Checked 25 September 2026. Fees from DOH Circular 151/2024 (August 2024) and the TAMM service page (read 25 September 2026); DataFlow times from its August 2026 applicant guide. The licence fee differs between the two DOH sources and is shown both ways.
A DOH licence is the permission to practise nursing in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, and getting one is a chain of six steps run through TAMM, the Abu Dhabi government portal. Two outside companies do part of the work: DataFlow Group verifies your documents with the institutions that issued them, and Pearson VUE delivers the exam. This guide follows the order in DOH's own service catalogue, with the fees and time limits DOH prints for each step.
Where other pages get this wrong
DOH licensing runs on TAMM, signed in with UAE PASS — not on Sheryan, and not through Prometric.
Commonly published instead: "Apply for the HAAD licence on Sheryan" or "book the HAAD Prometric exam".
Sheryan is Dubai's (DHA) licensing system and Prometric delivers DHA's and MOHAP's exams. DOH's catalogue says the first step is a TAMM account "using UAE PASS"; non-residents create one with a mobile number and e-mail. The TAMM profile gives you a Unique Identification Number (UIN), which DataFlow also asks for, and the exam is booked with Pearson VUE from inside TAMM.
DOH Circular 151/2024; TAMM service page (25 Sep 2026).
The six steps
| Step | What happens | DOH time limit | Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0. Before you apply | Create a TAMM account (UAE PASS; non-residents by mobile and e-mail) and complete DataFlow verification of your documents | DataFlow: 24 working days (DOH 2024); 25 standard or 14 express (DataFlow 2026) | AED 990 |
| 1. Submit application | Apply on TAMM for a new healthcare professional licence and upload documents | Unpaid application closes after 30 days | AED 100 |
| 2. DOH review | Credentialing against the PQR; DOH may return the file for more documents | 5 working days; 30 days to answer a return | — |
| 3. Pass the exam | Pay in TAMM, book with Pearson VUE, sit the exam | 6 months from approval | AED 540 RN / 500 AN per attempt |
| 4. Link to a facility | An Abu Dhabi employer nominates you (skipped if linked at step 1) | 3 months, or the application expires | — |
| 5. Security clearance | Background check | 5 working days | — |
| 6. Licence issued | Pay the licence fee | "Instant post payment"; unpaid approvals close after 30 days | AED 300 + 100 (catalogue) or AED 400 (TAMM), for 2 years |
DOH Licensing Service Catalogue (Circular 151/2024): "New Registration" and nurses pages; auto-close rules from the procedural manual's service-level table. TAMM quotes an overall service time of "3 Month / Varying as Incurred".
DataFlow applicant guide (Aug 2026); DOH Circular 151/2024. The exam (up to 6 months) and employer link (up to 3 months) depend on you and are not charted.
You do not need a job offer to sit the exam
The order matters for Indian nurses. The employer comes in at step 4, after the exam: DOH's catalogue lists the nomination or offer letter as a document to upload "if available upon applying", and TAMM's own step list puts "facility nomination to hire" after the exam. So you can verify your documents, pass the DOH exam and then look for an Abu Dhabi job — but once you pass, the three-month clock for linking a facility is running, and if it runs out the application expires. The licence itself is issued only when you are linked to an active Abu Dhabi facility with a nursing vocation and valid malpractice insurance.
Every fee, from the official sources
| Item | Amount | Source | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| DataFlow primary source verification (nurses) | AED 990 | DOH catalogue (Aug 2024), "other categories" | DataFlow 2026 prices by document at checkout "subject to change" |
| DOH application fee | AED 100 | DOH catalogue; TAMM (Sep 2026) | |
| Exam — Registered Nurse (CBT) | AED 540 per attempt | DOH catalogue, nurses page | Our arithmetic from DOH's examination step: AED 50 booking (paid in TAMM) + AED 490 scheduling (paid on Pearson) |
| Exam — Assistant Nurse, School Nurse, Midwife | AED 500 per attempt | DOH catalogue, nurses page | Our arithmetic: AED 50 booking + AED 450 scheduling |
| Licence, 2 years — nurses and midwives | AED 300 + AED 100 add-on (catalogue); AED 400 (TAMM) | DOH catalogue; TAMM | Pay what TAMM shows at the licence step: the catalogue's 300 + 100 and TAMM's 400 are probably the same total. Our calculator uses 400 |
| Licence, 1 year (when DOH issues one) | AED 200 | DOH catalogue; TAMM | Issued when follow-up reviews are required |
| Malpractice insurance | "fees may apply" | DOH catalogue | The facility must hold it |
Neither DOH source says who pays which fee — TAMM allows either the professional or the facility's representative to apply — so if you have an offer, ask the employer which costs it covers. The calculator below uses DOH's own figures and converts to rupees at the rate you enter.
