UAE Pharmacist Licensing: DHA vs. MOH vs. HAAD Explained

Key Points to Remember

• Three principal licensing authorities for pharmacists in the UAE are DHA (Dubai), MOH (Northern Emirates), and HAAD/DOH (Abu Dhabi).
• Select your licensing pathway based on where you would like to work.
• Complete the DataFlow verification and document attestation before submitting your application.
• Sit for the Prometric exam to get your eligibility letter or licence.
• Professional support from an Elite Expertise expert for every UAE pharmacist exam ensures success.
• UAE Licensing Bodies introduction

Today, the UAE is one of the finest world-class medical centres for physicians across the globe. The pharmacists themselves are lured into the UAE by world-class hospitals, tax-exempt wages, and global standards of career prospects. However, before proceeding with employment, one must understand how the pharmacist licensing authorities in the UAE operate.

There are three significant health body regulators: the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP), the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), and the Department of Health (HAAD/DOH) in Abu Dhabi. Each of the three regulators governs pharmacy practice law in the UAE in their jurisdiction and issues various licences to ensure professional competence and patient safety

If you’re wondering how to become a pharmacist in the UAE, you must start by choosing which of the following authorities best suits your career goals.

Difference Between DHA, MOH, and HAAD Exams

They both share the same conditions, but for another emirate in the UAE. Here’s everything that you would love to know about each of them:

DHA (Dubai Health Authority)

If you wish to be employed in Dubai, then a DHA licence is the golden key to achieving this. You have to apply in the Sheryan Portal, have DataFlow verify, and subsequently take the Prometric exam. Once you pass the exam, you will receive an eligibility letter that allows you to apply for pharmacy recruitment in Dubai with assistance.

MOH (Ministry of Health and Prevention)

This practice license is in the Northern Emirates, which consists of Sharjah, Ajman, Fujairah, Ras Al Khaimah, and Umm Al Quwain. You register via the MOHAP website, and after passing the Prometric exam, you may practise in the Northern Emirates but not in Dubai or Abu Dhabi.

HAAD/DOH (Department of Health – Abu Dhabi)

For pharmacists aiming to work in Abu Dhabi or Al Ain, the HAAD/DOH exam is mandatory. You’ll apply through the TAMM or DOH portal, complete document verification, and take the exam. Successful candidates receive a DOH licence, specific to Abu Dhabi’s healthcare system.

Each exam evaluates pharmaceutical knowledge, clinical judgement, and understanding of the laws governing pharmacy practice in the UAE to ensure safe, effective service delivery.

How to Choose the Right Licensing Path

Select the relevant authority primarily based on your desired place of work.

• Work in Dubai: Pass the DHA exam.
• Work in Abu Dhabi: Pass the HAAD/DOH exam.
• Work in Sharjah or the remainder of the Northern Emirates: Pass the MOH exam.

Before appearing in an exam, keep your professional targets and mobility strategies in mind. A DHA licence, for instance, is worthless in Abu Dhabi, while an MOH licence is worthless in Dubai. Therefore, choose the exam based on where you want to stay and where you want to settle and establish yourself professionally.

Judge your preparation with the exam material as well. Each examination board has a varying syllabus emphasis, yet they all cover pharmacology, clinical pharmacy, and pharmaceutical law.

For candidates interested in systematic preparation, Elite Expertise offers individually designed DHA, MOH, and HAAD coaching programmes that help foreign pharmacists clear their exams in one sitting.

Steps to Get a Pharmacist Licence in UA

This is the step-by-step guide for you to learn about how to become a pharmacist in the UAE:

Step 1: Educational Qualification and Experience

You should have a Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm) or Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) from a reputable institution, with a minimum of 2 years of post-graduation experience.

Step 2: Document Attestation

Get all your documents, study and experience certificates for your degree, transcript, and experience attested by the UAE Embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of your home country.

Step 3: DataFlow Verification

Before applying for an exam, obtain Primary Source Verification (PSV) from the DataFlow Group. This verification process certifies your credentials with the relevant awarding authorities.

Step 4: Register with the Relevant Authority

Based on your desired location, create an account on the relevant portal—MOHAP, DHA (Sheryan Portal), or HAAD/DOH (TAMM Portal)—and upload your original documents.

Step 5: Book and Clear the Prometric Exam

Once your DataFlow check clears, book your Prometric exam. The exam assesses your pharmacy practice, ethics, and compliance with UAE law.

Step 6: Get an Eligibility Letter or a Licence

After passing, you will receive an Eligibility Letter (DHA) or a licence (MOH/HAAD). You can then proceed and apply for the pharmacies mentioned in the subject matter.

Step 7: Activate Your Licence

Your employer will do the last one as he activates your pharmacist licence in his facility’s name.

We take all these steps to guarantee that all pharmacists operating in the UAE adhere to the highest healthcare standards.

Final Thoughts

The UAE continues to advance its healthcare sector, offering significant opportunities for the finest pharmacists to work in hospitals, pharmacies, and clinical departments. If you are to work in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or even Sharjah, then obtaining the proper pharmacist licence must be your first step towards a successful career.

With the proper preparation, guidance, and authentic documents, it is very easy to learn how to become a pharmacist in the UAE.

If you are ready to sit for the DHA, MOH, or HAAD exam already, Elite Expertise will be present at all stages from application to mock-based exams and personal guidance on a one-to-one basis. Their well-trained professionals, such as Arief Mohammend and Harika Bheemavarapu, have assisted hundreds of foreign pharmacists in building successful careers in the UAE’s dynamic healthcare system.

Begin your UAE licensure as a pharmacist today with Elite Expertise, your best choice for passing the pharmacist exam.