Residency Program

Program Overview

Residency Programs are advanced, structured clinical training pathways designed for licensed medical, dental, and pharmacy graduates seeking advanced specialization in their fields. It provides supervised, competency-based training to prepare residents for independent clinical practice, residency training, or further postgraduate education.

The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) oversees all Residency Programs offered across accredited healthcare facilities in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. All residency applications must be submitted through the DoH application portal during the specified annual application window.

How to Enroll in Residency Program

• Application is available annually from 1^st March – 31^st March
• Start the application here

Who Should Apply

• Medical, dental, and pharmacy graduates seeking advanced specialty training in Abu Dhabi
• UAE nationals, UAE-Graduates, and eligible international graduates

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet all of the following minimum requirements:

1. Educational Qualification

Hold a medical, dental, or pharmacy degree from an accredited institution.

2. Residency Entrance Examination

3. Academic Requirements (GPA)

Note: If the final transcript is not available, we accept current transcripts. For international applicants we accept Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE) General with Grade Average Report..

4. English Language Proficiency (International Graduates Only)

• IELTS ≥ 6
• TOEFL ≥ 79
• OET ≥ C

5. Time Since Graduation, Practice Discontinuity and Age

Applicants must meet the following limits based on the time elapsed since graduation and must not have any gap of practice:

Required Documents

Documents Required for All Applicants

1. Passport copy (valid for at least 6 months)
2. Emirates ID (if available, valid for at least 6 months)
3. Recent passport-style photograph (white background)
4. Valid Residency Entrance Examination result
5. Graduation certificate and academic transcript
6. Internship completion certificate or official letter from the Chair of Education and Program Director confirming expected internship completion date
   Note: Expected Internship completion date must be no later than 31 August of the application year
7. Curriculum Vitae (CV)

Additional Documents (Where Applicable)

8. Educational Credential Evaluator report (International applicants)
9. Valid English language proficiency test result (International applicants)
10. For children of Emirati mothers:
    • Mother's passport
    • Mother's Emirates ID
    • Mother's family book
    • Applicant's birth certificate
11. Male UAE nationals must provide proof of completion or exemption from National Service.

Note: Additional documents may be requested during the review process.

How to Apply

1. Create or log in to your TAMM account
2. Complete the Residency Program application form
3. Upload all required documents (ensure all documents are accurate and valid)
4. Sign and attach the Applicant Declaration Form
5. Submit the application before the published deadline

Selection and Matching Process

Applications are processed through a structured, DoH-regulated matching system:

1. Online Application
   Applicants submit their application and required documents.
2. Eligibility Verification
   DoH reviews academic credentials, documents, and eligibility category.
3. Shortlisting & Interviews with Training Facilities
   Eligible applicants may be invited for interviews by accredited training facilities. Attendance is mandatory to be considered for matching.
4. Matching & Allocation
   Applicants are matched to available residency posts based on eligibility, preferences (where applicable), and availability of seats at accredited facilities.
5. Offer Issuance & Enrollment
   Matched candidates receive a residency offer specifying the training facility and start date. Offers must be accepted within the specified timeframe, followed by program orientation.

Successful applicants will receive onboarding instructions from the assigned training facility. Residents are expected to comply with all DoH regulations, institutional policies, and professional conduct standards.

Application Timeline – MEAD 2026

The application process involves application submission, eligibility screening, interviews, and final matching. A detailed application timeline is published annually. Dates may vary.

Additional Program Conditions

• Certain residency programs may be restricted to UAE national applicants only, based on workforce needs and policy priorities.
• Program-specific eligibility restrictions are determined annually and will be clearly indicated during the application process.
• Dental residency programs are exclusively open to UAE nationals.
• Apply to a maximum of three residency programs per application cycle.
• Change of specialty for active residents is permitted once only, exclusively for UAE nationals, and only during the first year of the residency program. Applicants requesting a change of specialty must submit:
  • A No Objection Letter from the current Program Director
  • An Academic Status Certificate issued by the Program Director (Residents on academic probation or remediation are not eligible)
  • A No Objection Letter from the HR department of the current training facility

Approved Residency Programs

Residents train exclusively in DoH-approved and accredited healthcare institutions and programs. Applicants may select preferred training facilities during the application process on the e-portal.

Dental Residency Programs

Medical Residency Programs

Pharmacy Residency Programs

Fees & Sponsorship

• No application fee is charged by DoH
• Employment contracts and related agreements are completed directly between the resident and the assigned training facility
• Training facilities may have additional onboarding requirements
• Visa sponsorship arrangements depend on applicant category and training facility