DHA Exam for Nurses
Everything nurses need to pass the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) licensing exam in United Arab Emirates — format, fees, passing score, syllabus focus and the fastest way to prepare.
The DHA pathway for nurses
Nursing is the single largest healthcare workforce in the GCC, and every Gulf regulator runs a dedicated nursing exam on the Prometric platform. Whether you trained in the Philippines, India, Pakistan, Nigeria or anywhere else, the sequence is the same: verify your documents through Dataflow, get your eligibility approved, then pass the authority's nursing MCQ exam.
The nursing exams test general adult medical-surgical nursing, fundamentals, pharmacology and drug calculation, pediatrics, obstetrics, community health and professional ethics. Most authorities use a 2–3 hour computer-based MCQ format with a pass mark around 60%.
Licenses every healthcare professional practising in the Emirate of Dubai — physicians, dentists, nurses, pharmacists and allied health. Read the full DHA licensing guide for the complete document checklist and fee breakdown.
What the DHA exam tests for nurses
Eligibility for nurses (DHA)
- BSc Nursing, GNM diploma or equivalent recognised nursing qualification
- Current registration with your home-country nursing council
- Typically 2 years of post-registration clinical experience (varies by authority and title)
- Good Standing Certificate from your nursing council, no older than 6 months
Requirements vary by title tier — run the free eligibility check to see exactly where you stand before spending on Dataflow.
DHA licensing process, step by step
- 1
Create Sheryan account
Register on Sheryan (DHA's unified professional portal) with your Emirates ID or passport.
- 2
Dataflow verification
Submit degree, transcripts, licence, experience letters and Good Standing for primary source verification. Takes 4-8 weeks.
- 3
Book Prometric exam
Once Dataflow clears, DHA issues an Eligibility ID. Book your slot on Prometric — Dubai, home country or any international centre.
- 4
Pass the exam
Score at or above the DHA cut-off for your title level (typically 60%). Result is instant on-screen.
- 5
Employer sponsorship & activation
A DHA-licensed facility submits your activation request. Licence issued within days.
DHA Exam FAQs for Nurses
What is the passing score for the DHA exam for nurses?›
The DHA (Dubai Health Authority) exam pass mark is 60% (title-dependent). The result appears on-screen immediately after you finish the computer-based exam.
How much does the DHA nurse exam cost?›
The DHA exam fee is $240 – $280. Budget separately for Dataflow verification and licence issuance — the full DHA licensing journey typically runs higher once every step is included.
What is the format of the DHA exam for nurses?›
150 MCQs, single best answer, completed in 3 hours. The paper for nurses focuses on medical-surgical nursing (largest section on every gcc nursing exam) and related clinical areas.
Can I take the DHA nurse exam in my home country?›
Yes. Once DHA issues your eligibility, you can book any authorised Prometric centre worldwide — most candidates sit the exam in their home country before travelling.
How long does DHA licensing take for nurses?›
On average 8-16 weeks end-to-end, including Dataflow verification (the longest single step), eligibility review, the exam itself and licence issuance.
What should nurses study for the DHA exam?›
High-yield areas include: medical-surgical nursing (largest section on every gcc nursing exam); fundamentals of nursing & patient safety; pharmacology and drug-dose calculations; pediatric and obstetric nursing. Chapter-wise MCQ practice with explanations is the fastest way to find and close your weak areas.
Ready to pass the DHA exam?
Practice with chapter-wise DHA-style MCQs for nurses — detailed explanations after every question, unlimited retries, and progress tracking until you're consistently above the pass mark.