What a DOH nursing licence costs you
Figures from DOH's 2024 catalogue and TAMM. Change the exam line to 500 for Assistant Nurse, add a second attempt if you want to budget for one, and adjust the licence fee if yours differs.
| DataFlow verification (nurses, 2024 package) | AED |
| DOH application fee | 100 AED |
| Exam, first attempt (RN 540; AN 500) | AED |
| Extra exam attempts (enter the amount) | AED |
| Licence issuance, 2 years (TAMM figure) | AED |
Excludes travel to the exam centre, translations, BLS and any DataFlow express charge. Rates move: use your bank's rate on the day.
Documents go to two places
| Uploaded to DataFlow (verified at source) | Uploaded to TAMM |
|---|---|
| Passport copy | Personal photo |
| Nursing certificate(s) | BLS card (nurses and midwives) |
| Transcript | Grade 12 certificate if your nursing qualification is below a bachelor's |
| Experience letter(s) | Nomination or offer letter, if you have one |
| Nursing registration / licence | The DataFlow report (addressed to DOH) |
| Good-standing certificate (no older than 6 months) | — |
DOH catalogue, "New Registration". DOH accepts only verification reports addressed to DOH: a report done for DHA or MOHAP must be re-issued (transferred) to DOH, and more documents can be added at that point.
DataFlow, step by step
- Create a DataFlow account with the same e-mail address as your TAMM profile.
- Choose the verification type and the documents to verify; enter each issuing authority's details.
- Review the cost breakdown, which depends on the documents you selected.
- Enter your TAMM UIN and category, and upload the documents.
- Review everything, then sign the Letter of Authorization — after that nothing can be edited.
- Pay, and track the request with its Request ID.
DataFlow's August 2026 guide gives 25 working days as standard and 14 for its express service, counted from payment and a complete submission. A report that comes back "Unable to Verify" for reasons outside your control can be conditional — DOH's matrix allows the exam and gives a year to supply the proof — but a discrepancy caused by tampering means rejection.
Deadlines that close an application
| If you do not… | Within | Then |
|---|---|---|
| pay the application fee | 30 days | the application closes |
| answer a DOH return request | 30 days | the application closes |
| pass the exam | 6 months of approval | the application closes; apply again |
| link to a facility after passing | 3 months | the application expires |
| pay the licence fee after approval | 30 days | the application closes |
Your DOH application checklist
Tick each item as you finish it.
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After the licence: validity and renewal
| Item | What DOH says |
|---|---|
| Validity | 2 years (a 1-year licence may be issued where follow-up reviews are required) |
| Who renews | The facility's representative (PRO), within the two months before expiry |
| Renewal fee | AED 100 application + AED 200 for 2 years (+ AED 100 add-on) for nurses and midwives |
| CPD | 40 CME/CPD hours per renewal for nurses and midwives, earned in the recent 2 years; the CPD standard says "a minimum of 50% of the total CPD credit requirements for each licensure cycle" must be formal CPD activities |
| Late renewal | The licence expires and needs re-registration; delay penalty AED 50 a month for nurses and midwives, up to 6 months |
| Good-standing certificate | Free on TAMM after at least 3 months with an active DOH licence; valid 3 months |
| Changing employer | Cancel on TAMM (AED 100) and re-register with the new facility |
| Re-sitting the exam | Needed if the DOH licence has been expired or cancelled for more than 5 years, for a new title, or after a gap of practice |
DOH Circular 151/2024 (renewal, re-registration, cancellation and nurses pages) and DOH's CPD standard (2024). The PQR itself sets a minimum of 20 CME/CPD hours a year for nurses.
