MBBS Graduates —
DHA Medical Licensing
Full Process Guide
The definitive step-by-step guide for MBBS graduates seeking a DHA General Practitioner or Medical Officer license to practice medicine in Dubai — from eligibility to exam to your first day in a clinic.
An MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) is a 5.5-year undergraduate medical degree — the primary qualification to practice medicine in South Asia, the UK, and many Commonwealth countries. In Dubai, all MBBS graduates who wish to practice clinically must obtain a DHA (Dubai Health Authority) license. Depending on your experience and specialisation, MBBS holders are primarily licensed as General Practitioners (GPs) or Medical Officers. This guide covers every single step of the process — from Dataflow to the DHA exam to license activation.
License CategoriesWhat License Does an MBBS Graduate Get?
General Practitioner (GP)
The most common DHA license for MBBS graduates. As a GP you can diagnose, treat, and manage patients independently in outpatient and primary care settings — polyclinics, medical centres, and GP clinics across Dubai.
Specialist Physician
MBBS holders who have completed a recognised postgraduate specialist qualification (MD, MS, MRCP, FRCS, Arab Board, etc.) and meet DHA's experience criteria can apply as Specialist in their respective field.
Consultant / Senior Specialist
Doctors with a recognised specialist qualification plus substantial post-specialisation experience (typically 6–10+ years) may qualify for the Consultant or Senior Specialist category — the highest clinical license in DHA.
Medical Officer / Resident
Newly graduated MBBS doctors with limited post-internship experience may be licensed as Medical Officer, working under supervision in hospital settings — with a pathway to upgrade to GP after accumulating the required experience.
Dubai has three separate healthcare licensing authorities — DHA (Dubai Health Authority) for Dubai, DOH (Department of Health) for Abu Dhabi, and MOH (Ministry of Health) for other emirates (Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, etc.). A DHA license is valid only in Dubai. If you want to practice in Abu Dha
