OET Requirements for the UAE
The UAE has three separate health regulators, each setting its own English-language requirement — here's who to check with, and why we're not publishing a single score for all three.
Yes — OET is accepted for nurse licensing in the UAE, but by three separate authorities depending on which emirate you'll work in.
Before checking who licenses you, you can estimate your current level using our OET Score Calculator and practise with free OET Speaking roleplays.
By SpeakOET Team · July 27, 2026
Which authority licenses you
- Dubai Health Authority (DHA) — for nurses working in Dubai. Official site: dha.gov.ae, including a self-assessment tool for professional qualification requirements.
- Department of Health Abu Dhabi (DOH) — for nurses working in Abu Dhabi. Official Professional Qualification Requirements for nurses: doh.gov.ae/en/pqr/Nurses.
- Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) — for the other emirates (Sharjah, Ajman, and the rest). Official licensing page: mohap.gov.ae.
Minimum OET score
We show a verified score table for the UK, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, and Canada on their own pages. We're not doing that here: DHA, DOH, and MOHAP publish different requirements from each other, sources conflict on the exact current figures, and getting this wrong on a nursing site is a permanent trust loss — not just an SEO problem. Use the official links above to confirm the current pass mark for your specific authority before you book your test.
Our free OET Score Calculator deliberately leaves UAE out for the same reason — we'll add it the moment we can verify one reliable number per authority.
How long is my OET score valid?
OET itself doesn't expire, but each UAE authority sets its own acceptance window for how old a result can be at the time you apply — commonly around two years for most nursing regulators, though this changes without notice and can differ between DHA, DOH, and MOHAP. Confirm the current validity period directly on your target authority's site linked above before you rely on an older result.
Registration process overview
Meeting the English-language requirement is one part of licensing with DHA, DOH, or MOHAP — not the whole process. The typical path: confirm you meet the qualification and experience criteria your target authority publishes, submit your application and supporting documents (including a Good Standing Certificate) through their official portal, complete any additional exam or assessment they require, then receive your license once everything clears. Steps differ between the three authorities and change over time — start from the official site linked above rather than a third-party guide.
Ready to achieve the UAE nursing license?
- Free AI Speaking Practice
- Instant score estimates
- Real OET roleplays
How to prepare for the UAE OET requirement
Whichever authority licenses you, focus on the areas that commonly prevent candidates from achieving the required scores.
- Practise realistic OET Speaking roleplays.
- Learn how OET grades convert into scores.
- Avoid common Speaking mistakes that reduce your mark.
Helpful guides:
Common mistakes
Many candidates delay registration because they:
- Assume old score requirements still apply.
- Forget to check the regulator's latest English-language policy.
- Submit an OET result outside the accepted validity period.
- Misunderstand whether two sittings can be combined.
UAE compared with other regulators
We can't put the UAE in this table for the reason explained above, but here's what the regulators we can verify require, for comparison while you decide where to register:
| Regulator | Listening | Reading | Writing | Speaking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NMC (UK) | B | B | C+ | B |
| Ahpra (Australia) | B | B | B | B |
| NMBI (Ireland) | B | B | B | B |
| Nursing Council (NZ) | B | B | C+ | B |
| Canada (all provinces) | B | C+ | C+ | B |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the UAE accept OET for nurse licensing?
Yes. All three UAE health regulators — the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), the Department of Health Abu Dhabi (DOH), and the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) for the other emirates — recognise OET as an English-proficiency option for internationally-trained nurses.
What's the minimum OET score for a UAE nursing license?
It depends which authority licenses you — DHA, DOH, and MOHAP each set their own requirement, and these have changed in recent years. We're deliberately not publishing a specific number here because public sources conflict and requirements aren't uniform across emirates. Check the current pass mark directly on the authority's own site linked above before you rely on it.
Which UAE authority do I apply to?
Generally DHA if you'll work in Dubai, DOH if you'll work in Abu Dhabi, and MOHAP for the other emirates (Sharjah, Ajman, and the rest). This is based on where the employing facility is licensed, not where you live — confirm with your recruiter or employer.
Does DHA/DOH/MOHAP accept IELTS instead of OET, or exempt some nurses entirely?
Generally yes to IELTS Academic alongside OET. Some nurses whose degree was taught entirely in English are also exempt from an English test altogether — eligibility rules differ by authority, so check yours directly on the relevant site above.
Ready to achieve the UAE nursing license?
- Free AI Speaking Practice
- Instant score estimates
- Real OET roleplays