If DOH says no. A rejected applicant "may have the right to appeal the decision" through hplicensing@doh.gov.ae, and DOH refunds fees only for technical issues. On the Indian side, remember that the UAE is an emigration-clearance country for nurses: see the booking guide in this series for the eMigrate rules.
Practise it, don't just read it
The exam is the one step you control the timing of. Start timed practice while DataFlow is verifying your documents.
The ProSyllabus DOH nursing library has topic quizzes for Fundamentals of Nursing, Medical-Surgical Nursing (cardiovascular and respiratory; renal, endocrine and gastrointestinal), Pharmacology for Nurses, Maternal and Child Health, Critical Care and Emergency, Infection Prevention and Control and Professional Practice and Abu Dhabi Health Regulations — the first one is free.
How do I apply for a DOH nursing licence?
Create a TAMM account with UAE PASS, verify your documents with DataFlow, apply on TAMM (AED 100), pass the DOH exam after credentialing, link to an Abu Dhabi facility, clear security and pay the licence fee.
What is the total cost of a DOH nursing licence?
From DOH's figures: AED 990 verification, AED 100 application, AED 540 per RN exam attempt (500 for Assistant Nurse) and about AED 400 for a 2-year licence — roughly AED 2,030 for an RN who passes first time, before travel.
How long does DataFlow take for a DOH application?
24 working days in DOH's 2024 catalogue; DataFlow's 2026 guide says 25 working days standard or 14 express.
How long does the whole DOH licensing process take?
DOH gives no end-to-end figure; TAMM says "3 Month / Varying as Incurred". Verification, review and clearance are fixed; the exam and employer link depend on you.
Do I need a job offer to take the DOH exam?
No. The employer is linked after the exam, but you must link one within 3 months of passing or the application expires.
Is the DOH licence the same as Sheryan?
No. Sheryan is Dubai's DHA system; DOH uses TAMM.
Can I use my DHA DataFlow report for DOH?
Only after it is re-issued (transferred) to DOH; DOH accepts reports addressed to DOH only.
Do my documents need attestation for DOH?
No. DOH says primary source verification replaces attestation; non-English, non-Arabic documents need a legal translation.
How long is a DOH nursing licence valid?
Two years. It is renewed by the employer within the two months before expiry, with 40 CPD hours.
How many CPD hours does a DOH nurse need?
40 per renewal (the PQR minimum is 20 a year), with at least half from formal, accredited activities.
What if my DOH licence expires?
It must be re-registered, with a penalty of AED 50 a month for nurses, up to 6 months.
More in this series
- The DOH nursing exam: questions, time, fee, pass mark
- Eligibility: GNM, B.Sc, Post-Basic — RN or Assistant Nurse
- Attempts, retakes, validity and exemptions
- Exam centres in India, booking and emigration clearance
- Preparation: study material, a plan and DOH vs DHA vs MOHAP
- DOH Abu Dhabi nursing notice board — official updates
- DHA vs Kuwait vs DOH nursing exams compared
- DHA nurse eligibility: GNM, B.Sc, Post-Basic and M.Sc
Sources
- official — DOH Circular 151/2024 — Licensing Service Catalogue and Licensing Procedural Manual (Aug 2024)
- official — TAMM — Issue a Healthcare Professional Licence (Department of Health)
- official — DataFlow — How to Apply Guide, DOH Abu Dhabi applicant (Aug 2026)
- official — DataFlow Group — Department of Health Abu Dhabi
- official — DOH — Frequently asked questions
- official — Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR), 3rd version, April 2025 — DOH copy
- official — DOH — Standard for Continuing Professional Development (2024)
- official — DOH Circular 143/2024 — cancellation of COVID-era licensing circulars (8 Aug 2024)
- official — Pearson VUE — Abu Dhabi Department of Health (DOH)
official = a document published by the conducting body. reported = a news or coaching site we could not check against an original. Where sources disagree this page says so rather than picking one.
