DHA License Exam 2026: Healthcare professionals, including physicians, surgeons, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, allied health service professionals, therapists etc who want to work in Dubai must apply for the Dubai License Exam 2026. The exam is under the purview of the Dubai Health Authority (DHA). The DHA License is valid for 1 year only. Since there are no fixed exam dates for DHA exam, students can schedule their DHA License Exam 2026 on the website. Check the details below to know all about the DHA License Exam 2026.
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The DHA 2026 exam evaluates the expertise, abilities, and proficiency of healthcare professionals who wish to practise in Dubai. Eligible professionals who clear the DHA License Exam will be issued the DHA license to practice. The DHA exam consists of two parts: a written test and an oral assessment. The written test is a CBT with MCQs asked on different medical topics while the oral assessment tests the practical skills of the candidates and their communication skills with the patients. It is mandatory for the candidates to clear both parts of the DHA exam to obtain the DHA license. The DHA test is conducted at authorised testing centres in Dubai and candidates can even schedule the exam online. Read along to know more about the DHA exam 2026 and other related details.
All applicants will get three attempts to successfully pass the assessment modality failing which, they shall be blocked from re-applying for 2 years. Any fourth attempt could be allowed with permissions only.
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Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
Purpose | To assess the qualifications and competency of healthcare professionals to work in Dubai |
Conducting Authority | Dubai Health Authority (DHA) |
Eligibility |
|
Exam Format | Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
Exam Provider | Prometric Testing Services |
Question Type | Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) |
Language | English |
Exam Duration | 2-3 hours as per the profession |
Passing Score | 60%-75% depends on profession and speciality |
Exam Topics | medical knowledge, clinical skills, ethics, UAE laws. Questions vary as per the profession. |
Validity of License | 1 year (renewable) |
Result Timeline | Typically released within 2-5 working days after the exam |
Anyone looking for employment as a healthcare professional in Dubai needs to appear and clear the DHA license exam 2026. The full form for DHA is the Dubai Health Authority (DHA). It is a governmental organisation in Dubai responsible for healthcare services in Dubai including the issue of the DHA License. The Dubai Health Authority Test is mandatory for healthcare professionals seeking employment opportunities in Dubai.
Read more: How to Find a Job in Dubai After Passing the DHA Exam?
One can schedule the DHA exam dates 2026 in India and plan their exam accordingly. Registering and choosing the DHA exam 2026 date beforehand allows a hassle free convenience to prepare well. There are no fixed exam dates for DHA 2026 exam. Aspirants can choose their preferred DHA exam date 2026 to apply after they register and login. Applications for the DHA exam in India generally start in January. However, one must note that DHA exam dates 2026 UAE tend to change as per the directives of the DHA.
The DHA exam 2026 eligibility criteria are mentioned below:
Age limit: Candidates must be at least 18 years of age
Education: Candidates who are allied health professionals, complementary and alternative medicine professionals, dentists, nurses/ midwives, physicians can apply.
Experience: A minimum of 2 years of experience for pharmacists, nurses, and other allied healthcare professionals, 3 years for general practitioners, 3 years of postgraduate experience for specialists and 5 Years of experience for consultants.
Other Identity proofs: a valid passport, home country license, and a good standing certificate issued within the last 6 months
These are the documents that are mandatory for DHA exam:
Sheryan is the DHA digital platform/ e-licensing system for registering and licensing HP and facilities in Dubai. The actual CBT exam is conducted by prometric for Sheryan.
The following are the steps to follow to appear for the DHA exam 2026 and registration for practising as a health professional in Dubai.
It is mandatory to first register for the DHA exam. Depending upon the profile applying for, there may be a computer based exam or an oral assessment. After successful submission of the application, students are provided with the DHA Unique ID to track their application status. Check the details below
Aspiring healthcare professionals should follow the below-mentioned steps to apply for the DHA exam. The fees for the DHA exam is
Step 2: Scan all the documents for uploading. Create an online Sheryan account for processing and monitoring everything relevant to your license application.
Step 3: After creating the account, go to the Online Registration and Licensing section.
Step 4: Upload all the documents, giving a proper name/title to each document file.
Step 5: After the completion of the DHA exam application process, pay the required fee using a globally accepted credit card.
Once the DHA document verification is completed, you will receive an email for Primary Source Verification (PSV). After completing the PSV, you can choose your prometric exam centre using the DHA reference number.
