Every GCC health authority, compared
All 10 regulators that license healthcare professionals across the Gulf - exam platform, Dataflow requirement, pass mark, fee and realistic timeline in one place.
Authority comparison at a glance
Timelines are end-to-end medians across our own files and assume a complete, attested document set. Fees are indicative in USD and exclude Dataflow charges.
| Authority | Country | Exam platform | Dataflow | Pass mark | Exam fee | Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DHADubai Health Authority | United Arab Emirates | Prometric | Required | 60% (title-dependent) | $240 – $280 | 8-16 weeks |
| DOHDepartment of Health – Abu Dhabi | United Arab Emirates | Prometric | Required | 60% (title-dependent) | $180 – $280 | 10-18 weeks |
| MOHAPMinistry of Health & Prevention | United Arab Emirates | Prometric | Required | 60% | $180 – $240 | 8-16 weeks |
| SHASharjah Health Authority | United Arab Emirates | Prometric | Required | 60% | $180 – $260 | 10-16 weeks |
| DCASDubai Corporation for Ambulance Services | United Arab Emirates | Authority CBT | Required | 60% written + skill sign-off | $180 – $240 | 6-12 weeks |
| SCFHSSaudi Commission for Health Specialties | Saudi Arabia | Prometric | Required | 60% (classification-specific) | $200 – $320 | 12-24 weeks |
| QCHPQatar Council for Healthcare Practitioners | Qatar | Prometric | Required | 60% | $220 – $280 | 10-20 weeks |
| NHRANational Health Regulatory Authority | Bahrain | Prometric | Required | 60% | $180 – $260 | 8-14 weeks |
| OMSBOman Medical Specialty Board | Oman | Prometric | Required | 60% | $200 – $280 | 10-18 weeks |
| MOH-KWMinistry of Health – Kuwait | Kuwait | Prometric | Required | 60% | $200 – $280 | 10-20 weeks |
United Arab Emirates
5 licensing authorities
Dubai Health Authority
Dubai's healthcare regulator - one portal, one exam, one path to practice in the emirate.
- Typical timeline
- 8-16 weeks
- Dataflow
- Dataflow
- Pass mark
- Pass 60% (title-dependent)
Department of Health – Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi's healthcare regulator - Tamm and Riayati platforms, Dataflow verification and Prometric assessment.
- Typical timeline
- 10-18 weeks
- Dataflow
- Dataflow
- Pass mark
- Pass 60% (title-dependent)
Ministry of Health & Prevention
The UAE's federal licence - covers Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah under one MOHAP permit.
- Typical timeline
- 8-16 weeks
- Dataflow
- Dataflow
- Pass mark
- Pass 60%
Sharjah Health Authority
Sharjah's own health regulator - the newest UAE authority, licensing professionals for Sharjah-based facilities.
- Typical timeline
- 10-16 weeks
- Dataflow
- Dataflow
- Pass mark
- Pass 60%
Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services
Dubai's EMS regulator - the licensing path for paramedics, EMTs and emergency medical responders.
- Typical timeline
- 6-12 weeks
- Dataflow
- Dataflow
- Pass mark
- Pass 60% written + skill sign-off
Saudi Arabia
1 licensing authority
Bahrain
1 licensing authority
Oman
1 licensing authority
Common questions
How many health authorities license doctors in the GCC?+
Ten. The UAE alone has five — DHA (Dubai), DOH (Abu Dhabi), MOHAP (federal / northern emirates), SHA (Sharjah) and DCAS (Dubai ambulance services). Saudi Arabia uses SCFHS, Qatar uses QCHP, Bahrain uses NHRA, Oman uses OMSB and Kuwait uses its Ministry of Health.
Does one GCC licence let me work anywhere in the Gulf?+
No. Each licence is valid only inside the jurisdiction that issued it — a DHA licence covers Dubai, not Abu Dhabi or Sharjah. However, the Dataflow primary source verification report can usually be reused when applying to a second authority, which removes the longest step from the second application.
Which GCC authority is fastest to license with?+
Timelines depend far more on your document set than on the regulator. Across our files the full journey runs roughly 8 to 16 weeks for most authorities, with Dataflow verification (4 to 8 weeks) being the dominant delay. A complete, correctly attested file is the single biggest accelerator.
Do all GCC authorities require Dataflow?+
Almost all do. Dataflow contacts your university, licensing council and employers directly to verify your degree, licence and experience letters. Check the individual authority page for the current requirement, since regulators periodically change verification providers.
Are the licensing exams delivered by Prometric?+
Most are. Prometric delivers the exams for the majority of GCC regulators, which means you can sit the test at a centre in your home country rather than travelling. A few authorities use Pearson VUE or their own computer-based testing platform — the exam platform is listed for each authority below.
Not sure which authority applies to you?
Our free eligibility check takes 3 minutes and tells you which GCC authorities you already qualify for, and what is missing from your file.