Medical Translation for DHA License: Healthcare Professional Guide

Why Healthcare Professionals Need Medical Translation

Dubai's healthcare sector requires rigorous credential verification before licensing. The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) must verify that every doctor, nurse, pharmacist, and allied health professional has legitimate qualifications. Documents not in Arabic or English require certified translation as part of this verification process.

The translation requirement exists because DHA uses Primary Source Verification (PSV) through DataFlow Group to authenticate credentials. DataFlow contacts educational institutions and employers directly to verify your documents. The information in your translated documents must match exactly what institutions have on record.

Who This Applies To

Medical translation requirements apply to physicians and specialists, nurses and midwives, pharmacists, dentists and dental hygienists, laboratory technicians, physiotherapists and rehabilitation professionals, radiographers, and all allied health professionals seeking DHA licensing.

If you're applying for healthcare licensing in Dubai—or transferring an existing license—your credentials will need translation if they're not originally in English or Arabic.

Documents That Need Translation

Understanding which documents need translation helps you prepare a complete application package. Missing translations cause delays.

Educational Credentials

Medical degree certificate—your primary qualification showing completion of medical education. Must include institution name, degree title, graduation date, and official authentication marks.

Academic transcripts—detailed records of courses completed, especially important for specialty applications where specific training requirements must be demonstrated.

Internship completion certificate—proof of required clinical training hours. DHA has specific internship duration requirements that must be documented.

Professional Credentials

Specialty training certificates—for physicians seeking specialist registration, all fellowship and specialty training documentation needs translation.

Good standing certificate—from your current or most recent licensing authority, confirming you're in good standing with no disciplinary actions.

Professional license copies—from countries where you've practiced, showing your licensing history.

Employment Documentation

Employment verification letters—confirming your work history, positions held, and dates of employment at healthcare facilities.

Experience certificates—detailed documentation of clinical experience, especially important for senior positions or specialist roles.

Translation Requirements for DataFlow

DataFlow is the verification service DHA uses to authenticate healthcare credentials. Understanding how DataFlow works helps you prepare documents correctly.

What DataFlow Does

DataFlow contacts your educational institutions and previous employers directly to verify your credentials. They confirm that you actually graduated from the stated institution, your degree is legitimate, your license was valid, and your employment history is accurate.

The information in your translated documents must match exactly what these institutions have on record. Any discrepancy—even minor spelling variations—can cause verification failure.

Translation Accuracy is Critical

When translating medical credentials for DataFlow, every detail matters. Institution names must match official records (use the exact name, not informal abbreviations). Degree titles must be translated consistently with how the institution describes them. Dates must be accurate and in the correct format. Names must match your passport and other documents exactly.

Our translators understand these requirements and verify terminology against standard medical and academic conventions.

Languages Requiring Translation

DataFlow accepts documents in English and Arabic without translation. Documents in other languages—including Hindi, Urdu, Tagalog, Chinese, Russian, Spanish, and others—require certified translation into English or Arabic.

If your medical degree is from an institution that issues certificates in the local language, you'll need translation even if the institution also offers English documentation. Translate what you have; don't wait for alternate versions.

DHA vs DOH vs MOH: Which Authority?

Understanding which health authority you're dealing with helps you prepare correct documentation.

DHA (Dubai Health Authority)

Covers healthcare licensing in Dubai. Uses DataFlow for verification. Accepts English and Arabic documentation. MOJ-certified translation required for Arabic submissions.

DOH (Department of Health Abu Dhabi)

Covers healthcare licensing in Abu Dhabi. Also uses DataFlow verification. Similar documentation requirements to DHA with some variations in processing.

MOH (Ministry of Health)

Covers healthcare licensing in other emirates (Sharjah, Ajman, RAK, etc.). Uses similar verification processes. Documentation requirements are comparable but confirm specific requirements with MOH.

Translation requirements are similar across all three authorities. Our DHA DataFlow guide covers the detailed requirements for Dubai licensing.

The Translation Process

Here's how medical credential translation works with our service.

Step 1: Document Assessment

Send your documents via WhatsApp. We'll review them and confirm which documents need translation, the appropriate language direction (into Arabic, English, or both), and any specific terminology requirements for your specialty.

Step 2: Medical Translation

Our translators handle medical credentials regularly and understand healthcare terminology. They'll translate your documents accurately while maintaining consistency with standard medical and academic conventions.

For complex documents—specialty training certificates with detailed curriculum information, for example—we may consult reference materials to ensure terminology accuracy.

Step 3: MOJ Certification

Completed translations receive MOJ certification with official stamp and signature. This certification is required for DHA acceptance and provides authentication that DataFlow can verify.

Step 4: Delivery

Digital copies are delivered immediately upon completion. Hard copies with original stamps can be couriered if needed for physical submission.

Common Issues and How to Avoid Them

Name Inconsistencies

Your name must match across all documents and your passport. If your medical degree shows "Mohammed" but your passport shows "Muhammad," flag this when submitting documents. We can include appropriate notation to explain the variation.

Institutional Name Translation

Universities sometimes have official English names that differ from direct translation. We use official English names where they exist rather than translating literally. This matches what DataFlow will find when verifying with the institution.

Missing Documents

DHA requires a complete documentation package. Missing even one certificate can stall your application. Review the DHA requirements checklist before ordering translation to ensure you have everything needed.

Expired Good Standing Certificates

Good standing certificates typically have validity periods (often 3-6 months). If your certificate has expired by the time you apply, you'll need a new one—and new translation. Plan timing carefully.

Pricing and Turnaround

Medical document translation pricing starts from AED 150 per page for standard certificates. Complex documents with extensive medical terminology or detailed academic records may be priced higher based on content.

Standard turnaround: 24-48 hours for most certificates. Multi-page transcripts and specialty training records may take 2-3 days.

Urgent service: Same-day delivery available for deadline situations. Contact us via WhatsApp for urgent pricing and availability.