Have you received a job offer in Abu Dhabi or another UAE emirate while holding a DHA license? You may be able to transfer your licensing status, but approval is not automatic. The destination authority and your employment arrangements determine the correct route.
In 2026, MOHAP publishes a specific transfer service for professionals holding active DHA, DOH, or Sharjah Health Authority licenses. However, this service does not mean every applicant qualifies for an automatic transfer. This guide explains the key differences, the steps radiographers should take, and the official requirements to check before changing employers or emirates.
Can you transfer a DHA license to DOH or MOHAP?
Yes, a licensing transfer may be possible, but you must follow the destination authority’s process. MOHAP explicitly offers a transfer service for eligible professionals with active licenses from DHA, DOH, or Sharjah Health Authority.
Moving to Abu Dhabi involves the Department of Health, Abu Dhabi (DOH). You should confirm the current DOH pathway before assuming your DHA license can transfer directly.
A DHA registration alone is not sufficient for the MOHAP transfer route described on its official service page. MOHAP requires an active license from an eligible authority, along with other applicable conditions.
What is the difference between DHA, DOH, and MOHAP licensing?
Each authority regulates healthcare practice within its jurisdiction. Your new employer’s location helps determine which authority you need.
| Authority | Main jurisdiction | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| DHA | Dubai | Uses the Sheryan licensing system for healthcare professionals and facilities. |
| DOH | Abu Dhabi | Regulates healthcare practice in Abu Dhabi. Confirm its current requirements for applicants moving from DHA. |
| MOHAP | Northern emirates and its applicable federal service areas | Publishes a transfer pathway for eligible professionals with active DHA, DOH, or Sharjah licenses. |
The UAE’s Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR) provide a shared framework for assessing professional qualifications. However, applicants must still follow the relevant authority’s procedures.
How does a DHA license transfer to MOHAP work?
MOHAP’s official Transfer License from DHA/DOH service describes an application submitted by a healthcare facility for an eligible professional. The service also recognizes active licenses from Sharjah Health Authority.
MOHAP’s official license transfer service
The process generally involves these steps:
- Secure an eligible job offer. Your prospective employer must have the appropriate facility license.
- Confirm your current license status. The MOHAP transfer route requires an active DHA, DOH, or Sharjah license.
- Accept the work invitation. MOHAP lists acceptance of the work invitation as a condition.
- Prepare the required documents. The published list includes a passport, medical-error insurance, and applicable health certificates.
- Let the facility submit the application. The healthcare facility applies through MOHAP’s digital channels.
- Wait for regulatory approval. The authority reviews the application before the relevant license is issued.
These steps summarize MOHAP’s published process. Your employer should confirm the exact requirements for your profession and facility before submitting an application.
What conditions apply to a MOHAP transfer?
MOHAP lists several conditions that applicants and employers should check:
- An active license from DHA, DOH, or Sharjah Health Authority.
- Acceptance of the work invitation by the professional.
- A clean professional track record for previous UAE work.
- A valid license for the hiring healthcare facility.
- Applicable medical-error insurance and passport documentation.
MOHAP also identifies a physical and mental health certificate from Emirates Health Services for doctors aged 60 or older. This specific condition should not be treated as a universal requirement for every radiographer.
Important: MOHAP’s service page lists its own application and license fees. Confirm the current charges for your professional category and employer type directly on the official service page rather than relying on older fee estimates.
Can you transfer a DHA license to DOH in Abu Dhabi?
A move from Dubai to Abu Dhabi requires you to follow the DOH’s applicable licensing pathway. Do not assume that a DHA registration or license automatically authorizes you to practise in Abu Dhabi.
Start by confirming your status with DHA and asking your prospective employer which DOH application route applies to your professional category. The employer should clarify whether you qualify for a transfer or need another licensing process.
The UAE’s unified PQR provides a common basis for evaluating qualifications and related documents. However, the relevant authority determines how its licensing procedures apply to your case.
UAE Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements
For radiographers, this means confirming your exact professional title, qualification, experience, and assessment status before making employment plans.
Does a license transfer mean you can skip the exam?
Not necessarily. Holding a license from one UAE authority does not, by itself, prove that every assessment requirement will be waived by another authority.
