Last reviewed: November 2026 by Dr. Farrukh Mehmood, Ph.D., 16+ years in pharmaceutical QC/QA
Key takeaways
- The UAE has separate licensing authorities. Dubai Health Authority (DHA) licenses pharmacists in Dubai; the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) covers the Northern Emirates; Abu Dhabi has its own Department of Health (DOH).
- All of them use the same Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR): for the Pharmacist title, a BSc in Pharmacy or Pharm-D plus two years of post-qualification experience.
- Your documents are verified at the source by DataFlow, and your Good Standing Certificate must be recent (MOHAP asks for one issued within the last six months).
- The DHA Pharmacist exam is a Prometric computer-based test: 150 questions in 3 hours, pass mark 60%. MOHAP also uses Prometric with a 60% pass mark.
- You get three attempts in total across UAE authorities, so prepare properly before your first sitting.
Dubai and the Northern Emirates are where many overseas pharmacists start their UAE careers. This guide explains how licensing works with DHA and MOHAP in 2026: which authority you need, who is eligible, the step-by-step process, what the exam looks like and how to move between authorities. The rules come from DHA’s Sheryan service pages and assessment manual, MOHAP’s evaluation service page and the Unified PQR. If you plan to work in Abu Dhabi, read our DOH (HAAD) guide instead.
Which UAE authority do you need?
| Where you will work | Authority | Apply through | Exam delivered by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai | Dubai Health Authority (DHA) | Sheryan portal | Prometric |
| Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah | Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) | MOHAP evaluation system (website or app) | Prometric |
| Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Al Dhafra | Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DOH) | TAMM | Pearson VUE |
| Sharjah; Dubai Healthcare City free zone | Sharjah Health Authority; Dubai Healthcare City Authority | Their own systems | Check with the authority |
The authority is decided by where your future employer is licensed, not where you live. If you do not have a job offer yet, choose the emirate where you most want to work, because each authority issues its own evaluation and licence.
Eligibility under the Unified PQR
All UAE authorities apply the Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR). For the general Pharmacist title you need:
- A recognised BSc in Pharmacy or Pharm-D. A Pharm-D, such as Pakistan’s five-year degree, fits this requirement, provided your university is recognised by the authority.
- Two years of post-qualification experience as a pharmacist. MOHAP is explicit that experience must be supported by a valid professional licence, and that training done outside the UAE does not count as experience.
- A valid licence from your home country (for Pakistan, the Pharmacy Council of Pakistan or your provincial council) and a Good Standing Certificate. MOHAP requires the certificate to be issued within the past six months.
- Specialist titles, such as Clinical Pharmacist, have their own requirements and their own exam.
Use the official checker first. DHA’s Sheryan portal has a free Self Assessment Tool that tells you whether you meet the PQR for your title before you pay for verification or the exam.
DHA (Dubai): step by step
- Self assessment: create a Sheryan account with your name exactly as in your passport and run the Self Assessment Tool for the Pharmacist title.
- Primary source verification: DataFlow verifies your degree, licence and experience with the issuing bodies.
- Assessment: if your title requires it, you sit the computer-based test at a Prometric centre. Some titles have an oral assessment instead of, or as well as, the CBT.
- Registration eligibility: after you pass, DHA reviews your file and you become eligible to be licensed.
- Licence activation: the final step is completed by the healthcare facility that hires you.
The DHA Pharmacist exam
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Format | Prometric computer-based test, multiple-choice questions |
| Questions and time | 150 questions in 3 hours, including check-in and the tutorial (exam code PHO5481 in DHA’s CBT guideline) |
| Pass mark | 60% for Pharmacist; Clinical Pharmacist is a separate exam with a higher pass mark |
| Fee | USD 240 paid to Prometric when you book, per DHA’s CBT guideline |
| Result | Pass or Fail only, uploaded to your Sheryan account, normally within 2 working days |
| Where | Prometric centres in the UAE and abroad |
DHA reserves the right to change exam content, format or pass score, so check the current CBT assessment guideline on the Sheryan service page before you book.
MOHAP (Northern Emirates): step by step
- Check the PQR for the Pharmacist title and your experience.
- Apply online through MOHAP’s evaluation system, attach your documents and pay the fees.
