Dubai has become a destination for healthcare professionals who want to expand their horizons and gain international experience. However before you can practise medicine in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) it is essential to understand the details of the DHA licensing process.
As a healthcare professional myself, I think that knowing the requirements in advance can help you with investing time and money on DHA exam.
While passing the DHA exam is a step toward obtaining a licence, your qualification, experience and document verification are equally valuable. This guide aims to give you information about the Dubai Health Authority Exam 2027 including eligibility, preparation, registration process, fees, results and next steps to take after passing.
What Is the DHA Exam?
Dubai Health Authority is the body that regulates healthcare professionals who wish to practise medicine in Dubai. Therefore, the DHA exam is a licensing assessment taken by eligible candidates at the Sheryan healthcare licensing system.
The DHA exam evaluates your competence and level of knowledge for the desired qualification.
Medical professionals who can apply for DHA licensing include:
- Medical doctors and specialists
- Dentists and dental specialists
- Registered nurses and midwives
- Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians
- Physiotherapists and other allied healthcare professionals
- Medical laboratory and medical imaging professionals
The exact Dubai Health Authority assessment requirements depend on the profession, specialty, qualifications and applicable exemption criteria.
DHA commonly conducts computer-based testing through Prometric. Certain professional titles may require an oral assessment instead. The official DHA assessment guideline explains the computer-based examination requirements.
It is also important to distinguish DHA licensing from other UAE licensing pathways. Abu Dhabi and the Northern Emirates have different regulatory routes, so your intended place of practice should determine which authority you approach.
DHA Exam Eligibility Criteria for 2027
When you look at the requirements for the DHA exam most applicants ask the question – am I eligible to take the test?
The following exam eligibility criteria should be considered if you are aiming for DHA Exam 2027:
1. Recognised educational qualification
You must hold the required diploma or degree from a recognised institution. Usually your qualification should match the DHA category you want to register for.
A BDS graduate, for example, should check the requirements for general dentist or the relevant specialist title rather than relying on eligibility information intended for medical doctors.
2. Relevant clinical experience
Experience requirements vary according to profession and licensing title.
- Depending on your occupation you may need at least one year of clinical experience as a doctor, dentist, nurse or pharmacist.
- Your experience should ideally come from patient care and should relate to the field you wish to practice.
- Practical training gained during paid employment or a structured contract with an approved facility is considered for experience.
- Volunteering, teaching jobs and observerships do not always count.
3. Valid professional registration and good standing
You may have to provide a professional licence or a Good Standing Certificate depending on the category you are applying for.
A Good Standing Certificate shows your authority and discipline as a healthcare professional. Make sure to review the documents required for your category and check the validity of the certificate.
4. Career gaps and additional conditions
Professionals who have been away from practice for more than three years must provide extra proof of continuing professional development.
Certain fields of practice like surgical roles and allied health professionals have additional requirements.
Documents Required for the DHA Exam
The following documents are typically required for DHA licensing:
- Valid passport and identification details.
- Educational degree certificates and any required academic records.
- Internship or supervised training completion certificate, where applicable.
- Professional registration or licence from the relevant authority.
- Experience certificates specifying your designation, employment dates and clinical role.
- Good Standing Certificate, where required.
- Specialist qualification certificates and surgical logbooks, where applicable.
- Other supporting documents requested during eligibility assessment or primary source verification.
The document list may change depending on the category, so this list should be treated as preparation checklist only.
Check that your name and personal details are consistent across your passport, certificates, licence and experience documents. Obtain corrected documents where necessary instead of assuming that minor discrepancies will be overlooked.
How to Apply for the DHA Exam in 2027
The DHA exam process can feel overwhelming but splitting it into separate stages can help you finish it successfully.
Here is a suggested step-by-step guideline:
Step 1: Complete DHA self-assessment
The first stage of DHA exam preparation is to use the Self-Assessment Tool and estimate eligibility. You should select the category and enter personal and professional information. You must double-check the accuracy of the entered data. After you receive the results you can decide whether it is reasonable to proceed with the application.
Step 2: Complete Primary Source Verification through DataFlow
The Primary Source Verification (PSV) is designed to confirm the authenticity of:
- professional qualifications
- experience certificates
- professional licence and
- other required documents.
You must maintain communication with issuing authorities whenever necessary. If contacted you should reply to the PSV organisation promptly to complete the required steps.
Step 3: Confirm your examination mode
Every healthcare professional has different examination mode. Some require computer-based testing, while others may require an oral assessment.
Certain applicants may qualify for an examination exemption under the applicable criteria.
Step 4: Obtain eligibility details and book your examination
If you qualify for the exam you can complete registration and book the assessment.
The official CBT guideline describes the examination booking sequence, including obtaining your DHA Unique ID, generating an Eligibility ID where required and scheduling the examination.
Before payment, verify your professional title, examination code, location, date, fee and applicable booking rules.
Step 5: Receive your result and complete registration
DHA computer-based assessment results are displayed as Pass or Fail, rather than providing the applicant with a numerical score. The result is updated in the Sheryan account.
Passing the assessment is not the same as having an active professional licence. You must complete the applicable registration requirements and proceed to the next licensing stage.
Step 6: Activate your professional licence
The final stage is that the healthcare facility that employs you must activate the licence. In this way you will always have a licence that matches the position and specialty.
You should not assume that you are authorised to practise simply because you have passed the exam or obtained an eligibility outcome.
