For healthcare professionals seeking a medical or allied health licence through the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), the journey from assessment to approval can be complex. After you complete your self-assessment and submit your credentials through the DHA’s licensing portal, your profile will go through a verification and review process. In many cases, applicants may be directed to request a Manual Review of their DHA application. This stage plays a crucial role in progressing your licence application, especially when the automated assessment flags eligibility questions, missing details, or document concerns.
Understanding what a Manual Review is, how to check your status, and what steps help avoid rejection can transform your DHA licensing experience from stressful to strategic.
What Does “Manual Review” Mean in the DHA Application?
When you begin your DHA licensing process, you first use the eligibility self-assessment tool on the DHA Sheryan portal. If your qualifications, experience, or documentation meet the criteria set out in the Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR), you can proceed with your licensing application. However, if the automated review cannot confidently confirm your eligibility, you are asked to submit your profile for Manual Review. This involves a human assessor at the DHA reviewing your documents and supporting materials to determine whether you fulfil the requirements or if additional documents or clarifications are needed.
A Manual Review is essentially an escalation of your application beyond the system’s automated checks. It is a standard part of the licensing process, and many qualified candidates undergo it when records don’t automatically match expected criteria for their profession.
How to Submit a Manual Review Application
If your automated assessment flags your profile as needing further review, the system will prompt you to:
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Fill out and submit the online application for review through the Sheryan portal.
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Upload all required documents in the formats requested.
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Pay the manual review fee, which in most cases is a specific amount designated by DHA for this service.
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Wait for the DHA team to evaluate your submission and make a decision.
Manual review usually takes a few working days to complete, though timelines can vary depending on workload and document complexity.
What Documents Are Typically Required for Manual Review
To ensure your application is reviewed without unnecessary delays or rejections, you will be asked to provide clear, complete copies of documents that are fundamental to verifying your qualifications. These typically include:
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A clear copy of your passport and national identification.
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Your educational qualification certificates and academic transcripts.
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Professional experience letters detailing your roles, duties, and exact dates of service.
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Your home-country professional license or registration.
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A Good Standing Certificate from your licensing authority, confirming that you have no pending disciplinary issues.
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For surgical or specialist roles, a clinical logbook that records your practical experience.
Providing these documents in the required format — generally clear PDFs or high-resolution scans — and labelled correctly helps DHA assessors interpret your records accurately.
How to Check Your DHA Manual Review Status
Once you have submitted your manual review request via the portal, you can track your application status in several ways:
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Sheryan Portal Dashboard: Log in to your DHA Sheryan account and check the status of your application. The portal typically shows whether your application is “Under Review,” “Approved,” “Return for Amendment,” or “Rejected.”
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Email Updates: DHA will often send updates related to significant status changes to the email you registered with.
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Customer Support Channels: If the portal hasn’t been updated and it’s been longer than expected, you can contact DHA support for clarification.
Understanding the current status of your application helps you prepare necessary actions proactively and avoid unnecessary delays.
Common Reasons DHA Applications Are Flagged or Rejected
Getting a Manual Review request does not automatically mean your application will be rejected. However, delays and rejections often arise from predictable and avoidable issues, particularly related to documentation and eligibility compliance. Insight into these common causes helps you prepare a stronger submission.
Incomplete or Inaccurate Documentation
If your educational certificates, experience letters, or licence documents are missing, unclear, or inconsistent, DHA assessors are likely to return the application with a request for clarification or reject it outright. It is crucial that your documents:
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Show the same name and details as in your passport.
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Are attested and authenticated as required by DHA rules.
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Include complete information without abbreviations or missing dates.
Mismatch in Experience Details
Experience letters that lack specific start and end dates, do not clearly describe your clinical responsibilities, or fail to clearly state your job title may lead to your application being questioned. For specialist roles, inconsistent documentation between experience letters and an applicant’s clinical logbook is sometimes flagged during review.
Misalignment with Eligibility Criteria
Each profession regulated by DHA — whether nursing, medicine, pharmacy, or allied health — has specific Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR). If the assessment team determines that your academic qualifications or experience do not align with the standards expected for your chosen licence type, they may return the application for additional documentation or restrict your eligibility until requirements are met.
Poor Scan Quality and Submission Errors
Applications can be delayed or rejected simply because the documentation is unreadable, improperly formatted, or submitted in pieces instead of one complete batch. Ensuring high-quality scans in accepted file formats (such as PDF or JPEG) and uploading all required files in one submission reduces the risk of administrative rejection.
How to Avoid Rejection During Manual Review
Preparation and attention to detail are key to avoiding common pitfalls that lead to unnecessary setbacks or rejections.
Check Every Document for Accuracy
Before submission, verify that your name, credentials, dates, and job titles are consistent across all certificates, letters, and forms. Even small discrepancies can delay verification.
Use Standardised Experience Letters
Ensure your experience letters are issued on official letterhead, include exact employment dates, clearly describe clinical duties, and bear authorised signatures. This helps the assessor quickly verify your background.
Follow File Format and Quality Guidelines
Upload clear digital scans with appropriate file names and complete sets of documents in one session. Avoid partial uploads and blurry images, as these often trigger processing delays.
Submit Documents According to DHA Requirements
Understand the specific requirements for your profession’s eligibility. Use the most recent official DHA manual — which outlines the licensing process, standards, and documentation expectations — as your reference.
What Happens After Manual Review
Once the DHA manual review team evaluates your documents:
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Approval: Your application moves forward in the process. You will then proceed to the UAE licensing exam (if required) or receive confirmation of eligibility.
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Return for Amendments: DHA may ask you to provide additional documents, clarify information, or correct inconsistencies. You’ll need to comply promptly and resubmit the updates.
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Rejection: If your application cannot be approved due to non-compliance with DHA requirements, you will receive feedback explaining which areas need attention before a new application can be submitted.
Regularly checking your status and responding quickly to requests helps keep your application moving.
Final Thoughts
Navigating the DHA Manual Review process and checking your status are essential elements in securing a medical or healthcare licence in Dubai. While the process may seem detailed, careful document preparation, adherence to DHA standards, and proactive tracking of your application greatly improve your chances of success. FACTS Transcripts supports healthcare professionals by helping ensure that documentation, eligibility criteria, and submission strategies meet the strict regulatory framework of DHA, reducing delays and strengthening licence applications. With the right approach and preparation, the Dubai Health Authority licensing pathway becomes a structured and manageable journey toward a rewarding career in Dubai’s healthcare sector.
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