How much does a DHA exam cost? The DHA exam fee for Indian students in Dubai is approximately AED 1,080. For reference, the DHA Exam Fees 2026 in rupees are approximately Rs. 24,493.00. One needs to pay the DHA 2026 exam fees while registering for the license exam. As per the Dubai Health Authority, Iit is a must to pay the standard DHA fees. The DHA exam fee is between 700-1100 AED, based on the DHA exam category you fall into as shown in the table below:
Exam Category | Application Fees (AED) | Exam Fees (AED) | License Fees (AED) | Total Estimated Cost (AED) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
General Practitioners | 1,000 - 1,100 | 1,000 - 1,200 | 1,000 - 1,100 | 3,000 - 3,400 |
Dentists | 1,000 - 1,100 | 1,200 | 1,000 - 1,100 | 3,200 - 3,400 |
Pharmacists | 1,000 - 1,100 | 1,000 - 1,200 | 800 - 900 | 2,800 - 3,200 |
Nurses | 800 - 1,000 | 800 - 900 | 600 - 700 | 2,200 - 2,600 |
Allied Health Professionals | 700 - 900 | 700 - 900 | 600 - 700 | 2,000 - 2,500 |
Candidates can make the DHA test fee payments online with credit/debit cards on official platforms like the DataFlow portal or the prometric -website. Payments should be made either in UAE Dirhams (AED) or United States Dollars (USD). Cash or bank transfers are not accepted. After you make the payment, you will receive a confirmation email. The DHA exam fees is non-refundable.
The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) examination is a comprehensive assessment to test the knowledge and skills of candidates seeking licensure in Dubai. Students get multiple-choice questions on a wide variety of medial disciplines, such as pharmacy, dentistry, medicine, nursing, etc. Candidates seeking licensure in Dubai must be licensed in their home country and have completed an accredited educational program. They also need to submit all their educational transcripts and certificates. This exam is conducted online and consists of two parts: Part 1 assesses the theoretical knowledge of the candidate, while Part 2 focuses on testing the practical skills of the candidate.
Students should attend review courses and practice DHA exam practice papers to familiarise themselves with the format of the examination. They must secure the minimum passing score that the regulatory body decides, failing which they would have to retake the exam.
There are no DHA exam dates 2026 for pharmacists. Candidates can choose from slots available in January, April, July, and October. There will be multiple-choice questions (MCQs) in the DHA 2026Exam. Candidates should be experienced and skilled to comprehend and reply to the answer quickly. As per the DHA exam pattern, there will be 150 multiple-choice questions for nurses and general practitioners. While for DHA exam for pharmacist 2026, dentists, and lab technicians, the total number of MCQs will be 100.
DHA Exam Category | Number of Questions | Time Duration | Passing Score |
|---|---|---|---|
General Practitioners | 150 MCQs | 165 minutes | 60% |
Nurses | 150 MCQs | 165 minutes | 60% |
Dentists | 150 MCQs | 180 minutes | 60% |
Pharmacists | 120 MCQs | 165 minutes | 60% |
Lab Technicians | 100 MCQs | 150 minutes | 55% |
Each question of DHA 2026 will have four answers. Candidates are required to choose the correct one. The passing score for nurses and lab technicians is 55%, while it is 60% for general practitioners, dentists, and pharmacists. The exam is conducted at prometric examination centres for various DHA exam dates 2026 for nurses, doctors, and pharmacists. The questions that candidates get in the exam are related to their specific fields, and within the four given answers, they should know which one is the correct one. There will be a very slight difference between the four answer options given. Candidates need to choose the correct one.
DHA Exam Syllabus - General Practitioner and Dentist
| Topics for General Practitioner | Topics for Dentist |
| Chronic Diseases | Anesthesia and Pain Management |
| Acute/Common Medical Problems | Trauma |
| Common Pediatric Problems | Temporomandibular Joint |
| Women’s Health | Dentoalveolar Surgery |
| Emergency Problems | Implant Surgery |
| Common Surgical Problems | Reconstruction |
| Common Psychiatric Problems | Cosmetic Procedures |
| Common Eye and ENT Problems | Deformities and Orthognathic Surgery |
| Common Dermatological Problems | Patient Education |
| Basic Epidemiology and EBM Concepts | Ethics |
| Family Medicine Concepts | - |
| Screening & Periodic Health Exams | - |
Topics | Weightage |
|---|---|
Fundamentals of Nursing | 25% |
Pediatric Nursing | 18% |
Adult Nursing | 20% |
Maternal Health | 15% |
Unit Management and Leadership | 22% |
Topics | Weightage |
|---|---|
Toxicology | 5% |
Pregnancy and Lactation | 5% |
Pediatrics | 5% |
Geriatrics | 5% |
Pharmacy Calculation and Compounding | 15% |
Pharmacokinetics | 5% |
Pharmaceutical Care and Disease Management | 35% |
Medication Safety | 5% |
Counter Medication | 10% |
Pharmacy Law and Ethics | 10% |
Topics | |
|---|---|
Safety and Quality Control | Blood Bank |
Bacteriology | |
Virology | |
Immunology | |
Parasitology | |
Hematology | |
Blood Bank | |
Biochemistry | |
Hormones | |
Urinalysis | |
Mycology |
DHA exam is easy for those who prepare accordingly. Hence, it is crucial for aspiring healthcare professionals to check their DHA license exam result. They can send their scores of DHA exam in India to the chosen medical universities. Here is the detailed information on DHA exam 2026 result:
The DHA scores are available within 3–5 business days for candidates through the registered email and the Sheryan portal. DHA exam results show pass/fail status with detailed performance breakdowns. If passed, candidates can proceed with licensing; if failed, they may retake the exam up to three times. If there is a scenario where they want to appear for the exam beyond three times, reapplication might be needed as per the DHA exam criteria. Discrepancies can be resolved through DHA support or re-evaluation.
