Doctor Recruitment Agency Dubai

StaffBank connects DHA-licensed doctors with leading hospitals and private clinics across Dubai. We manage the complete licensing journey, including DataFlow verification, DHLEX, Prometric exams, and DHA licence processing — from initial brief through to successful placement.

Doctor Recruitment Agency Dubai

DHA Licensing Managed for Physicians

and Specialist Doctors

Dubai needs 6,000 additional physicians by 2030. That requirement — confirmed by Colliers Healthcare market intelligence research — is driven by population growth, expansion of Dubai’s world-class private hospital infrastructure, medical tourism ambitions, and demand for specialist clinical expertise across every medical discipline. As of 2026, Dubai has 24,186 licensed physicians serving an estimated population of 3.66 million — approximately one physician for every 151 residents.

The specialties with greatest demand are general medicine, general surgery, paediatrics, anaesthesia, obstetrics, endocrinology, cardiology, and nephrology. StaffBank sources physicians from established DHA- eligible markets and manages the complete DHA licensing pathway — Sheryan registration, Dataflow verification, DHLEX or Prometric examination, good standing certificates, and final DHA licence — for every physician we place.

6,000

Physicians needed Dubai by 2030

24,186

DHA-licensed physicians 2026

33,000+

Total healthcare pros needed UAE by 2030

1:151

Physician to population ratio Dubai

Medical Specialties We Recruit for Dubai

General medicine and internal medicine — high demand in public and private settings
General surgery and specialist surgical consultants — across all surgical subspecialties
Paediatrics and neonatology — strong demand across Dubai's growing private paediatric sector
Obstetrics and gynaecology — consistently high demand across private hospital groups
Anaesthesia, Cardiology, Oncology, Endocrinology, Nephrology — specialist demand
Emergency medicine and Psychiatry — growing demand across Dubai's specialist facilities

The DHA Physician Licensing Process

Sheryan portal registration — setting up the physician's DHA application profile correctly from the outset
Dataflow primary source verification — verifying all medical degrees, postgraduate qualifications, licences, and employment records. Typically 4 to 8 weeks. We initiate immediately
DHA licence category determination — Category A, B, or C depending on qualifications and experience. This determines DHLEX examination requirements
DHLEX or Prometric examination — where required. We provide preparation support and scheduling coordination
Good standing certificate collection — from GMC, HPCSA, MCI, or any other licensing authority where previously registered
DHA licence confirmation and Residence visa coordination — minimising the gap between licence issue and start date

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does DHA physician licensing take?

For most specialist physicians, DHA licensing takes 8 to 14 weeks from initial Sheryan application — assuming Dataflow verification proceeds without documentation complications and examination is completed without delay. For physicians in examination-exempt categories, the process can be completed in 6 to 8 weeks. StaffBank initiates every stage proactively and provides accurate timeline projections before the interview stage.

Do all doctors need to sit the DHLEX examination for DHA licensing?

Not all DHA licence categories require examination. The requirement depends on the physician’s qualifications, specialty, and DHA category assessment. Category A physicians — typically those with recognised specialist qualifications from well-regarded systems — may be exempt. Category B and C physicians are generally required to sit DHLEX or Prometric. StaffBank confirms every candidate’s examination requirement at the sourcing stage.

What is the difference between DHA licensing for Dubai and DOH licensing for Abu Dhabi?

DHA — the Dubai Health Authority — licences all healthcare professionals practising in Dubai. DOH — the Department of Health Abu Dhabi — licences those practising in Abu Dhabi. These are entirely separate licensing bodies with independent Sheryan portal systems, different examination requirements, and distinct assessment processes. A physician licensed by DHA cannot practise in Abu Dhabi without separate DOH licensing.

Which private hospital groups does StaffBank recruit physicians for in Dubai?

StaffBank places physicians into major Dubai private healthcare networks including Mediclinic Middle East, Aster DM Healthcare, Burjeel Holdings, American Hospital Dubai, Thumbay Group, and NMC Health. We also place into specialist clinic groups and new facility openings where greenfield clinical team building requires coordinated multi-specialty recruitment.