HAAD Exams

The Abu Dhabi Healthcare Context

The Health Authority Abu Dhabi (HAAD) officially rebranded to the Department of Health (DoH) Abu Dhabi, but the global certification market still uses the HAAD acronym. For international nurses planning to relocate to the United Arab Emirates, passing the local regulatory exam is a strict legal requirement. You cannot practice in Abu Dhabi without it.

The authority uses a centralized testing model to verify that incoming practitioners meet baseline clinical and ethical standards. Because the region relies heavily on expatriate healthcare workers, the certification acts as an equalizer, ensuring uniform competency regardless of where a candidate earned their nursing degree.

What to Expect on the HAAD-RN

The licensing process hinges on a single assessment: the HAAD-RN: HAAD Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses. Administered globally through Pearson VUE, the computer-based test evaluates your clinical judgment, theoretical knowledge, and understanding of UAE-specific healthcare protocols.

The exam runs 180 minutes and contains 150 multiple-choice questions. You have just over a minute to read, analyze, and answer each prompt. The syllabus covers major clinical domains, including medical-surgical care, pediatrics, maternal health, psychiatric nursing, and pharmacology. It also tests professional practice and medical ethics.

You cannot simply pay a fee and sit for the HAAD-RN. The Department of Health enforces strict prerequisites. Candidates must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, possess an active license in their home country, and prove at least two years of post-registration clinical experience. Before booking the exam, your credentials undergo Primary Source Verification (PSV) through the DataFlow Group. This third-party audit checks your degree and employment history directly with the issuing institutions.

Market Position and Career Value

Securing this credential provides direct access to one of the most heavily funded healthcare systems in the Middle East. Abu Dhabi continues to expand its medical infrastructure, creating steady demand for verified professionals at facilities like Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and Sheikh Khalifa Medical City.

The barrier to entry protects the value of the license. The regulatory body limits candidates to three attempts at the HAAD-RN: HAAD Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses. If you fail your third attempt, the system locks you out. You must complete additional recognized training and wait up to a year before the authority will even consider granting a final, exceptional retake.