Healthcare professionals in the UAE often work under different licensing authorities depending on the emirate where they practice. DHA (Dubai Health Authority) regulates healthcare practice in Dubai, while the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) oversees licensure in the northern emirates like Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, and Fujairah. If you currently hold a DHA professional license and wish to work in a region under MOHAP, transferring your license is a key step in your career mobility within the UAE healthcare sector.
This guide explains the entire process, from eligibility and required documentation to application submission and final licensure activation. FACTS Transcripts brings you the most complete and practical explanation to help you successfully manage this transition.
Why Transfer From DHA to MOH?
Transferring your professional license allows you to broaden your employment opportunities beyond Dubai and practise legally in other parts of the UAE. Rather than applying as a completely new applicant under MOHAP standards, the transfer process recognises your existing DHA credentials and creates a pathway for a smooth transition into MOHAP’s regulatory framework. This is especially important if you are targeting job opportunities in the northern emirates, where MOHAP is the governing authority for healthcare licensing.
Eligibility: Who Can Transfer Their License?
Healthcare professionals who can apply for this transfer typically include:
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Doctors
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Nurses
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Allied health professionals and technicians
To be eligible to transfer your license from DHA to MOHAP, you must meet a few key conditions:
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Hold a valid and active DHA professional license.
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Maintain a clean professional standing throughout your DHA licensure.
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Possess a Primary Source Verification (PSV) report for your credentials.
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Provide documentation showing your education, license history, and professional experience.
In the UAE, healthcare professionals are allowed to hold multiple licenses at the same time under different authorities. This means that transferring your DHA license to MOHAP does not automatically cancel your DHA credentials, as long as both remain active with sponsoring facilities.
Step-by-Step: How to Transfer Your License
1. Prepare All Required Documents
Before starting the MOHAP transfer process, gather all necessary documentation related to your DHA license. These typically include:
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Copy of your valid passport and identification details
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Active DHA professional license information
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Primary Source Verification (PSV) or DataFlow report confirming your credentials
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Good Standing Certificate from DHA demonstrating no professional disciplinary actions
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Experience certificates showing your work history under the DHA license
Your primary academic records and detailed transcripts — whether they are nursing, medical, or allied health documents — play a significant role in helping licensing authorities assess your professional background. FACTS Transcripts specialises in organising and preparing these transcripts so they meet UAE standards before submission.
2. Create a MOHAP Account and Open Transfer Request
Once your documentation is complete:
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Create or log into your MOHAP online account using UAE PASS credentials.
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Navigate to the professional licensing section where you can initiate a transfer request.
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Enter your valid DHA license number so MOHAP establishes a record linked to your professional identity.
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Upload your documents, including your PSV report and Good Standing Certificate.
During this phase, MOHAP verifies your DHA licensing details against their system. If your existing data has already been verified by PSV or DataFlow, MOHAP can often import that information directly without the need for a completely new evaluation system entry.
3. Submit the Transfer Application Through MOHAP’s Portal
Unlike new licensing applications, the transfer request typically must be submitted through a sponsoring healthcare facility. Healthcare facilities licensed under MOHAP will use their institutional account to:
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Submit the transfer application on your behalf
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Upload your professional details and documents to their profile
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Monitor the progress of the transfer request until completion
MOHAP then conducts an internal review of your application and documentation.
4. MOHAP Verification and Approval
After submitting your transfer request:
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MOHAP internally reviews your credentials and confirms that your DHA licensing meets the MOHAP requirements.
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If your documentation meets all criteria and the PSV report is valid, MOHAP will issue an evaluation or approval confirmation that recognises your DHA licensure under MOHAP’s system.
Depending on the profession, this may exclude you from having to take a new MOHAP exam, particularly if your DHA eligibility or license is sufficiently aligned with MOHAP’s Professional Qualification Requirements.
5. Sponsorship and Final License Activation
Once MOHAP approves your eligibility:
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Your employer in a MOHAP-regulated facility will finalise the license activation process on your behalf.
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Typically, the facility submits your contract details and professional information, completes any required payments, and MOHAP issues your official MOHAP license electronically.
At this stage, you are authorised to practise under MOHAP’s jurisdiction and may commence clinical duties in the northern UAE according to your professional category.
Important Requirements and Professional Considerations
Active License and Good Standing
Your existing DHA license must be active and in good standing to be transferable. Good Standing Certificates are standard for such transfers and generally must be issued recently to reflect your current professional record.
PSV and Document Consistency
A valid PSV report (such as a DataFlow report) significantly accelerates your transfer evaluation. If your PSV is recent and positive, MOHAP may accept it without requiring repeat verification processes. Having your transcripts clearly organised with subject credits and clinical hours verified minimizes delays.
FACTS Transcripts specialises in ensuring that your academic documentation and PSV preparation are complete and compliant with UAE requirements before you begin licensure or transfer. This preparation can be crucial to a smoother transition.
No Exam Requirement for Some Transfers
Depending on your profession and the alignment between DHA and MOHAP qualification standards, you may not be required to take a new MOHAP licensing exam if your DHA eligibility includes recognised assessments. MOHAP’s systems can sometimes recognise prior professional verification and evaluations conducted by DHA, reducing redundant examination requirements.
Career Mobility and Multiple Licenses
One of the key benefits of the UAE healthcare licensing framework is the flexibility for professionals to hold multiple active licenses simultaneously under different authorities. For example, you can hold a DHA license for Dubai while also holding a MOHAP license for the northern emirates, provided each license is sponsored appropriately by a facility in that jurisdiction. This flexibility broadens your professional options and supports mobility across the UAE healthcare landscape.
Challenges and Common Mistakes
Missing or Incomplete Documentation
Incomplete transcripts, missing PSV reports, or improperly formatted professional history documents are among the most common obstacles that delay transfer applications. Organising your academic history accurately in advance reduces the risk of interruptions.
Employer Engagement
Since the transfer application is initiated by the employing facility, ensuring that your prospective or current employer is familiar with MOHAP’s transfer process, documentation requirements, and licensing portal can reduce administrative hurdles.
Final Thoughts
Transferring your healthcare license from DHA to MOHAP is an important step for professionals aiming to work outside Dubai and expand their clinical career across the UAE. With careful preparation, valid documentation, and a clear understanding of the process, you can navigate this transition successfully.
FACTS Transcripts supports you by preparing academic transcripts, verifying credentials, and organising documentation in line with licensing authority expectations. With accurate credentials in place and full compliance with professional requirements, your license transfer journey can be straightforward and efficient — opening doors to expanded career opportunities within the UAE healthcare system.
