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DHA GP Exam Guide 2026

The DHA GP Exam is the licensing examination required for General Practitioners who want to practice medicine in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Conducted by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), the exam evaluates your clinical knowledge, decision-making, and readiness to provide safe, evidence-based primary care.

This updated 2026 guide explains everything you need to prepare successfully, including eligibility requirements, DataFlow verification, the Prometric examination format, syllabus, recommended study resources, and practical preparation strategies. Whether you are an experienced physician or a recent graduate meeting the DHA eligibility criteria, this guide will help you understand the complete licensing pathway.

You'll also find links to free practice questions, premium MCQ banks, mock tests, crash notes, and comprehensive study programs designed specifically for the DHA GP Prometric Exam. By the end of this guide, you'll know exactly what to study, how to prepare efficiently, and how to maximize your chances of passing on your first attempt.


What Is the DHA GP Exam

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The DHA GP Exam is a computer-based licensing assessment for physicians seeking General Practice registration in Dubai. It checks your clinical knowledge and professional judgment for safe practice.
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What the exam covers

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Key domains include internal medicine, emergency care, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, surgery, mental health, preventive medicine, patient safety, and professional ethics.
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Passing is not the final step

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After passing, you must still meet DHA Professional Qualification Requirements, complete primary-source verification, submit required documents, and finish the DHA registration and licensing process. Some applicants may be exempt under DHA rules.

DHA GP Exam Eligibility Requirements for 2026


DHA assesses applicants according to the current Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR). Eligibility depends on the applicant’s medical qualification, internship, clinical experience, professional registration, good-standing status, and continuity of practice.

For most General Practitioner applicants who graduated outside the UAE, the principal requirements are:

Requirement Current general requirement
Medical qualification MBBS, MBChB, or an equivalent medical qualification from an accredited institution
Internship Successful completion of a one-year internship after graduation
Clinical experience Two years of hands-on clinical experience after completing the internship
Professional registration Valid registration or licence in the home country and/or country of last employment, where applicable
Good Standing Certificate Valid and no more than six months old when applying
Primary Source Verification Verification of qualifications, experience certificates, and professional registration through the approved verification process
DHA assessment Passing the required DHA assessment unless the applicant qualifies for an exemption

The required experience must be relevant, hands-on clinical work completed during salaried or contractual employment. Observerships, volunteer positions, teaching-only roles, and other non-clinical experience are generally not counted as qualifying clinical experience.

Important experience exemptions

UAE nationals and children of Emirati women may obtain the General Practitioner title without the standard experience requirement when applying within three years of completing their internship. Non-UAE nationals who graduated from UAE universities may also be exempt from the experience requirement when applying within three years of internship completion. Graduates of universities outside the UAE generally remain subject to the standard GP experience requirement.

Applicants must normally hold valid professional registration covering the required period of experience and submit a Good Standing Certificate that is not older than six months. The relevant educational, experience, and licensing documents are subject to Primary Source Verification.

Because exemptions, gaps in clinical practice, and individual qualifications can affect eligibility, candidates should complete the official DHA Self-Assessment Tool before paying for verification or examination services.

DHA GP Exam Format and Structure in 2026


The DHA General Practice assessment is a computer-based multiple-choice examination delivered through DHA’s testing partner, Prometric.

According to the official DHA Healthcare Professional Licensing Assessment Guideline updated in May 2026, the current General Practice exam details are:

Exam detail Official DHA information
Examination format Computer-based multiple-choice questions
Number of questions 150 questions
Total duration 3 hours
Pass score 60%
Assessment code GEN5331
Listed assessment fee USD 280
Result format Pass or fail through the applicant’s Sheryan account

The three-hour duration includes the registration process, examination introduction, and the assessment itself. DHA states that the numerical examination score is not shared with applicants; the result is reported as either Pass or Fail.

DHA GP Exam Coverage

The official DHA guideline lists the following content areas:

Chronic diseases
Acute and common medical problems
Common pediatric problems
Women’s health
Emergency problems
Common surgical problems
Common psychiatric problems
Common ophthalmology and ENT problems
Common dermatological problems
Basic epidemiology and evidence-based medicine
Family medicine concepts
Screening and periodic health examinations

DHA identifies these examination domains but does not publish a percentage weighting for each subject in the current guideline. Candidates should therefore prepare across the complete General Practice scope rather than relying on unofficial subject-distribution percentages.

The listed fee and examination arrangements may be changed by DHA. Confirm the current amount and booking details in Sheryan before scheduling the assessment. DHA also reserves the right to amend the examination format, content, or pass score.

