MOH Exam for Doctors in the UAE 2026: Eligibility, Syllabus and Licensing Steps

The MOH exam for doctors is the licensing test for physicians who want to practise in the UAE emirates overseen by the Ministry of Health and Prevention. Most overseas doctors must pass it and complete primary source verification before they can be licensed.

The route is eligibility check, document verification, Prometric exam booking, licence application and facility-linked activation. Fees vary, so check the official MOH portal for the current amounts and requirements.

MOH licensing covers Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain. Dubai has its own regulator, the Dubai Health Authority, and Abu Dhabi is regulated by the Department of Health.

This matters when you choose where to apply. A job in Sharjah needs MOH licensing, while the same role in Dubai needs DHA licensing, even though the clinical work is similar.

If you are open to several emirates, ask the employer which regulator applies to the facility. Do not book an exam for the wrong authority, because fees are rarely refunded.

MOH sets different requirements for general practitioners, specialists and consultants. The higher the title, the more postgraduate training and post-qualification experience you must show, and the more specific your specialty evidence must be.

Your medical degree must be from a recognised institution, your internship must be complete, and your clinical experience must be documented. Experience gained only in non-clinical roles usually does not count towards the clinical requirement.

— Check the MOH qualification requirements for your exact title. — Confirm the minimum experience for your specialty. — Make sure your internship and employment dates are continuous and verifiable.

The MOH exam is a computer-based multiple-choice test delivered at Prometric centres. It tests clinical knowledge, safe decision-making, diagnosis, investigations and management across the areas relevant to your practice.

General practice candidates should revise internal medicine, paediatrics, surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, emergency medicine and preventive care. Specialists should go deep into their field and revise current guidelines, complications and referral criteria.

Questions often focus on the next best step, the most likely diagnosis and the safest action in an emergency. Practise timed questions so you can work steadily through the paper without rushing the final section.

First, create an account on the MOH licensing portal and review the requirements for your title. Second, submit your qualifications for primary source verification so the issuing universities and licensing bodies confirm them directly.

Third, book the Prometric exam when you are eligible and sit it at your chosen centre. Fourth, submit the licence application with your exam pass, verified documents and good-standing certificate.

Fifth, complete any further assessment the regulator requests, such as an oral exam for some categories. Once approved, your licence is linked to a healthcare facility in an MOH emirate, and your employer supports the visa and onboarding steps.

Keep your passport, degree, internship certificate, postgraduate qualifications, licences, experience certificates and good-standing letter ready. Names, dates and spellings must match across every document.

Fees vary by category and stage, including verification, exam and licence fees. Check the official portal before paying, and keep receipts and reference numbers for every payment.

Avoid applying under the wrong title, submitting an expired good-standing certificate, or booking the exam before verification is finished. Also avoid agents who promise a licence without an exam, because that is not how MOH licensing works.

If you want a doctor role in Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah or Umm Al Quwain, browse the open healthcare roles on steadstaff.com and apply to the ones that match your specialty and licence route. Keep your CV and MOH status current so employers can shortlist you quickly.

Apply to roles you genuinely qualify for, and mention your exam and verification stage clearly in your application so the employer knows where you stand.