Why active licences and DHA license activation matter for healthcare professionals
Across the UAE, healthcare regulators such as the Department of Health (DOH), the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOH) and the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) require practitioners to hold an active professional licence. An active licence proves that you have satisfied the regulatory authority’s requirements and may start practising immediately. Employers prefer candidates with an active licence because they can start work without waiting for final approvals. In fact, even UniHealth’s own summary of licencing benefits notes that active licence holders are preferred by employers and command better salaries. Having an active licence also keeps you competitive in a market where facilities often need to fill positions quickly.
Professionals relocating to the UAE are drawn by competitive salaries and a tax‑free income, but they cannot enjoy these benefits until their licence is activated. Without activation, an eligibility letter limits you to job offers; an active licence allows you to start seeing patients, obtain a residence visa and access official privileges.
Key benefits of activating your licence
To strengthen your career prospects, activate your DOH, MOH or DHA licence. Some of the key advantages include:
- Immediate employability: Hospitals and clinics can hire you faster when you already hold a valid licence. This saves them the time and cost of sponsoring the activation process and gives you an edge over candidates who only have an eligibility letter【197638948254248†L24-L29】.
- Higher earning potential: Employers are willing to pay more for fully licensed professionals because they can begin working without delay【197638948254248†L24-L29】. An active licence demonstrates that you are ready to practise and have met the regulator’s competency requirements.
- Mobility across emirates: With the right transfers in place, an active licence allows you to move between Abu Dhabi (DOH), Dubai (DHA) and other emirates without repeating exams. Converting your licence keeps your professional options open and enables you to work where demand is highest.
- Access to professional services: Active licence holders can sign prescriptions, access controlled medicines and provide telehealth consultations. An eligibility letter does not permit these services; you must have a fully activated licence.
- Security and peace of mind: When your licence is activated, you avoid delays or suspensions that can occur if documents expire during the eligibility phase. You can apply for visas and residency with confidence.
Converting your eligibility letter to an active licence
A licence eligibility letter confirms that you have passed the regulator’s knowledge exams and credential checks. However, you cannot practise until the licence is activated. The activation process involves securing a job offer from an approved healthcare facility, submitting your credentials through the regulator’s portal (DOH, MOH or DHA) and meeting any additional requirements such as malpractice insurance and a work visa.
Healthcare professionals often ask whether they can transfer a DHA eligibility letter to a DOH active licence. Yes—under the unified healthcare licensing framework, you can convert your eligibility letter from one authority to an active licence in another emirate. UniHealth specialises in this type of conversion: our experts handle the paperwork and liaise with both regulators so that your DHA eligibility letter becomes a DOH or MOH active licence without the waiting times that used to delay practitioners. We ensure your documents are correct, upload them to the new regulator’s portal and track your application until the licence is issued.
How UniHealth strengthens your licence activation
UniHealth is more than a licensing service—we are a trusted partner in your professional journey. Here is why practitioners choose us:
- Local expertise: Our consultants are based in the UAE and understand the nuances of DOH, MOH and DHA regulations. We keep up with the latest policy updates so that your application meets current requirements.
- Document preparation: We review your credentials, verify their authenticity and make sure they comply with DataFlow and Primary Source Verification (PSV) standards. This reduces the risk of rejections and delays.
- Fast‑track activation: Because we work closely with healthcare facilities and regulators, we can coordinate job offers and regulatory submissions so that you receive an active licence quickly. Our service is designed to convert eligibility letters to active licences without unnecessary waiting, saving you time and stress.
- Post‑activation support: After your licence is activated, we guide you through residence visa applications, malpractice insurance and continuous professional development (CPD) requirements. We ensure that your licence remains valid so you can focus on patient care.
Want detailed guidance?
If you’re looking for a step‑by‑step roadmap to licence activation and conversion, we have you covered. Our comprehensive PDF guide walks you through each stage—eligibility, documentation, DataFlow, exam scheduling, activation and licence transfer.
Visit our licence activation page to access the guide and learn how UniHealth can help you secure your DOH, MOH or DHA licence swiftly.
Conclusion
An active DOH, MOH or DHA licence opens doors to lucrative opportunities in the UAE’s thriving healthcare sector. It signals that you are ready to practise, enhances your professional credibility and positions you for higher salaries. Don’t let an eligibility letter hold you back—work with UniHealth to activate or convert your licence and join the region’s leading healthcare professionals.