How to Apply for the DHA GP Licence

The DHA licensing process is completed through Sheryan, the Dubai Health Authority’s online system for healthcare-professional registration and licensing.

Step 1: Complete the DHA Self-Assessment

Start with the official DHA Self-Assessment Tool to check whether your medical qualification, internship, clinical experience, professional registration, and other credentials meet the Professional Qualification Requirements for the General Practitioner title.

The self-assessment result is preliminary. Applicants who receive a “not eligible” result may be able to request a formal review of their registration eligibility.

Step 2: Complete Primary Source Verification

Submit the required documents for Primary Source Verification through the DHA-approved verification provider, DataFlow. Documents commonly requiring verification include:

  • Medical degree

  • Internship certificate

  • Clinical experience certificates

  • Professional registration or licence

  • Good Standing Certificate

Make sure that names, employment dates, job titles, and issuing authorities are consistent across all submitted documents.

Step 3: Complete the DHA Assessment

Applicants who are not exempt must pass the required DHA computer-based assessment through Prometric. DHA allows the Primary Source Verification and computer-based assessment processes to be completed in parallel.

Step 4: Apply for DHA Registration

After completing the required verification and assessment, submit the Get Registered application through Sheryan.

DHA registration confirms that the applicant meets the requirements for the approved professional title and allows the physician to be included in the Dubai Medical Registry. Registration is not yet an active license to practice.

Step 5: Activate the Professional License

A DHA-licensed healthcare facility must activate the physician’s registration into a professional license. The physician may begin practicing only after the professional licence has been issued.

Candidates should check their Sheryan account regularly for application comments, requests for additional documents, verification updates, and assessment results.


How to Prepare for the DHA GP Exam

 


Effective DHA GP preparation should combine clinical review, exam-style MCQ practice, timed testing, and systematic analysis of mistakes. Because DHA lists a broad General Practice syllabus without publishing percentage weightings, candidates should avoid studying only internal medicine while neglecting pediatrics, women’s health, emergency care, surgery, psychiatry, dermatology, ENT, ophthalmology, preventive medicine, and family medicine.

Recommended 8-Week DHA GP Study Plan

Weeks 1–2: Core Adult Medicine

Review the common conditions encountered in primary care, including:

  • Diabetes mellitus

  • Hypertension and cardiovascular risk

  • Dyslipidemia

  • Asthma and COPD

  • Thyroid disorders

  • Common gastrointestinal conditions

  • Renal and urinary disorders

  • Infectious diseases

  • Musculoskeletal complaints

Focus on diagnosis, initial investigations, first-line treatment, medication contraindications, referral indications, and emergency warning signs.

Week 3: Pediatrics

Cover common pediatric presentations, including:

  • Fever and childhood infections

  • Growth and development

  • Vaccination

  • Respiratory and gastrointestinal illness

  • Dehydration

  • Neonatal concerns

  • Pediatric emergencies

  • Safeguarding and child protection

Pay particular attention to age-specific management and medication safety.

Week 4: Women’s Health

Review:

  • Antenatal and postnatal care

  • Common pregnancy complications

  • Contraception

  • Abnormal uterine bleeding

  • Menopause

  • Gynecological infections

  • Breast complaints

  • Cervical and breast-cancer screening

Learn when a condition can be managed in primary care and when urgent obstetric or gynecological referral is required.

Week 5: Emergency and Surgical Problems

Prioritize recognition and initial management of:

  • Acute coronary syndrome

  • Stroke

  • Sepsis

  • Anaphylaxis

  • Acute asthma

  • Diabetic emergencies

  • Poisoning

  • Trauma

  • Acute abdomen

  • Surgical infections

  • Shock and resuscitation

Practise identifying the next best step rather than memorizing isolated facts.

Week 6: Family Medicine and Smaller Specialties

Study:

  • Preventive care and screening

  • Evidence-based medicine

  • Epidemiology

  • Mental-health presentations

  • Dermatology

  • Ophthalmology

  • ENT

  • Patient safety

  • Communication and professional ethics

These subjects can be overlooked but are explicitly included in the DHA General Practice examination coverage.

Week 7: Mixed MCQs and Weak-Area Review

Complete mixed, case-based DHA GP practice questions under timed conditions. For every incorrect answer, determine whether the error resulted from:

  • A knowledge gap

  • Misreading the question

  • Failure to recognize a red flag

  • Confusion between two reasonable options

  • Poor time management

Create a concise revision list containing only the concepts you repeatedly miss.

