Nursing Licence in Dubai Healthcare City: Eligibility and Application

If you want to work as a nurse inside Dubai Healthcare City, having a nursing degree and experience is not enough. You need a professional licence that authorises you to practise within the DHCC free zone.

The DHCC nursing licence is issued through Dubai Healthcare City Authority Regulatory, commonly referred to as DHCA Regulations or DHCR. It covers eligible nursing professionals working at healthcare facilities licensed within Dubai Healthcare City.

The process includes an eligibility review, document checks, Primary Source Verification and, for some nursing categories, a DHCA licensing examination. The exact requirements depend on the nursing title you are applying for.

This guide explains who can qualify, which documents you need, how much the process can cost and how the application works.

What Is a DHCC Nursing Licence?

A DHCC nursing licence is the professional authorisation required for nurses who intend to practise at a healthcare facility regulated within Dubai Healthcare City. DHCC states that healthcare professionals working within the free zone must obtain their professional licence through its regulatory authority. 

The licence is specific to the professional and approved scope of practice. This matters because Dubai has more than one healthcare regulator. A professional licence issued for a DHA-regulated healthcare facility and a DHCC professional licence are not automatically the same thing.

If you are comparing the two routes, Nexture's DHA Professional License Dubai guide explains how the DHA pathway works.

For businesses planning to operate inside the healthcare free zone itself, see Nexture's Dubai Healthcare City company setup guide.

Who Can Apply for a DHCC Nursing Licence?

DHCC's published nursing licensing guidance covers several professional categories, including:

• Registered Nurse

• Registered Midwife

• Mental Health Nurse

• Pediatric Nurse

• Practical Nurse

• Nursing Assistant

Each category has its own education, experience and exam requirements.

Registered Nurse

For a Registered Nurse licence, the published DHCC nursing guideline requires:

• A bachelor's degree in nursing of at least three years from an accredited institution

• At least one year of work experience as a Registered Nurse

• A current professional registration or nursing licence

• A Certificate of Good Standing

• English language evidence when nursing education was not taught in English

• Two favourable professional references issued within the previous two years

The guideline also states that the DHCA licensing exam is required for Registered Nurses.

Registered Midwife

A Registered Midwife generally needs a nursing bachelor's degree of at least three years plus evidence of specific midwifery training.

DHCC's published guideline requires at least two years of Registered Midwife experience, current professional registration and a recent Good Standing Certificate.

The DHCA licensing examination is also listed as required for this category.

Mental Health Nurse

Eligibility depends on your qualification. DHCC lists three possible education routes:

A Mental Health Nurse must also hold current registration as either a Registered Nurse or Mental Health Nurse.

Unlike the Registered Nurse category, the published guideline states that a DHCA licensing exam is not required for Mental Health Nurses. A police clearance certificate from the country of last practice is also listed.

Pediatric Nurse

A Pediatric Nurse can generally qualify through either:

• A bachelor's degree in Pediatric or Child Health Nursing, or

• A nursing bachelor's degree plus at least one year of postgraduate training in Pediatric Nursing.

At least one year of Pediatric Nursing experience is required under the published guideline. The DHCA examination is listed as not required for this category.

Practical Nurse

A Practical Nurse needs certification from an accredited Practical Nursing programme and at least one year of practical nursing experience.

A current Practical Nurse licence or registration is also required. DHCC's published guideline states that the licensing examination is not required for this category.

Nursing Assistant

For a Nursing Assistant licence, the applicant needs:

• A high school diploma or recognised equivalent

• Completion of an accredited Nursing Assistant programme

• At least one year of relevant work experience

• Current professional registration as a Certified Nursing Assistant

The DHCA exam is listed as required for Nursing Assistants.

DHCC warns that licensing information can change, so applicants should confirm the latest requirements before submitting.

English Language Requirements

If your nursing programme was not taught in English, DHCC's published nursing requirements list an English proficiency test.

The guideline specifies:

• TOEFL: minimum score of 550, or

• IELTS: minimum band score of 6.0, or

• An accepted equivalent qualification.

If your nursing education was conducted in English, the English testing requirement may not apply, subject to DHCC's review of your documents.

Documents Required for a DHCC Nursing Licence

• Preparing the documents before starting the application can prevent avoidable delays.
• DHCC's current Nursing Professional Licence service lists the following documents:

1. Educational certificates

2. Academic transcripts

3. Recent professional experience letters

4. Valid professional licence or registration from the licensing authority in your country of recent employment

5. Valid Certificate of Good Standing

6. Valid passport copy

7. Recent photograph

8. Offer letter from the recruiting facility, if available

9. Medical malpractice insurance from the recruiting facility, if available

Additional documents may be requested depending on your nursing title or individual licensing history.

How to Apply for a DHCC Nursing Licence

The application is handled online. Here is how the process generally works.

1. Check Your Nursing Category

   Start by identifying the professional title that matches your education and experience.

   Do not apply under a higher or different category simply because the job title offered by an employer sounds similar. Your professional qualification, registration and experience must support the title being requested.

2. Create Your Online Profile

   DHCC professional licensing services are available through its online systems, including MASAAR.

   Enter your personal and professional details exactly as they appear on your official documents. Differences in names, dates or qualification details can create verification issues later.

3. Upload Your Documents

   Submit your educational certificates, transcripts, experience letters, professional registration, Good Standing Certificate, passport and other required documents.

   DHCC's general healthcare professional licensing guideline states that clinical experience is counted after obtaining the qualification required for the intended field of practice. Experience gained as part of the training programme used to earn that qualification is generally not counted as separate professional experience.

