What is the DHA exam and how should Indian healthcare professionals prepare for a Dubai medical license?
The DHA exam is a mandatory computer-based Prometric test to legally practise healthcare in Dubai. Indian professionals register on the Sheryan portal, verify documents through DataFlow, then book the exam at an Indian centre. Most need around 60 percent to pass and roughly 4 to 8 weeks of clinical-scenario preparation.
If you want to practise medicine in Dubai, the DHA exam is your gateway. It is a computer-based multiple-choice test run through Prometric centres, and the best part for you is that you can sit it from a test centre in India without travelling to Dubai for the evaluation stage.
Licensing Process for Indian Professionals
| Step | What You Do |
|---|---|
| Sheryan portal | Register for a unique ID and run the self-assessment against the PQR requirements |
| DataFlow verification | Submit degrees, licences and employment records for primary source verification |
| Prometric booking | After the eligibility letter, pick an Indian test centre and date |
| Registration approval | On passing, your profile turns Registered and stays valid one year to find a job |
Exam Structure by Profession
| Profession | Experience | Format | Passing Score | Approx Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Practitioners | MBBS plus internship plus 2 years | 150 MCQs, 165 to 180 mins | 60% | Rs. 35,000 to Rs. 45,000 |
| Specialist Doctors | MD or MS plus 3 years | Oral or special MCQs | 60% | Rs. 45,000 to Rs. 55,000 |
| Registered Nurses | BSc or GNM plus 2 years | 150 MCQs, 165 mins | 60% | Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 30,000 |
| Pharmacists | B.Pharm or Pharm.D plus 2 years | 120 MCQs, 165 mins | 60% | Rs. 28,000 to Rs. 35,000 |
| Lab Technicians | BSc MLT plus 2 years | 100 MCQs, 150 mins | 55% | Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 30,000 |
My Advice
There is no negative marking and you get up to three attempts, so pace yourself and never leave blanks. Shift your prep from theory to clinical vignettes, study UAE medical ethics and confidentiality laws, and take timed specialty mocks twice a week. Give yourself a focused 4 to 8 week window and start your DataFlow verification early, since that document stage often takes the longest.
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