Here are the steps to get the professional license after passing the DHA exam.
Once the applicants pass the DHA exam, it is mandatory that they pay the licensing fees to activate their professional license in Dubai. There are different types of licenses available and their costs vary accordingly as shown in the table below:
License Type | Nurse and Midwife/Allied Health/T&CM | Physician/Dentist |
|---|---|---|
Full-time 1 Year | AED 1000 | AED 3000 |
Full-time 2 Years | AED 1500 | AED 5000 |
Full-time 3 Years | AED 2500 | AED 7500 |
Part-time | AED 1000 | AED 3000 |
Trainee | AED 1000 | AED 3000 |
The DHA exam 2026 syllabus includes all the basic and clinical areas of medicine. The applicant must read the syllabus comprehensively and then categorise the syllabus into subtopics. Candidates are advised to categorise the subtopics in a manner that makes it easy for them to revise. The candidate should also go through the questions and answers of the previous year's papers to have a good idea of the type of questions that will be asked in the exam.
The candidates are also advised to pay heed to the most important topics only. Moreover, the candidates are also advised to practice writing answers to the questions of the previous year's papers. Candidates should have in-depth knowledge of the below-mentioned segments:
Clinical Segment: This segment evaluates a candidate’s knowledge regarding clinical concepts and procedures relevant to the medical profession. It comprises topics like anatomy, pathology, pharmacology, physiology, microbiology, and radiology.
Clinical Guidelines and Protocols: The DHA exam assesses a candidate’s knowledge regarding the current clinical guidelines and protocols in the medical field.
Professional Competencies: This section evaluates a candidate’s understanding of professional ethics. Besides, it also tests communication skills, patient management, and infection control measures. There will be questions regarding legal and regulatory aspects of the UAE healthcare system.
Regulations Concerning Dubai Health Authority: Candidates should be aware of the local regulations and policies governing healthcare practices in Dubai. There will be UAE-specific questions related to healthcare standards, licensing requirements, and patient safety initiatives.
Dubai's Healthcare System: You will be evaluated on the knowledge you have regarding the healthcare system in Dubai. There will be questions including the healthcare infrastructure in Dubai, insurance policies, and healthcare delivery models.
Language Proficiency: The DHA exam also includes an assessment of English language proficiency since English is the primary language of instruction and communication in the healthcare sector.
If candidates prepare adequately, they can easily pass the DHA Licensing Exam. However, candidates need to remember that they need to prepare well and should ideally allocate a minimum of 1 month with 2 to 3 hours per day from their daily schedule for good DHA exam preparation.
Candidates aspiring for the Dubai Health Authority exam need to take their photo ID proofs, such as a valid passport or any Emirates ID (if they are UAE residents). Besides, it is mandatory to take a copy of the examination confirmation.
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Here are a few tips that can help you achieve a good DHA exam result:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
To be eligible for the DHA Licensing Exam, healthcare professionals are required to possess a valid degree or diploma from a recognized accredited institution acknowledged by the DHA. This criterion substantiates that candidates have undergone sufficient theoretical and practical training in their respective medical fields.
Clearing the DHA examination can be challenging. However, it is very much possible to clear the DHA exam. Candidates need adequate preparation and guidance to clear the exam and obtain the necessary license to practice in Dubai.
The DHA exam application can be submitted online. Candidates don’t have to physically travel to Dubai and personally apply to the licensing authority for their DHA exam application.
If you want to work in the healthcare sector of Dubai then it is absolutely mandatory to obtain the DHA license. Without DHA licensing and other requirements, you cannot find a job in the Dubai healthcare sector. DHA licensing enables you to apply for doctor, pharmacists and nurse jobs in Dubai.
The DHA license has a validity of one year. It has to be renewed within 3 months prior to the expiry date.
Complete your Primary Source Verification (PSV) through DataFlow and create a valid DHA account. Once this is done, candidates can then schedule exam date by logging into the prometric website, choosing the desired profession, selecting a date and suitable test centre and confirm by paying the required fees.
The DHA is challenging but healthcare professionals can achieve it and work in Dubai. It requires adequate preparation to pass the exam.
The passing score for the DHA (Dubai Health Authority) exam is generally around 60-70%, however, it varies depending on the profession. Lab technicians require 55% and 60-65% for Dentists.
A dentist's salary in Dubai varies by experience, with entry-level positions for those with 0-1 year of experience starting around AED 102,500 per year (approximately ₹23.19 lakhs), while those with over 10 years of experience can earn between AED 40,000 and AED 60,000 per month.
Results are published within 5 working days in the “Verifications and CBT Assessments” page for Prometric assessment and in the closed "Schedule Oral Assessment" application for oral assessments.
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