Countries > UAE for Nurses > DoH Nursing
UAE for Nurses — Abu Dhabi
The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) licenses all nurses practising in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, and Al Dhafra. The DoH Registered Nurse Licensure Examination is a computer-based test delivered by Pearson VUE. Passing the exam, combined with DataFlow verification, is the gateway to obtaining your DoH licence.
Pathway Snapshot
Submit your credentials through the TAMM portal, complete DataFlow verification, receive your eligibility authorisation, and pass the DoH nursing exam at a Pearson VUE centre. Your employer then activates your licence.
Complete Journey: Nursing Degree → DataFlow PSV → TAMM Application & Eligibility → DoH Nursing Pearson VUE Exam → Employer Licence Activation → Nursing Practice in Abu Dhabi.
A Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or equivalent degree is required. Two years of post-qualification experience is the standard requirement under the Unified PQR, with possible exemptions for recent graduates — verify on the TAMM portal. DoH does not mandate a specific IELTS or OET score for licensure, but employers in Abu Dhabi commonly require IELTS 6.0–6.5 or OET Grade C+. Confirm directly with your hiring facility.
Mandatory Primary Source Verification is handled by DataFlow. The process is identical to that for DHA and MOHAP. Fees vary by document package; confirm on dataflowgroup.com.
TAMM is the Abu Dhabi government services portal used for DoH licensing. Create an account, complete the PQR self-assessment, and submit your documents for review. Once DataFlow verification is complete and DoH approves your eligibility, you receive authorisation to book the Pearson VUE exam. The exact exam duration will be stated on your TAMM eligibility letter.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
Questions |
150 questions is the figure consistently reported for this exam (matching DHA's confirmed format); not independently confirmed by DoH/MOHAP — confirm on your eligibility letter. |
Format |
Computer-based test (CBT), Pearson VUE |
Duration |
Approximately 2.5–3 hours; the exact duration is confirmed on your TAMM eligibility letter — it may vary by nursing category. |
Passing Standard |
DoH reports results as Pass/Fail only. No official percentage pass mark is published. Candidate estimates commonly cite 60%, but treat this as unverified. |
Testing Centres |
Pearson VUE centres worldwide |
Commonly cited by preparation resources — DoH does not publish an official nursing blueprint with exact weightings:
| Domain | Approximate Emphasis |
|---|---|
Medical-Surgical Nursing (Adult Health) |
Highest emphasis |
Fundamentals of Nursing (Patient safety, infection control, medication administration, nursing process) |
High emphasis |
Maternal-Child Nursing |
Moderate emphasis |
Mental Health & Community Health |
Moderate emphasis |
Leadership, Professional Ethics & Abu Dhabi Healthcare Regulations |
Moderate emphasis |
Questions are scenario-based and require clinical judgement and prioritisation.
What we offer
A comprehensive UAE nursing question bank covering DHA, DoH, and MOHAP exams. One product with detailed rationales, clinical-judgement scenarios, and authority-specific regulatory content for Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and the Northern Emirates.
Notify me when UAE Nursing Prep is available →Under the Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR), applicants are granted three attempts across all UAE health authorities combined (DHA, DoH, MOHAP). Confirm the current retake and cancellation policy directly with DoH before scheduling your examination.
DoH does not publicly confirm an additional oral examination for specialist nurses. However, multiple independent candidate sources consistently report that specialist-track nurses may be required to complete a separate oral/viva assessment (commonly described as 5–6 clinical scenarios, approximately 45–60 minutes, conducted remotely). This information is not verified on an official DoH document. If you are applying for a specialist role, confirm directly with DoH whether an oral component applies to your category.
Passing the exam allows your employer to activate your DoH licence. The licence is valid only within Abu Dhabi. You must hold an active licence and practise for a period (commonly 6–12 months) before applying for a licence transfer to another emirate.
All fees are approximate and based on 2026 data. Always confirm exact amounts on the official portals.
| Item | Approx. Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
DataFlow PSV |
Varies by document package | No fixed published rate; confirm on dataflowgroup.com |
TAMM application fees |
AED 200–1,000+ | Depends on professional category |
Pearson VUE exam fee |
Confirm on Pearson VUE website | Set by Pearson VUE, not DoH |
Licence activation |
Arranged by employer | Paid by hiring facility |
Note on Fees: All fees are set by DoH, DataFlow, and Pearson VUE and are subject to change. No official pass mark is published by DoH for the nursing exam. The candidate-reported pass estimates and fee ranges on this page are indicative only. Always confirm directly with DoH, DataFlow, and Pearson VUE before payment or booking.