Updated August 2026 • DHA GP return-to-practice

DHA GP Practice Gap 2026: 3-Year Rule, CPD, Clinical Training & Return to Practice

A career break can affect DHA eligibility even when a doctor previously met the General Practitioner qualification and experience requirements. The current April 2025 Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements define discontinuity of practice as a clinical-practice interruption exceeding three years.

Important current-rule correction: older PQR versions used a two-year threshold. The April 2025 PQR now states that the discontinuity-of-practice rules apply when clinical practice has been interrupted for more than three years. Use the current PQR, not an older 2022 table, when assessing a 2026 application.

What counts as a DHA practice gap in 2026?

Under the current PQR, healthcare professionals with discontinuity in clinical practice exceeding three years who want to be licensed in the UAE must follow the applicable CME/CPD and clinical-training requirements.

The PQR also states that the rule includes healthcare professionals providing telehealth services.

A break shorter than or equal to three years should not automatically be described as a current PQR “gap of practice” case. Exact dates and the nature of the clinical work still matter, so borderline cases should be checked through DHA.

Current physician practice-gap requirements

Practice gap Physicians / Dentists General implication
More than 3 years to less than 4 years 80 CME/CPD credits + 6 months of clinical training Return-to-practice remediation is required before unrestricted progression.
4 years to less than 5 years 120 CME/CPD credits + 8 months of clinical training Longer remediation is required.
5 to 10 years 200 CME/CPD credits + 12 months of clinical training Current PQR limits this route to UAE nationals and Children of Emirati Women.
Non-UAE nationals: the current PQR states that, in general, non-UAE nationals will not be able to apply for a licence if the gap of practice exceeds five years. For UAE nationals and Children of Emirati Women, the general limit is more than ten years.

What kind of CPD is required?

The current PQR states that all CME/CPD credits used for gap-of-practice remediation must be related to the healthcare professional's practice specialty and comply with the relevant Authority's CPD requirements.

For a GP applicant, the credits should therefore be relevant to General Practice or the applicable clinical field rather than unrelated professional-development activity.

Where must the clinical training be completed?

The current PQR states that required clinical-training programmes must be carried out in an approved practice setting recognized by the relevant Authority.

DHA also maintains a system for approved clinical-training facilities and explicitly recognizes Back to Practice as an intermediate clinical-training programme type.

Do not assume that an observership, informal attachment or self-arranged unpaid placement automatically satisfies the PQR return-to-practice training requirement. The training setting must meet the Authority's requirements.

Will a GP with a practice gap need to take the DHA exam?

For applicants other than UAE nationals and Children of Emirati Women, the current PQR states that the Authority's licensure examination is required after completion of the CME/CPD and clinical-training requirements.

Importantly, the PQR says this also applies to professionals who otherwise hold valid exam-equivalency evidence.

A prior PLAB, AMC, LMCC, EMREE or other exam-equivalency route should therefore not be assumed to remove the assessment requirement after a qualifying gap of practice. DHA should confirm the final pathway for the individual file.

Can DHA add a trainee restriction?

Yes. DHA's current licensing FAQ states that a trainee restriction can be added when a professional does not fulfil experience requirements, including a gap of practice.

DHA also states that the professional must activate the licence with the trainee restriction, complete the required gap-of-practice requirements, and then apply to upgrade the professional registration to remove the restriction.

How should a GP with a career break proceed?

  1. Calculate the exact clinical-practice interruption. Use actual employment and licence dates rather than estimates.
  2. Compare it with the current April 2025 PQR. Do not rely on older two-year-gap tables.
  3. Complete DHA Self-Assessment. Use the General Practitioner title and enter the real practice history.
  4. Request Review Registration Eligibility if needed. This is particularly important for borderline dates, mixed clinical/non-clinical work, long gaps or unclear exemptions.
  5. Complete the required specialty-related CME/CPD.
  6. Complete the required clinical training in an approved practice setting.
  7. Complete the licensure assessment if DHA requires it.
  8. Proceed through Get Registered and licence activation once DHA confirms the requirements are satisfied.

Common practice-gap mistakes

Using the old two-year threshold

The current April 2025 PQR changed the discontinuity threshold to more than three years.

Counting non-clinical work as continuous practice

Administrative, academic or non-clinical roles should not automatically be treated as hands-on clinical practice.

Assuming exam equivalency still waives the CBT

The PQR specifically requires the licensure assessment after gap remediation for applicants outside the stated UAE-national exceptions.

Starting unapproved training independently

Required clinical training must be carried out in an approved practice setting recognized by the Authority.

For the broader GP eligibility rules, use the DHA GP Eligibility Criteria 2026 .

For exam-equivalency rules, use the DHA GP Exam Exemption 2026 guide .

If DHA requires the GP assessment after your practice gap

Choose the Complete DHA GP Programme when you want one structured preparation pathway combining the MCQ Bank, Mock Tests, Crash Notes, study resources and assessments. Confirm first that DHA requires the CBT for your individual return-to-practice pathway before purchasing exam preparation.

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Frequently asked questions

Is the DHA practice-gap threshold two years or three years?

The current April 2025 PQR applies the discontinuity-of-practice framework when clinical practice has been interrupted for more than three years. Older PQR versions used a two-year threshold.

What does a physician need after a gap of more than three but less than four years?

The current PQR lists 80 CME/CPD credits and six months of clinical training for physicians and dentists.

What is required after a gap of four to less than five years?

The current PQR lists 120 CME/CPD credits and eight months of clinical training.

Can a non-UAE national apply after a gap longer than five years?

The current PQR states that, in general, non-UAE nationals will not be able to apply for a licence when the gap exceeds five years.

Can exam equivalency still apply after a long practice gap?

For applicants other than UAE nationals and Children of Emirati Women, the current PQR requires the Authority's licensure examination after completing the gap-of-practice remediation requirements, including where valid exam-equivalency proof exists.

Can DHA add a trainee restriction because of a practice gap?

Yes. DHA's current FAQ identifies gap of practice as one reason a trainee restriction may be placed on a professional registration or licence pathway.

Official sources

Disclaimer: ExamCure is an independent educational provider and is not affiliated with or endorsed by DHA. Practice-gap calculations, trainee restrictions, CPD, training, examination and licensing requirements depend on the current PQR and the individual professional file. Confirm the current pathway through DHA/Sheryan before arranging training, booking an exam or making a payment.

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