- Review and verification: an evaluation officer reviews the application, and it then goes to DataFlow for verification. The officer also decides whether you need the exam.
- Exam: MOHAP’s Prometric results are processed automatically and shown as Pass or Fail, with a minimum pass score of 60%.
- Evaluation certificate: passing gives you an evaluation certificate. You use it to get a job offer, and the healthcare facility then applies for your licence.
Attempts, exemptions and moving between authorities
- Three attempts in total. Under the Unified PQR, attempts are counted across UAE authorities, not per authority. MOHAP will not grant a fourth attempt. Under the PQR you may be given one final attempt with another UAE authority, and a fresh set of attempts after a new qualification or two more years of experience. After a third failure, DHA blocks a new application for two years. Check your remaining options with the authority before booking again.
- Exemptions. Pharmacists licensed in recognised countries such as the UK, USA, Canada, Australia and Ireland may be exempt from the exam under the PQR if they qualified within the last three years or have no gap in practice. An exemption covers only the exam: verification, experience and other requirements still apply.
- DHA to MOHAP. MOHAP accepts a DHA evaluation: you apply online with your DHA evaluation attached, previous DataFlow reports transfer through the system, and the evaluation certificate is issued without another exam.
- DHA or DOH licence to MOHAP. If your licence is valid, or expired for no more than six months, you register your licence number on the MOHAP portal and share the generated number with your employer, who applies for the licence.
How to prepare: an 8-week plan
| Weeks | Focus |
|---|---|
| 1 | Take a timed 50-question practice set to find your weak areas. |
| 2–3 | Pharmacology and therapeutics by organ system: cardiovascular, diabetes, infections, respiratory, CNS. |
| 4 | Pharmaceutical calculations, pharmacokinetics and dosage forms. |
| 5 | Dispensing, OTC counselling, drug interactions, adverse effects and special populations. |
| 6 | Medication safety, pharmacy ethics and UAE practice basics. |
| 7 | Two full timed mocks of 150 questions in 3 hours. |
| 8 | Revise mistakes only, then book your exam. |
Practise for free with our Pharmacology Quiz, Pharmaceutical Calculations Quiz and Medicinal Chemistry Quiz, and read our guide to LASA drugs, a common medication-safety topic.
Checklist for Pakistani pharmacists
- Pharm-D degree certificate and full transcripts
- Pharmacy Council registration certificate covering your years of experience
- Good Standing Certificate issued within the last six months
- Experience letters on letterhead, with your title, dates and duties, for at least two years
- Passport, with your name spelled exactly as on every other document
- Exam exemption documents, if you hold a licence from a recognised country
Frequently asked questions
Is the DHA exam the same as the MOHAP exam?
No. Each authority runs its own exam through Prometric, although both use multiple-choice questions and a 60% pass mark. A pass with one authority does not license you with another, but MOHAP accepts a DHA evaluation without another exam.
How many attempts do I get?
Three in total across UAE authorities under the Unified PQR, with one final attempt possible in some cases. Prepare well before your first attempt.
Can I sit the exam in Pakistan?
Both DHA and MOHAP exams are delivered by Prometric, which has test centres outside the UAE. Check the centres offered when you book.
Do I need a job offer first?
No. You can complete the evaluation, verification and exam first. The final licence is applied for or activated by the facility that hires you.
Does experience in a pharmaceutical company count?
For the general Pharmacist title, the PQR counts practice as a pharmacist supported by a valid licence. Our DOH guide notes that experience in pharmaceutical companies or sales does not count. Check your exact roles with the Sheryan Self Assessment Tool before you pay.
Related guides
- Working abroad as a pharmacist: every licensing route compared
- DOH (HAAD) exam for pharmacists: Abu Dhabi licence guide
- Saudi SPLE pharmacist licence guide
References
- Dubai Health Authority. Sheryan professional licensing service description and Self Assessment Tool.
- Dubai Health Authority. Manual for Professional Assessment (Oral/CBT) (2025) and CBT Assessment Guideline.
- Ministry of Health and Prevention, UAE. Evaluation of Health Professional service page and FAQs.
- Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR), issued jointly by MOHAP, DOH, DHA and the Sharjah Health Authority (SHA).
This guide is for information. Requirements, fees and exam details are set by each authority and change often; always confirm on the official DHA and MOHAP websites before you apply.
