DHA-Licensed Dentists in Dubai: Why Verification Matters

What is DHA licensure?

The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) is the government body that licenses and regulates healthcare professionals and facilities in Dubai. To practise dentistry legally in Dubai, a dentist must hold a current DHA licence and work from a DHA-licensed facility. Licensing typically involves:

• A recognised dental degree
• Verification of qualifications and previous experience
• Passing the DHA licensing assessment
• Good standing with previous regulators
• Professional liability insurance
• Continuing professional development to renew the licence

International qualifications you may see

Many Dubai dentists trained abroad. Common qualifications include:

• BDS: Bachelor of Dental Surgery (for example the UK, India, Australia and Pakistan)
• DDS or DMD: Doctor of Dental Surgery or Doctor of Dental Medicine (for example the US and Canada)
• MSc or MS: master's-level postgraduate or specialty training
• Membership or fellowship of a professional body: reflects further study or examinations, but is not in itself a DHA licence category

DHA assesses foreign qualifications during licensing, so the licence, not the letters after a name, is what confirms a dentist can practise in Dubai.

How to verify a DHA licence

You can check any dentist's licence yourself:

1. Open the DHA Sheryan portal, reached from the Dubai Health Authority website
2. Search by the dentist's name or licence number
3. Confirm the name, licence type, status and expiry date, and any specialty shown

What a DHA specialty licence means

Beyond the general dentist licence, DHA grants specialty titles (for example orthodontics, endodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery and paediatric dentistry) after additional postgraduate training and assessment.

This matters for complex cases. Many of them start with a general dentist, who plans treatment and refers on when additional expertise is needed.

Why DHA licensing matters for you

Quality assurance

• Licensing checks qualifications and experience before a dentist can practise
• Continuing education is required to keep the licence

Patient protection

• DHA has a formal complaints process open to all patients
• Professional liability insurance is required
• Regulators can restrict or revoke a licence

Insurance

• UAE insurers generally require treatment by licensed providers in licensed facilities

Red flags suggesting unlicensed practice

• Treatment offered from a hotel room or apartment rather than a licensed clinic
• A clinic that will not show or explain its practitioners' licences
• Treatment offered without a proper medical history
• No visible infection control
• A "visiting" dentist whose local licence you cannot find
• A specialty claimed in marketing that does not appear on the register

Green flags

• Licence details easy to find, and the dentist happy to explain their training and experience
• Examples of the dentist's own completed cases
• Written treatment plans with line items
• A multi-visit approach for complex work rather than a rush to finish
• Reviews that mention specific clinicians, not just the clinic

Paradise Dental Clinic: all dentists DHA-licensed

Paradise Dental Clinic has five DHA-licensed general dentists: Dr. Abdulrhman Zakarnah, Dr. Saif Ali, Dr. Leylah Sedghi, Dr. Aseel Awad and Dr. Sireen Sharim. All five are Invisalign Certified Providers. You can check any of their registrations yourself on the DHA Sheryan registry before your first visit, and read more about each dentist on the team page.

What to ask any dentist at the first visit

1. Are you DHA-licensed, and what is your licence number?
2. Is your licence for general dentistry or a specialty?
3. How long have you practised in the UAE?
4. Where did you train?
5. How many cases like mine have you treated?
6. When would you refer me to someone else?

Reputable dentists answer these openly.

When DHA licensing isn't enough

A DHA licence is a minimum standard. It confirms a dentist may practise, but it does not tell you:

• Their experience with your specific treatment
• Whether they hold specialty training (unless it is listed on the register)
• The quality of their case work
• How well they communicate
• The clinic's day-to-day hygiene standards

So also consider:

• Experience with the specific technique you need
• Patient reviews, especially recent and treatment-specific ones
• Examples of their completed cases similar to yours
• Clinic accreditation (for example ISO or JCI)
• Materials recorded by type and manufacturer in your notes
• Clear, written treatment plans

How to raise a complaint

If you experience substandard care:

1. Gather your records: treatment notes, X-rays and receipts
2. Raise the concern with the clinic first; many issues are resolved directly
3. If it is not resolved, file a complaint with DHA through its official channels; DHA investigates and can take disciplinary action

Finding a family dentist in Dubai and finding a dentist by area cover the rest of the choice, and the general dentistry page lists the treatments the clinic's dentists provide.

Common questions

How do I verify a dentist's DHA registration online?

Every dentist licensed in Dubai is listed publicly. Go to the Dubai Health Authority's Sheryan portal, search by the dentist's name or licence number, and confirm that the licence is active and shows the correct specialty if the dentist advertises one. The check is quick and free, so do it before starting treatment, especially for high-value or elective work.

How do I check whether a dentist holds a DHA specialty licence?

Look the dentist up on the DHA Sheryan portal and check the licence type and any specialty shown, such as orthodontics, endodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics, oral surgery or paediatric dentistry, then confirm the licence is active. DHA grants a specialty title only after additional training and assessment, so a specialty shown on the register is a verifiable credential, whereas the same word in marketing copy is not.

Is 'cosmetic' or 'aesthetic' dentistry a recognised specialty?

No. 'Cosmetic dentistry' and 'aesthetic dentistry' are interchangeable marketing terms, not licensed specialties. A dentist offering veneers or whitening is a general dentist (or a dentist licensed in a different recognised specialty) who has chosen to focus on this work. Judge them by training, case portfolio and process rather than by the label.

What is the difference between an orthodontist and a dentist who offers orthodontics?

An orthodontist is a dentist who has completed an additional two to three years of specialty training in tooth and jaw alignment; many also hold board certification, and their training is oriented towards complex bite and skeletal cases. General dentists may also provide orthodontic treatment, particularly clear aligners, after manufacturer certification and continuing education. Whoever treats you, ask who will plan and supervise your case, how many similar cases they have treated, and when they would refer you on to an orthodontist.

Practical decision guide

Dubai dental care is broad, multilingual, and mostly private. The smart patient move is to verify licensing, compare itemised plans, understand insurance rules, and avoid choosing complex care from price alone.

Check this first

• DHA license or registration status for the professional and facility.
• Whether the quote includes scans, materials, temporaries, sedation, follow-up, warranty, and emergency support.
• Insurance direct billing, pre-approval, exclusions, annual limit, and reimbursement deadline.

When to book sooner

• You have pain, swelling, trauma, infection signs, or a broken restoration during travel.
• A treatment plan is expensive, irreversible, or unclear and you need a second opinion.
• A provider cannot clearly explain credentials, materials, diagnosis, or aftercare.

Topic-specific notes

• For cost decisions, compare itemised treatment plans rather than headline prices. The clinically important inclusions are diagnosis, imaging, material choice, temporaries, follow-up, maintenance, and what happens if treatment needs revision.

Questions to ask at the appointment

• Is this provider listed with DHA, and what specialty is registered?
• What exactly is included in the written quote and what might be billed later?
• How will follow-up work if I travel, change emirates, or need urgent review?

Dubai patient note

Use DHA public tools for licensing checks and keep copies of x-rays, invoices, insurance approvals, lab material details, and warranty terms before beginning multi-visit treatment.

References

• Dubai Health Authority
• UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention