted via Sheryan.

Facility Licensing Manual ss 6.6-6.7New facility licence

Applicants must submit details and a facility proposal to obtain an inactive DHA facility licence, valid for one year without service provision.

Facility Licensing Manual ss 7.1-7.7Activation

To activate a facility license, valid trade licenses, a Medical Director, and approved inspections must be obtained, along with necessary registrations and connectivity requirements.

Facility Licensing Manual ss 7.5, 8 (v1.2 change)Compounding pharmacies

Compounding pharmacies must possess a valid Emirates Drug Establishment GMP certificate and EDE approval for all compounded products to operate.

Facility Licensing Manual ss 8.2-8.9Renewal

Renewal of facility licenses begins three months before expiry, contingent upon clearing fines and having active professional licenses, with penalties for delays.

Facility Licensing Manual ss 9.1-9.7Amendments

Amendments to services or ownership require a Sheryan application; the facility may continue operating under the current licence until approval.

Facility Licensing Manual ss 10.1-10.7Change of location

A facility wishing to change location must submit updated plans and obtain approvals, including a no-objection certificate for free zone to mainland moves.

Facility Licensing Manual ss 11.1-11.4Change of name

Facility names must be compliant, non-misleading, and proof of affiliation is needed for any religious or institutional logos; DHA can reject misleading names.

Facility Licensing Manual ss 12.1-12.8Change of ownership

A change of ownership requires a Sheryan application, with conditions regarding violations, pending appeals, and documentation following an owner's death.

Facility Licensing Manual ss 13.1-13.5Medical Director change

A new Medical Director must be licensed and properly qualified, with a request made in Sheryan and a vacancy of no more than two weeks.

Facility Licensing Manual ss 14.1-14.14Temporary permits

Licensed facilities may apply for temporary permits for non-invasive health screenings, needing prior approvals and plans covering audience and activities.

Facility Licensing Manual ss 15.1-15.7Facility groups

Facilities under common ownership can form groups, allowing professional rotation only if services exist, staffing is adequate, and malpractice insurance covers all professionals.

Facility Licensing Manual ss 16.1-16.5Payment of fines

Facilities must pay all outstanding fines before applying for any licensing changes; installment requests for fines over AED 20,000 require proof of financial inability.

Facility Licensing Manual ss 17.1-17.11Temporary closure

Facilities may temporarily close for up to six months, requiring contingency plans and justification, while maintaining licence renewals and fee payments.

Facility Licensing Manual ss 18.1-18.8Cancellation

A facility can only cancel its licence if not under investigation, has no active complaints, and must also safeguard patient records post-cancellation.

Professional Assessment Manual ss 4.6-4.7, 5.16Results

Applicants receive pass or fail results for oral assessments via Sheryan within 3 to 5 days, with valid registration certificates requiring facility activation to practice.

Professional Assessment Manual ss 4.9-4.13, 4.19Attempts and reassessment

Applicants may attempt the DHA assessment three times; failing three results in a two-year block on reapplication, with conditions for further attempts.

Professional Assessment Manual ss 4.16, 4.24, 5.1-5.4Booking, rescheduling and pending applications

Oral assessment applications pending over 90 days are rejected; rescheduling is allowed once within five days, while missed appointments require a new booking.

Professional Assessment Manual ss 4.17-4.18, 5.2-5.18Conduct during assessment

Applicants must arrive 15 minutes early for assessments, present ID, and adhere to strict conduct rules, with violations leading to failures or blacklisting.

Professional Assessment Manual ss 4.20-4.21, 6.1-6.19Panel rules

Panel assessments require at least two members with no conflicts of interest, adhering to strict rules on session conduct and reporting.

Professional Licensing Manual ss 5.2-5.19, 5.33-5.52General rules and disclosure

All professionals must possess a DHA licence, disclose any disciplinary history, maintain malpractice insurance, and may not practice with inactive licenses or misrepresent information.

Professional Licensing Manual ss 5.23, 5.28-5.30, 15.12Surgical logbooks and specialty requirements

Surgical specialties must provide logbooks documenting cases at licensing and renewal, with specific case minimums required for Interventional specializations.

Professional Licensing Manual ss 5.24-5.27Part-time licences

The first DHA license issued is always full-time; part-time licenses require approval and become inactive upon cancellation of the full-time license.

Professional Licensing Manual ss 5.39-5.42Reporting to the Medical Director

Professionals must report infectious diseases or disciplinary actions to the Medical Director, who may limit their practice; up-to-date CPR certifications are required.

Professional Licensing Manual ss 6.1-6.5, 10.3Primary source verification

Primary source verification of qualifications and good standing by DHA is mandatory for licensing, with strict timelines for document submission and appeals.

Professional Licensing Manual ss 7.4-7.20Assessment attempts

DHA assessment applicants can attempt three times; after three failures, reapplication is blocked for two years and permissions are required for a fourth attempt.

Professional Licensing Manual ss 11.1-11.10Licence activation

Facilities must activate a professional license after ensuring proper licensing compliance, employment evidence, and malpractice insurance are in place.

Professional Licensing Manual ss 12.1-12.4Registration renewal

Registrations not activated within validity must be renewed, and certain experiences require updated documentation if older than two years.

Professional Licensing Manual ss 15.1-15.12, 18.1-18.14Licence renewal and CPD

Facilities must renew professional licenses within three months of expiry and meet annual CPD requirements, or face penalties and practice restrictions.

Professional Licensing Manual ss 16.1-16.6Trainee, resident and intern licences

Trainee, resident, or intern licenses are available for those lacking experience but are only valid for a restricted period, with supervisor continuity required.

Professional Licensing Manual ss 17.1-17.16Temporary permit to practise

A Medical Director can apply for a non-renewable, temporary permit for an unregistered professional, who must work under supervision and cannot perform certain activities.

Professional Licensing Manual ss 19.1-19.16Good standing certificates

Good standing certificates must be issued through Sheryan, documenting all disciplinary actions by licensed professionals, who must disclose prior actions to relevant authorities.

Professional Licensing Manual ss 20.1-20.12, 21.1-21.4Licence cancellation

Facilities must cancel professional licences upon resignation, ensuring compliance even during appeals or investigations, with a one-year renewal provision.

Professional Licensing Manual ss 23-28Reissuance and reinstatement

Cancelled licences can be reissued after settling fees, while expired licences over six months require a new application and adherence to practice rules.