DHA Exam 2026: Eligibility, Fees, Steps & How to Apply

DHA Exam 2026: The Quick Answer

What it is: the DHA exam is the Prometric computer-based licensing test for healthcare professionals who want to work in Dubai, set by the Dubai Health Authority.

Who needs it: internationally trained nurses, physicians, dentists, pharmacists and allied health professionals applying for a DHA (Sheryan) license.

Total cost: roughly AED 2,800–4,000 for nurses, about INR 74,000–105,000 or PHP 48,000–68,000, covering the Sheryan application, DataFlow verification, the Prometric exam and license issuance. Physicians and dentists usually pay more. Converted at about 1 AED = INR 26.3 or PHP 17.1 (October 2026). These are estimates, not official DHA fees, so confirm them in Sheryan. NEAC's service fee is separate.

Timeline: about 4–7 months from DataFlow verification to your exam, faster with complete documents.

The DHA Dubai Exam is the licensing examination required to practice as a healthcare professional in the Emirate of Dubai. Administered by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) through Prometric testing centers, the exam evaluates clinical knowledge against Dubai's healthcare standards. International applicants must complete DataFlow Primary Source Verification, pass the Prometric exam, and register on the Sheryan licensing portal. NEAC manages this entire process on behalf of international applicants.

What Is the DHA Dubai?

The DHA Dubai Exam is a computer-based licensure test required for all internationally trained healthcare professionals — including nurses, physicians, pharmacists, dentists, and allied health practitioners — seeking to practice within Dubai Emirate. Administered by the Dubai Health Authority through Prometric, it assesses clinical competency specific to each profession. Passing the DHA exam is mandatory before a healthcare license (Sheryan) is issued.

Who Is Eligible to Apply?

Profession	Qualification Required	Notes
Registered Nurse	Bachelor's degree in nursing	No minimum experience if your clinical practice has been continuous. A longer break brings CME/CPD credits and supervised training; a gap over five years generally blocks non-UAE nationals.
General Practitioner / Physician	MBBS or equivalent medical degree	ECFMG certification may be required for U.S. route
Specialist Physician	MBBS + recognized postgraduate specialty	Board/fellowship certification evaluated case by case
Pharmacist	BPharm or PharmD	2+ years experience preferred
Dentist	BDS or equivalent dental degree	Specialist tracks available
Allied Health (PT, OT, RT, Lab)	Relevant accredited bachelor's degree	Discipline-specific Prometric exam track

Documents Required

1. Valid passport copy (6+ months validity)

2. Attested educational degree/diploma

3. Official academic transcripts

4. Primary license from country of origin (with Good Standing Certificate)

5. All experience certificates (employer-signed, covering full work history)

6. DataFlow Primary Source Verification report

7. Passport-sized photograph (white background)

8. Updated CV (chronological, no gaps)

9. CPD/CME certificates (if applicable for re-licensure)

How NEAC Processes Your Application Step by Step

1. Eligibility Review: NEAC assesses your academic credentials, experience, and documentation against current DHA eligibility criteria to confirm your application pathway before any fees are paid.

2. DataFlow PSV Management: NEAC submits your DataFlow application, monitors verification progress, and immediately addresses any institution-level discrepancies before they affect your DHA submission.

3. Sheryan Portal Application: NEAC completes your official DHA Sheryan portal registration, uploads verified documents, and corresponds with DHA reviewers on your behalf.

4. Prometric Exam Booking: Once DHA approves your application for examination, NEAC guides you in scheduling your exam at a Prometric center in your preferred country or city.

5. License Activation: After passing, NEAC assists with the final DHA license activation and advises on employment verification requirements for your Dubai employer.

How Long Does the Application Take?

Stage	Estimated Duration	Notes
DataFlow PSV Verification	8–14 weeks	Highly dependent on how quickly institutions respond
DHA Application Review	4–8 weeks	After DataFlow report is issued
Exam Scheduling (Prometric)	1–2 weeks	Seat availability varies by location
Total Estimated Timeline	4–7 months	Faster with complete, pre-verified documents