Week 8: Full Mock Examinations

Complete full-length mock tests under realistic conditions. Review all incorrect and uncertain answers, including questions answered correctly by guessing.

During the final days:

  • Revise high-yield algorithms and red flags

  • Review common drug contraindications and adverse effects

  • Avoid starting large new textbooks

  • Practise maintaining a steady examination pace

  • Confirm your Prometric appointment and identification requirements

A Practical Daily Routine

A focused study day can include:

  1. One clinical topic review

  2. Forty to sixty exam-style MCQs

  3. Detailed review of incorrect answers

  4. Fifteen minutes of spaced revision

  5. A short timed question block

Question volume alone is not enough. Improvement depends on understanding why each incorrect option is wrong and applying the same reasoning to new clinical scenarios.

No course or study method can guarantee a passing result. Candidates should use preparation resources as supplements to current clinical guidelines, professional judgment, and the official DHA assessment information.

DHA GP Exam Preparation Resources

Choose the resource that matches your current stage of preparation:

Start with Free DHA GP Practice Questions

Begin with the Free DHA GP Prometric Study Guide and Sample MCQs if you want to assess the question style, review selected high-yield concepts, and identify your weaker clinical areas before purchasing a complete course


Build Clinical Reasoning with the DHA GP MCQ Bank
Use the DHA GP Prometric Exam MCQ Bank – 2026 for structured question practice across the major General Practice domains. Review every explanation carefully and keep a record of incorrect answers and uncertain concepts.

Test Your Performance with Timed Mock Exams
Use the DHA GP Prometric Mock Tests – 2026 after completing most of your clinical review. Full-length timed practice helps improve pacing, concentration, option elimination, and decision-making under examination pressure.

Explore All DHA Exam Preparation Courses
Candidates preparing for another DHA professional title can explore the complete DHA Exam Preparation Courses catalogue.

Start with a free resource if you are still assessing your readiness. Move to the full MCQ bank when you need comprehensive practice, and use the timed mock tests during the final stage of preparation.
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Frequently Asked Questions About the DHA GP Exam

How many questions are in the DHA GP Exam

The DHA General Practice assessment currently contains 150 multiple-choice questions. Check the latest DHA assessment guideline before booking, as exam arrangements may be updated.

How long is the DHA GP Exam

The listed total duration is three hours. This includes registration, the exam introduction, and the assessment content.

What is the DHA GP Exam pass score

The current published pass score for the General Practice assessment is 60%. DHA reports the final result as Pass or Fail and does not provide the numerical exam score.

How many DHA assessment attempts are allowed

Applicants are generally permitted up to three attempts for the same professional title across the UAE health authorities. You must declare previous attempts accurately. Additional provisions may apply after failed attempts, a new recognized qualification, additional licensed clinical experience, or when applying for another eligible title.

Does passing the DHA GP Exam automatically give me a licence

No. Passing the assessment is only one part of the licensing process. You must also meet the Professional Qualification Requirements, complete Primary Source Verification, obtain DHA registration, and have the registration activated into a professional licence by a DHA-licensed healthcare facility before practising in Dubai.

Are DHA GP Exam results released immediately?

Prometric assessment results are generally transmitted promptly and displayed through the applicant's Sheryan account as Pass or Fail. DHA does not provide a detailed score report or subject-by-subject performance breakdown.

Can I take the DHA GP Exam without two years of experience?

Most General Practitioner applicants who graduated outside the UAE require two years of relevant clinical experience after completing their internship. Specific experience exemptions may apply to UAE nationals, children of Emirati women, and certain graduates of UAE medical universities when they apply within the permitted period after internship.

Can a doctor receive an exemption from the DHA GP Exam?

Some applicants may qualify for an assessment exemption under the Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements and DHA licensing policies. An examination exemption applies only to the assessment requirement. It does not remove other requirements such as education, clinical experience, professional registration, good standing, credentialing, or Primary Source Verification.

About This DHA GP Exam Guide

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Last updated: July 17, 2026. Medically reviewed by Dr. Achraf Ali, General Practitioner with more than 20 years of clinical experience in Family and Emergency Medicine.
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Important notice

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Prepared using current Dubai Health Authority licensing and assessment documents for education and exam preparation. It does not replace an official DHA eligibility decision. Requirements and fees may change. Verify updates in Sheryan and official DHA publications.
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Official sources

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  • DHA Healthcare Professional Licensing Assessment Guideline, Computer-Based Testing (updated May 2026)

  • Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements, PQR

  • DHA Sheryan Healthcare Professional Services

  • Prometric DHA Examination scheduling information

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