Your assessment requirements depend on the applicable pathway and your professional circumstances. Confirm them with the destination authority before paying for an exam or assuming you are exempt.
Also, distinguish these three situations:
- DHA registration: A professional registration status does not automatically mean you hold an active license to practise.
- Active DHA license: This is the status specifically required for the MOHAP transfer service described above.
- Destination license: You must meet the receiving authority’s requirements before practising under its authorization.
DHA operates the Sheryan system for professional registration and licensing in Dubai. Check your actual status through the official system rather than relying only on an old eligibility letter or registration document.
If you need an assessment, review the official exam guidance and prepare according to your profession. RadiologyLens can help you organize your study, but preparation resources do not replace official licensing decisions.
What documents should radiographers prepare?
Start with the documents listed by the destination authority and your employer. The final checklist may vary by application type and professional category.
MOHAP’s professional licensing requirements
For a MOHAP transfer, its official page identifies the following documents:
- Passport.
- Medical-error insurance.
- Applicable physical and mental health certificate.
MOHAP also requires an eligible active license, an accepted work invitation, and a valid facility license. These are conditions, not merely paperwork items.
Keep your current license details and qualification records available as well. Ask the authority or employer whether you need updated verification, good-standing evidence, experience records, or additional documents for your specific application.
Do not assume that every document required for a first-time license is automatically required for a transfer. Equally, do not assume that documents previously submitted to DHA will satisfy every destination requirement.
Common mistakes to avoid
Several avoidable errors can delay your licensing plans.
- Treating registration as an active license. Check your actual status before applying for a transfer.
- Applying before securing the right employer. MOHAP’s published transfer process involves the hiring healthcare facility.
- Assuming all emirates follow the same procedure. Confirm the correct route with DOH or MOHAP.
- Expecting automatic exam exemption. Ask the destination authority to confirm whether an assessment applies.
- Using an outdated document checklist. Check the official service page again before submission.
- Confusing radiographers with radiologists. These are different professional categories. Make sure your application reflects your actual qualification and intended scope of practice.
What should you do before changing emirates?
Use this practical checklist before resigning or committing to a start date.
- Confirm whether your DHA status is registration only or an active license.
- Obtain the proposed job details and confirm the employer’s licensing status.
- Ask the destination authority which application route applies to your professional title.
- Request a current list of documents, verification steps, and applicable fees.
- Confirm whether an exam, assessment, or additional evaluation is required.
- Wait for the necessary authorization before practising in the new jurisdiction.
This approach helps you avoid relying on assumptions that could affect your employment plans.
Frequently asked questions
Can I transfer my DHA license to MOHAP without a new exam?
An exam waiver is not guaranteed solely because you hold a DHA license. MOHAP’s transfer service has its own eligibility conditions. Confirm your assessment requirements with MOHAP and your prospective employer before assuming that no further evaluation is necessary.
Can I transfer my DHA registration if I have never activated my license?
MOHAP’s published transfer service requires an active license from DHA, DOH, or Sharjah Health Authority. Registration alone does not meet that stated condition. Ask MOHAP which alternative licensing route applies to your circumstances.
Can radiographers use the MOHAP transfer service?
MOHAP’s licensing services cover multiple healthcare professional categories, including technicians. However, applicants must confirm the service’s current eligibility and requirements for their specific professional title. Radiographers should not assume that every condition listed for doctors applies to them.
Do I need a new employer to transfer my license?
MOHAP describes its transfer process as a facility-led application and requires an accepted work invitation and a valid healthcare facility license. Therefore, you should coordinate with your prospective employer before starting this route. Confirm the applicable procedure directly with the destination authority.
Conclusion
A DHA license transfer to DOH or MOHAP may be possible, but the correct route depends on your current status and destination. MOHAP explicitly provides a transfer service for eligible professionals with active licenses from DHA, DOH, or Sharjah Health Authority.
Before changing emirates, verify your license status, employer eligibility, documents, and assessment requirements. Always use the destination authority’s current instructions as the final reference.
Preparing for a radiographer licensing assessment? RadiologyLens offers radiography exam guidance and practice resources to help you build a focused study plan. Explore the relevant preparation resources before your next licensing step.