Application Cost

Item	Estimated Fee	Notes
DataFlow PSV Fee	AED 935 for nurses and allied health, AED 1,235 for doctors (about USD 255 and USD 336)	Fixed packages set by DataFlow. Additional certificates cost extra; the amount shows at checkout.
DHA Application Fee	AED 200, plus Knowledge and Innovation fees at checkout	Paid on the Sheryan portal. Same AED 200 for every profession.
Prometric Exam Fee	USD 240 for nurses and most allied health, USD 280 for physicians and dentists (about AED 881 and AED 1,028)	Per attempt; paid directly to Prometric. Check your exact title and fee in Sheryan under Mode of Exam per Specialty.
DHA License Activation Fee	AED 1,000 for 1 year, AED 1,500 for 2 years, AED 2,500 for 3 years (nurses and allied health). Physicians and dentists pay AED 3,000, 5,000 and 7,500.	Your Dubai employer applies and pays after you pass; you approve the request in Sheryan.
NEAC Service Fee	Contact NEAC	Full application management and support included

DHA Exam Pattern & Passing Score

The DHA exam is a computer-based, multiple-choice test delivered by Prometric. DHA sets the number of questions, the time and the pass mark for each profession in its CBT guideline. The figures below come from the September 2026 edition.

Profession	Questions and time	Pass mark
Nursing and midwifery	150 questions, 3 hours	45 to 50%
Allied health (most titles)	150 questions, 3 hours	50 to 60%
Physicians, specialist exams	150 questions, 3 hours	55 to 70%
Physicians, consultant exams	100 questions, 3 hours	70%
Dentists, specialist exams	150 questions, 3 hours	60 to 65%
Dentists, consultant exams	100 questions, 3 hours	70%

The 3 hours include check-in and the tutorial, so you get a little less for the questions themselves. DHA shows only Pass or Fail in your Sheryan account and does not release your score. Some titles take an oral assessment instead of the computer-based test, so check your title under Mode of Exam per Specialty in Sheryan before you book. A safe preparation target is 70% or higher on practice tests.

How to Book the DHA Exam at Prometric

Create your Sheryan profile and submit your application for evaluation.
Complete DataFlow primary source verification and wait for DHA to approve you to sit the exam.
Generate your exam eligibility on the DHA portal.
Open Prometric's scheduling system, choose a test center and date, and pay the exam fee.
Save your booking confirmation and bring valid ID that matches your application exactly.

DHA and Prometric apply a strict no-refund policy, including for name mismatches, and rescheduling is allowed only under the terms agreed between them. Check your name, profession and test center before you pay. Not sure which UAE regulator you need? Read our DHA vs DOH vs MOHAP license comparison.

DHA Exam Result & Next Steps

Your result is posted to your Sheryan account. Reported turnaround ranges from a few working days to a few weeks, so check the portal instead of waiting for an email. After you pass, your Dubai employer normally starts license activation and the license issuance fee is paid at that stage. If you do not pass, you can rebook, but DHA limits the number of attempts, so confirm the current retake rules in Sheryan first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is DHA the same as HAAD or DOH?

No. DHA (Dubai Health Authority) licenses healthcare professionals for Dubai Emirate only. DOH (formerly HAAD) licenses for Abu Dhabi. MOH UAE covers the Northern Emirates. A license from one authority is not valid in another emirate without endorsement.

Can I work in Dubai with a DOH or MOH license?

No. To practice in Dubai, you must hold a valid DHA Sheryan license. A DOH or MOH UAE license does not authorize practice in Dubai. Endorsement from one authority to another requires a separate application.

What is Sheryan?

Sheryan is the Dubai Health Authority's online healthcare licensing portal. All DHA license applications are submitted and managed through this platform. All DHA applicants must create a Sheryan profile to begin the licensing process.

Does DHA accept nurses without a BSN degree?

You can, but not as a Registered Nurse. The unified UAE qualification requirements (PQR) list a bachelor's degree in nursing for the Registered Nurse title. A nursing diploma of at least 18 months qualifies for Assistant Nurse, who works under a Registered Nurse. NEAC checks your credential against the PQR before submission, and the free Sheryan self-assessment shows which title DHA offers.

What score is needed to pass the DHA Prometric exam?

It depends on your profession. DHA's CBT guideline (updated September 2026) lists pass marks of 45 to 50% for nursing and midwifery, 50 to 60% for most allied health exams and 55 to 70% for physicians. DHA shows only Pass or Fail in your Sheryan account and does not share your score.

How long is the DHA license valid?

DHA registration is valid for one year. You cannot practise on registration alone: a DHA-licensed facility that hires you must activate it into a license for 1, 2 or 3 years. Your employer renews the license through Sheryan, and nurses need 20 CPD points each year. NEAC also assists with DHA license renewal.

Start Your DHA Dubai Exam Application Today

NEAC manages DHA applications from document preparation through Sheryan registration and Prometric scheduling. Contact NEAC to begin your application with the confidence that your documents and profile are correctly prepared from day one.

Start Your DHA Dubai Application