United Arab Emirates: Temporary Practice Permit for Medical Professionals Launched

A new three-month permit, called a ‘permit to practice’, has been launched by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) to allow visiting medical professionals to practice medicine in the United Arab Emirates. This non-renewable permit allows medical professionals to temporarily practice medicine (with certain limitations under supervision in licensed health facilities). Interested individuals cannot apply for the permit themselves; instead, the medical director holding the active license of the health facility must initiate the permit application process on behalf of the interested individual. Applications can be filed via the Sheryan portal (accessible on the DHA portal) using the health facility’s account. The medical director can only submit one application at a time. The ‘permit to practice’ does not guarantee automatic granting of a full professional license to practice medicine at a later date. Obtaining such a license is a separate process and is subject to the requirements set out in the Unified Professional Qualification Guide. In order to enter the United Arab Emirates, interested individuals must obtain a separate entry visa, as the ‘permit to practice’ only relates to an individual’s right to practice medicine.

This program seeks to increase the number of foreign medical workers coming to the United Arab Emirates to fill local labor shortages and allows such individuals to first familiarize themselves with local health facilities and regulations prior to committing to obtaining a permanent professional license.