DHA Exam for Doctors 2026: Eligibility, Syllabus and How to Apply

The DHA exam for doctors is the licensing assessment used by the Dubai Health Authority for physicians who want to work in Dubai. Most overseas doctors must pass it, complete primary source verification of their qualifications, and meet DHA experience and good-standing requirements before a licence is issued.

Start with eligibility and document verification, then book the Prometric exam, then apply for the licence through a Dubai facility. Fees vary and rules change, so confirm the current requirements on the official DHA portal before you apply.

Eligibility depends on your medical degree, internship, postgraduate training and clinical experience. DHA publishes different routes for general practitioners, specialists and consultants, and the required years of experience rise with the licence category you seek.

Your qualification must come from a recognised institution, and your internship and experience must be documented with verifiable certificates. Gaps in practice, incomplete internship records and unverified employment are common reasons for delay.

— Check the DHA professional qualification requirements for your exact title before you pay for verification. — Confirm whether your specialty is listed and what additional training is required. — Keep employment certificates, licences and good-standing letters ready in advance.

The DHA exam for doctors is a computer-based multiple-choice assessment delivered through Prometric. Questions cover clinical knowledge, diagnosis, investigations, management and patient safety across the core areas relevant to your specialty.

General practitioners should expect broad coverage of internal medicine, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, surgery, emergency care and preventive medicine. Specialists face deeper questions in their own field, with emphasis on current guidelines and safe practice.

There is no single published question bank, so prepare from standard textbooks, clinical guidelines and practice questions rather than memorised leaks. Focus on common presentations, red flags, investigations, drug safety and referral decisions.

Step one is to create an account on the DHA licensing portal and check your eligibility for the title you want. Step two is primary source verification through the designated verification provider, which confirms your degree, licence and experience directly with the issuing bodies.

Step three is to book and sit the Prometric exam once you are declared eligible. Step four is to submit the licence application with your exam result, verified documents, passport, photograph and good-standing certificate.

Step five is the DHA review and, where required, an oral assessment or interview. Once approved, the licence is issued in connection with a Dubai healthcare facility, and you must complete any facility onboarding and visa steps.

Prepare a valid passport, medical degree, internship certificate, postgraduate certificates, current and previous licences, experience certificates and a certificate of good standing. All documents must be clear, current and consistent in names and dates.

Fees vary by licence category, verification and exam booking, and they are paid online at each stage. Do not trust fee figures quoted by agents on social media; check the official portal at the time you apply.

Common mistakes include applying under the wrong title, submitting expired good-standing letters, using mismatched names across documents and booking the exam before verification is complete. Each of these can cost weeks, so check every field before submission.

Build a study plan of eight to twelve weeks if you are working full time, with daily clinical revision and timed practice questions. Revise by system, then test yourself under exam conditions so you learn to manage time and avoid second-guessing.

Practise questions that ask for the next best step, the most likely diagnosis and the safest immediate action. In Gulf practice, questions often test referral thresholds, emergency stabilisation and when not to discharge a patient.

Keep a short notebook of guidelines, drug doses and red flags you keep missing, and review it in the final week. Rest the day before the exam, arrive early at the Prometric centre and read each question fully before answering.

If you are a doctor planning a move to Dubai, browse the open healthcare roles on steadstaff.com and apply to the ones that match your specialty, experience and licence status. SteadStaff connects candidates with employers and hiring partners, and you can track your application through the platform.

Apply only to roles you genuinely qualify for, and keep your CV, licence documents and DHA status up to date so employers can assess you quickly.