DHA Exam Pattern 2027: Questions, Duration, Fee and Passing Score
The DHA examination pattern differs according to professional title and specialty. Therefore, relying on a generic number of questions or a universal passing percentage can lead to incorrect preparation.
To give you an idea of the exam standard here are some of the common categories and the number of questions, duration and fees, as of May 2026:
| Professional Title | Questions | Duration | Listed exam fee in USD | Listed exam fee in INR | Pass score |
| General practice physician | 150 | 3 hours | 280 | 27,097 | 60% |
| General dentist | 150 | 3 hours | 280 | 27,097 | 60% |
| Registered nurse | 150 | 3 hours | 240 | 23,226 | 50% |
| Pharmacist | 150 | 3 hours | 240 | 23,226 | 55% |
The exam pattern and syllabus for the DHA exam depend mainly on the healthcare category. Usually the CBT assessments use a multiple‑choice question (MCQ) format. Each category has its syllabus, references, questions, duration, fee and passing score.
It is essential to review the DHA CBT guideline and look at the resources, especially the sections that match your professional category.
How to Prepare for the DHA Exam in 2027
Preparing for an exam by yourself can be exhausting. For this reason, it is important to use tactics and structured preparation instead of studying blindly. The following suggestions will help you create a preparation plan:
1. Begin with the official syllabus
The syllabus is the foundation of all preparation. It is essential to identify the topics you must review. The best way to do that is to read the DHA computer‑based testing guideline and find your category. This will show you the content, references and topics that are part of your exam.
2. Strengthen your clinical fundamentals
To score well in the DHA exam it is important to build a strong foundation of theoretical and clinical knowledge. Focus on the basics first then move on to practice questions. Make sure to remember:
- presentations
- investigations
- treatment options
- contraindications
- adverse effects and
- management of various conditions that belong to your field of practice.
3. Practice MCQs regularly
After learning the concepts move on to practice questions and section‑wise mock tests. If you find any topics challenging spend more time on them before moving to the next ones. When you feel confident take full‑length practice tests that follow the time limits.
When you review answers, identify the error type, so you do not make the same mistakes again. If you answer incorrectly because you lack knowledge, spend more time studying. If you always run out of time, you must improve your test‑taking skills.
4. Study patient safety, ethical practice and professional standards
Patient safety, infection control, medical ethics and professional practices are parts of the exam. Make sure to review these topics and memorise the concepts.
5. Set a preparation timeline
It is essential to set a timeline for your preparation based on your knowledge level, clinical practice and the exam date. It may take months for someone with limited theoretical knowledge to prepare well for the DHA exam. However, a medical doctor, with years of experience, may reach good results even with minimal and structured preparation.
The key is:
- to set goals
- take mock tests during your preparation and
- focus on revision during the last days.
6. Consider structured preparation support
Candidates balancing clinical duties with exam preparation may benefit from a structured course, guided revision and performance tracking.
DHA Pharmacist Exam Success Story: From Chain Pharmacy Experience to Exploring Opportunities in Dubai
Moving from a pharmacy job in India to exploring international career opportunities requires more than professional experience. It also calls for the right preparation strategy, consistency, and a clear understanding of the licensing examination.
As a healthcare professional, I believe one of the most effective ways to prepare for an exam like the DHA Pharmacist Exam is to learn from candidates who have navigated the preparation journey themselves.
In this video, a B.Pharm graduate with experience working in a chain pharmacy shares practical insights into preparing for the DHA Pharmacist Exam. From completing lectures and practising topic-wise questions to using recalls, mock tests, and doubt-solving sessions, the candidate explains how a Structured Academically's DHA exam approach can make preparation more focused and manageable.
Watch the video below to discover practical preparation strategies, time-management techniques for the 150-question, three-hour examination, and tips to build confidence without rushing through your study plan.
Choose support that matches your professional title and the current examination requirements.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Common mistakes one can avoid to make the licensing journey easy are as follows:
- Booking before checking eligibility: Verify your qualification, internship and experience requirements first.
- Using outdated exam information: Older articles may list question counts, fees or passing scores that no longer match the official guideline.
- Submitting inconsistent documents: Review names, dates and employment details before starting verification.
- Preparing without the correct syllabus: Study according to your professional title, not another category's question bank.
- Assuming a pass guarantees a job or licence: Registration, facility activation and recruitment are separate parts of your journey.
- Ignoring assessment attempt limits: DHA's self-assessment service information currently lists a limit of three attempts for the related assessment across authorities. Confirm the rule applicable to your examination history and category before booking.
What Happens After Passing the DHA Exam?
Passing the examination is a valuable milestone, but the next steps still require attention.
Complete the relevant registration formalities
↓
Check your result and monitor your Sheryan account
↓
Complete outstanding registration steps
↓
Coordinate with your hiring facility
↓
Complete license activation
↓
Continue your job search
Final Thoughts
The DHA exam is an important step for healthcare professionals who want to work in Dubai. To increase your chances of success it is essential to learn the DHA eligibility requirements, syllabus and exam pattern. Additionally you should also consider the importance of registration, document verification and the role of your employer.
When preparing for the DHA exam consider reviewing the CBT guideline and developing a strong preparation plan. The successful tactics are based on realistic goals, effective organization and regular practice. Make sure that you understand the requirements, for your category rather than relying on general advice.
A well-informed approach will help you invest your time and money more strategically as you work towards your international healthcare career.