4. Pay the Application Fees

   The initial application and review fees are paid during the licensing process.

   Fees are generally non-refundable, so checking your eligibility before submitting the application is important.

5. DHCC Reviews Your Application

   The Professional Licensing Department reviews your education, professional history and submitted documents.

   You may be asked for additional information if the application is incomplete or if a credential requires clarification.

6. Complete the DHCA Exam if Required

   Applicants in nursing categories that require an examination receive an eligibility ID after the initial application review.

   DHCC states that the examination eligibility ID is valid for three months and applicants can have a maximum of three attempts per DHCA examination. Results are available immediately after completion.

   The examination is delivered through Prometric. You cannot simply register for it independently first. You need an eligibility ID issued through the DHCC licensing process.

7. Primary Source Verification

   DHCC carries out Primary Source Verification, or PSV, to confirm that the credentials submitted are genuine.

   This may include contacting the original issuing organisation to verify your:

   • Nursing qualification

   • Professional registration

   • Employment history

   • Other professional credentials

   DHCC explains that its regulatory licensing department conducts the verification process to confirm the authenticity and accuracy of healthcare professionals' credentials.

   Incorrect employment dates, unverifiable institutions or inconsistencies between documents can delay this stage.

8. Licence Issuance

   Once the required checks, examination and credential verification are completed successfully, DHCC can proceed with the professional licence.

   Remember that passing the exam by itself does not guarantee licence issuance. DHCC still needs to verify the credentials and confirm that all licensing requirements have been satisfied.

DHCC Nursing Licence Cost

DHCC's nursing service page currently refers applicants to its official price list rather than displaying individual charges. The current Arabic version of the same DHCC service page publishes the following fees:

This puts the listed application, review and card charges at approximately AED 2,520 to AED 2,820, before any applicable examination or other costs.

The DHCC FAQ separately states that Nursing and Allied Health DHCA examinations cost approximately USD 180 to USD 220, depending on the applicable examination.

Fees can change. Check the authority's latest published price before making a payment.

How Long Does the DHCC Nursing Licence Take?

The current DHCC nursing service page states a processing timeframe of approximately 21 working days. An urgent application can be reviewed within approximately three working days, according to the service information.

This timeframe should not be treated as a guaranteed end-to-end completion date. Primary Source Verification, missing documents, exam scheduling or slow responses from overseas institutions can extend the actual process.

If you are relocating to Dubai for a confirmed healthcare job, it is sensible to start the professional licensing paperwork before your intended employment date rather than assuming the licence will be completed in three weeks.

DHCC Nursing Licence vs DHA Nursing Licence

This is one of the most common points of confusion.

A DHCC nursing licence applies to professional practice under the Dubai Healthcare City regulatory system.

A DHA professional licence is used for professionals working within healthcare facilities regulated through the broader Dubai Health Authority system.

Your employer's facility and regulatory jurisdiction determine which route applies.

If you are opening or joining a healthcare facility outside DHCC, read Nexture's guide to setting up a clinic in Dubai to understand the wider facility licensing process.

Renewing Your DHCC Nursing Licence

Getting licensed is only the first stage. You also need to maintain the licence.

DHCC's current renewal service requires healthcare professionals to provide items such as:

• Proof of continued practice or employment at DHCC facilities

• Valid UAE medical malpractice insurance

• Valid life-support certification such as BLS, ACLS, ATLS or PALS where applicable

• CPD records for the licensing period

• Proof of registration with Al Maktoum Medical Library

The published processing time for renewal is approximately 10 working days.

DHCC's renewal guideline states that Registered Nurses, Registered Midwives and specialised nursing titles require 30 CPD points, while Nursing Assistants and Practical Nurses require 20 CPD points for licence renewal.

Review the official DHCC professional licence renewal service before your licence approaches expiry.

Common Reasons a DHCC Nursing Application Gets Delayed

A few problems appear repeatedly in professional licensing applications.

Inconsistent employment records: Dates on your CV should match employment certificates and licensing records.

Expired Good Standing Certificate: DHCC's published nursing guideline requires the certificate to have been issued within the previous six months.

Wrong professional category: Your degree, training and experience must support the nursing title you request.

Incomplete transcripts: A degree certificate without the required academic records can result in additional document requests.

Registering for the exam too early: Where a DHCA exam applies, you first need to complete the initial licensing review and receive your eligibility ID.

Unverifiable credentials: Make sure your university, former employer and professional licensing body can respond to verification requests.

Can You Practise Nursing in DHCC Without a Licence?

No. Healthcare professionals must hold the appropriate professional authorisation before practising.

Federal Law No. 6 of 2023 also establishes penalties for practising covered health professions without the required licence. The law provides for imprisonment and/or fines ranging from AED 50,000 to AED 100,000 for specified unlicensed-practice offences.

Conclusion

Getting a DHCC nursing licence starts with matching your education and experience to the correct nursing category.

A Registered Nurse, for example, generally needs a three-year bachelor's degree in nursing, at least one year of Registered Nurse experience, current professional registration and a valid Good Standing Certificate. Other categories, such as Mental Health Nurse, Pediatric Nurse, Practical Nurse and Nursing Assistant, have their own requirements.

Once you confirm eligibility, you can submit the application online, complete the DHCA examination if your category requires it, undergo Primary Source Verification and complete the remaining licensing steps.

Do not base your application only on old checklists or advice from previous applicants. DHCC states that licensing rules can change. Check the latest authority requirements before submitting documents or paying non-refundable fees.

Frequently Asked Questions