Overview
The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) licenses doctors, dentists, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, allied health staff and traditional and complementary medicine practitioners who want to work in the Emirate of Dubai. Depending on the profession and title, a candidate must pass a DHA assessment before a licence can be issued. This is not one single exam: it is a set of specialty-specific computer-based tests (CBT) and, for some titles, an oral assessment.
This page is based on the DHA assessment manual (version 1.1, issued 8 May 2025) and the DHA CBT guideline, which is marked as updated in September 2026. DHA may activate or deactivate a specialty test, or change its content, format or pass score, without updating the guideline, so check the current guideline on the Sheryan portal before booking.
Who can apply
Applicants are healthcare professionals seeking a new DHA licence. Licensed professionals who want to upgrade their title or add a registration position are covered too. Some professionals are exempt from the assessment under the unified Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR). An exemption covers only the exam. Credentialing, experience and primary-source verification still apply.
Titles that do not have a CBT in the guideline are assessed orally. The guideline gives certain consultant titles for physicians and dentists as an example.
Exam pattern
The CBT is a multiple-choice test run for DHA by Prometric at its test centres. Duration includes registration, the process introduction and the exam content. The guideline lists a separate test for each title. The patterns below are the ones listed in the September 2026 guideline.
| Group | Questions | Duration | Fee (USD) | Pass score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physicians, general practice | 150 | 3 hours | 280 | 60% |
| Dentists, general dentist | 150 | 3 hours | 280 | 60% |
| Registered nurse, assistant nurse, registered midwife | 150 | 3 hours | 240 | 50% |
| Pharmacist | 150 | 3 hours | 240 | 60% |
| Laser hair reduction privilege (physicians) | 70 | 2 hours | 180 | 60% |
| Other physician and dentist specialist and consultant titles, and other allied healthcare titles | 70, 100 or 150 | 2 or 3 hours | 180, 240 or 280 | listed per title |
Across all its tests the guideline lists pass scores from 45% to 70%, so read the line for your own title.
Syllabus
Each test lists its coverage areas and reference books. A few examples:
General practice: chronic diseases, acute and common medical problems, paediatrics, women's health, emergencies, surgery, psychiatry, eye and ENT, dermatology, epidemiology and evidence-based medicine, family medicine concepts, and screening.
Registered nurse and assistant nurse: unit management and leadership, fundamentals of nursing, maternal and child nursing, and adult nursing.
Registered midwife: antenatal, intrapartum, postpartum and newborn care.
Pharmacist: toxicology, medicinal chemistry, compounding, pharmaceutics, infection control, pharmacokinetics, disease management, medication safety, pharmacy law and ethics, and clinical pharmacology.
Oral assessment
The oral assessment is held on a DHA-approved online meeting platform, although DHA may ask for an in-person session. A panel of at least two members asks at least five clinical scenarios in English, covering knowledge and problem solving, clinical skills, and ethics and communication. The session lasts at least 20 to 30 minutes. The panel must agree on one result, and a disagreement counts as a fail. Candidates join 15 minutes early, must be alone in a closed room, and may not use notes, phones or smart devices. Results appear in the Sheryan system within 3 to 5 working days.
Licensed professionals whom DHA asks to be re-assessed take both the CBT and the oral assessment, and must pass the CBT first.
Marking and results
DHA releases only a pass or fail result in the candidate's Sheryan account. No score or topic review is given. CBT results are uploaded within 2 working days. After the exam, Prometric sends a learning outcome letter that lists general strengths and weaknesses but does not state the result.
How to apply
Check the mode of exam for your specialty in the guideline.
Create an account in Sheryan, the DHA licensing portal, and apply through the registration service.
Copy your DHA unique ID and generate an Eligibility ID.
Book the exam on the DHA page of the Prometric website using the Eligibility ID. Payment is by credit card (American Express, MasterCard or Visa). Oral assessments are booked through the registration service on Sheryan.
Check that your name matches your passport. Bring the passport to the test centre and arrive 30 minutes early. You may reschedule or cancel a Prometric exam up to five calendar days before the date, and Prometric may charge a centre-specific fee for a change. DHA exam fees are not refundable, including for rescheduling, cancellation or no-show. A cancelled or missed assessment does not count as a failed attempt.
After the exam
After a pass and once the other licensing requirements are met, DHA issues a registration certificate valid for one year from the result date. It is not a permit to practise. A licensed health facility must activate it into a licence.
Attempts. Under the unified PQR, an applicant may sit a total of three attempts. A candidate who fails the third attempt is blocked from reapplying to DHA for two years. DHA may cut the number of attempts to one or two where the panel finds a serious competency gap. The manual also describes a final attempt with another UAE authority and a possible fourth DHA attempt on a signed declaration. Three new attempts are allowed after obtaining an additional recognised qualification, or after at least two years of licensed clinical experience since the last attempt.
Preparation tips
Find your exact title in the guideline and read its coverage list and references first.
Use the listed reference books, and revise by coverage area rather than reading the textbooks end to end.
Do not share or record questions. The manual treats this as a legal and conduct matter, and cheating can lead to a fail and blacklisting.
Does everyone have to take the DHA exam?
No. Some professionals are exempt under the unified PQR, and some titles are assessed orally instead of by CBT.
Who runs the computer-based test?
Prometric runs the test for DHA at its test centres. DHA alone issues the pass or fail result.
Can I see my score?
No. DHA gives only a pass or fail result through Sheryan.