DHA Licensing Exam Guide for Pakistani Doctors & Pharmacists

Want to practice medicine in Dubai? Here is what you need to know about preparing for the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) exam.

Why Take the DHA Exam?

Dubai remains one of the top destinations for Pakistani healthcare professionals seeking tax-free salaries, world-class facilities, and proximity to home. To legally practice in Dubai, passing the DHA assessment is mandatory. The same structure roughly applies to the MOH (for Northern Emirates) and HAAD (for Abu Dhabi).

Eligibility for Pakistani Professionals

Before booking the exam, ensure you meet the basics:

• Doctors (General Practitioners): MBBS degree recognized by WHO/PMDC, completion of 1 year house job, plus a minimum of 2 years of clinical experience post-house job.
• Specialists: FCPS/MD/MS degrees with a minimum of 3 years of experience post-specialization to act as a Specialist.
• Pharmacists: Pharm-D degree, registered with the Pharmacy Council of Pakistan, and at least 2 years of retail or clinical pharmacy experience.
• Nurses: BSN Degree or 3-year Diploma with matching post-qualification clinical experience.

The Dataflow Process (Primary Source Verification)

Before you can take the exam, Dubai authorities must verify that your degrees and experience certificates are genuine. This is outsourced to a company called Dataflow.

You must upload your PMDC registration, degrees, transcripts, and experience letters. Dataflow contacts your university and previous employers in Pakistan directly. This takes between 25 to 45 days. Do not submit fake or exaggerated experience letters—Dataflow is incredibly thorough and a negative report leads to a permanent ban across the GCC.

The Prometric Exam

Once Dataflow is initiated and your DHA Sheryan account is approved, you book the computer-based test via Prometric. You can take this exam in test centers located in Islamabad, Lahore, or Karachi.

• Usually consists of 150 multiple choice questions to be completed in 165 minutes.
• The passing score is generally 60%.
• It focuses heavily on clinical scenarios, patient safety, and current treatment protocols.

Preparation Tips

Many Pakistani doctors fail the first attempt because they do not grasp the exam's style. Invest in good question banks (e.g., Prometric MCQs, Pastest) and review current international guidelines. Do not rely entirely on local clinical practices, as the DHA tests on broader, international standards of care.