HAAD Licensing Abu Dhabi -- Now DOH: Complete Guide for Healthcare Professionals

If you are searching for HAAD licensing you are in the right place — but there is one important update to know before you begin.

HAAD — the Health Authority Abu Dhabi — no longer exists as an independent authority. It was restructured into the Department of Health Abu Dhabi (DOH) as part of a UAE-wide initiative to standardise and consolidate healthcare regulatory frameworks. All examinations and licenses previously referred to as HAAD are now officially administered and issued under the DOH banner.

The search term HAAD is still widely used by healthcare professionals and hospital HR teams because the transition happened gradually. The authority changed its name. The licensing requirement did not. If you need to work as a doctor, nurse, or allied health professional in Abu Dhabi you need a DOH license — formerly called a HAAD license.

StaffBank manages Abu Dhabi healthcare licensing for internationally recruited professionals and the hospital groups recruiting them.

Nick Hays, StaffBank’s founder, has worked in Gulf healthcare recruitment since the early years of Abu Dhabi’s healthcare expansion.

He co-founded Latitudes Group International, which operated across the Gulf, Singapore, Australia, and the UK before its acquisition by Medacs Healthcare PLC in 2013.

In that time he developed a detailed working knowledge of the Abu Dhabi licensing pathway through both its HAAD and its current DOH structure. StaffBank brings that institutional knowledge to every Abu Dhabi healthcare licensing engagement we manage.

IMPORTANT: HAAD no longer exists. The Health Authority Abu Dhabi was restructured into the Department of Health Abu Dhabi (DOH). All licensing applications are now submitted through DOH eLicensing. Any service or document still referring to HAAD as an active licensing authority is outdated. The correct authority for Abu Dhabi healthcare licensing is DOH — Department of Health Abu Dhabi.

DOH Abu Dhabi vs DHA Dubai -- The Key Differences

Both are UAE licensing authorities. Both require DataFlow PSV. Both require licensing examinations in most cases. But there are important practical differences that affect the application process and timeline.

Factor	DOH Abu Dhabi (formerly HAAD)	DHA Dubai
Geographic coverage	Abu Dhabi emirate and Al Ain	Dubai emirate only
Licensing portal	DOH eLicensing	Sheryan
Examination provider	Pearson VUE	Prometric
DataFlow requirement	Mandatory	Mandatory
Documentation for consultants	Higher standards -- Western board prioritised	Standard requirements
License validity	1 to 2 years	1 year
Cross-emirate transfer	Not automatic -- separate application required	Not automatic -- separate application required

DOH Abu Dhabi Licensing Process

DOH Eligibility Assessment

Submit your credentials for initial eligibility assessment through DOH eLicensing. This determines whether you meet DOH Professional Qualification Requirements and whether you qualify for examination exemption.

DataFlow Primary Source Verification

Complete DataFlow PSV through the DOH eLicensing portal. Documents required: degree certificates, medical or nursing registration from home country, Good Standing Certificate, experience letters, passport. Timeline: 14 to 45 working days.

DOH Licensing Examination -- Pearson VUE

If examination is required schedule through Pearson VUE at an international test centre before relocating. DOH uses Pearson VUE not Prometric. Do not confuse the two examination providers.

DOH Credential Review

Following DataFlow completion and examination DOH reviews your complete application and issues a license or eligibility decision.

License Activation with Abu Dhabi Employer

Your employing Abu Dhabi facility activates your license. You can then legally practise in Abu Dhabi healthcare facilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is HAAD still the licensing authority for Abu Dhabi in 2026?

No. HAAD — the Health Authority Abu Dhabi — was restructured into the Department of Health Abu Dhabi (DOH) as part of a UAE-wide regulatory consolidation initiative. All healthcare licensing for Abu Dhabi is now administered by DOH through the DOH eLicensing portal. Examinations previously described as HAAD exams are now administered under the DOH banner through Pearson VUE. The licensing requirement itself has not changed — every healthcare professional working in Abu Dhabi must hold a valid DOH license.

Can a DHA Dubai license be used in Abu Dhabi?

No. A DHA license authorises practice within Dubai only. Healthcare professionals wishing to work in Abu Dhabi must apply separately to DOH Abu Dhabi. The DataFlow PSV report completed for a DHA application can be transferred to DOH at reduced cost, eliminating the need for a fresh full verification. However a separate DOH eligibility assessment, credential review, and Pearson VUE examination must be completed.