All three UAE health licensing exams — DHA, DOH and MOH — are delivered as computer-based tests through Prometric, the same network that runs licensing exams worldwide. Knowing exactly how booking works and what test day looks like removes a surprising amount of anxiety. Here is the full walkthrough.
Booking: the sequence matters
You cannot simply walk into Prometric's website and buy a seat. The sequence is:
- Apply to your authority first (DHA, DOH or MOH — see which one you need) and complete the required steps, typically including DataFlow verification.
- The authority issues an eligibility / exam authorization for your category.
- With that eligibility ID, you create a Prometric account, pick a test centre, date and time, and pay the exam fee.
- You receive a confirmation email — bring the confirmation number on exam day.
Seats in popular centres (Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kochi, Manila) fill early in high season. Book 3-6 weeks ahead, and only when your mock scores say you are ready — attempts are limited and most categories enforce a waiting period (commonly around 90 days) between retakes.
Where you can sit the exam
Prometric runs centres across the UAE, India, the Philippines, Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and dozens of other countries — most candidates take the exam in their home country before travelling. Pick the centre you can reach calmly; a 5 a.m. drive to a distant city is a bad way to start a three-hour exam.
Test-day rules (the ones that catch people)
- Arrive 30-45 minutes early. Late arrivals can be refused with the fee forfeited.
- ID must match exactly. Bring the passport (or ID the authority specifies) with the name spelled exactly as on your application — mismatches are the classic test-day disaster.
- Nothing goes in with you. Phones, watches, notes and bags are locked away. The centre provides an erasable board or scratch material where allowed.
- Expect biometrics and inspection — fingerprint or palm scan, pocket check, sometimes a wand. It is routine.
- Breaks are limited. Rules vary; assume the clock keeps running if you step out. Use the washroom before you start.
The exam interface and timing strategy
You will face roughly 150 multiple-choice questions in about 2.5 to 3 hours depending on your authority and profession — near enough one minute per question with a small buffer. The interface lets you answer, flag for review, and move; a review screen at the end lists flagged and unanswered items.
A pacing plan that works:
- First pass (0-120 min): answer everything; flag anything taking over ~90 seconds and move on. There is no negative marking — never leave a blank.
- Second pass (final 30-40 min): return to flagged questions with fresh eyes.
- Last 5 minutes: confirm zero unanswered. Guessing beats blank, every time.
Question style is clinical-scenario, single best answer — a patient presentation followed by "what is the most appropriate next step?" The skill being tested is safe clinical reasoning under time pressure, which is precisely what timed mock practice builds (and why we built full-length timed mocks into Myndaq's UAE courses).
After you finish
Results are released as pass/fail, typically within a few working days, through your authority's portal. Pass, and you move on to registration and license activation with your authority. If it does not go your way: most categories allow up to three attempts, the waiting period applies, and your preparation for round two should start from an honest review of which syllabus areas felt thin — the profession-specific guides (nursing, pharmacy, GP) break down the syllabus weighting worth re-drilling.
Informational guide, current as of July 2026. Booking flows, fees and retake rules vary by authority and change — confirm on your authority's portal and Prometric before booking.