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The DHA (Dubai Health Authority) exam is the mandatory licensing examination for nurses wanting to work in Dubai's healthcare sector. Passing the DHA exam is required for all internationally trained nurses, including those from India, before receiving a DHA license to practice.
The DHA exam is a computer-based multiple choice examination that assesses clinical nursing knowledge and competency. It is mandatory for nurses applying for a DHA professional license to work in Dubai's government and private healthcare facilities. The exam is different from the MOH (Ministry of Health) exam, which covers the other six UAE emirates. Dubai falls exclusively under DHA jurisdiction.
To apply for the DHA nursing exam: You must have a valid nursing degree (B.Sc. Nursing or GNM recognised by the Indian Nursing Council). Minimum 2 years of clinical experience post-qualification. Valid nursing registration (State Nursing Council and ideally INC). A job offer from a DHA-licensed healthcare facility is usually required to start the licensing process, though some nurses apply independently through the Sheryan portal.
1. Create an account on the DHA Sheryan portal (sheryan.dha.gov.ae). 2. Submit primary source verification (PSV) documents — your credentials are verified directly with your training institution and the Indian Nursing Council. 3. Pay the exam fee (AED 1,020). 4. Schedule your exam at a Prometric test centre — available in India (Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Kochi). 5. Take the exam and receive results immediately. 6. Upon passing, submit employment confirmation and receive DHA license.
The DHA nursing exam covers: Medical-Surgical Nursing (25–30%), Fundamentals of Nursing and Basic Nursing Skills (20%), Critical Care and Emergency Nursing (15%), Obstetrics and Gynaecology (10%), Paediatric Nursing (10%), Community and Mental Health Nursing (10%), Pharmacology and Medication Management (10%). The questions are MCQ format — choose the best answer from 4 options. Questions test applied clinical knowledge, not just theory.
Top preparation resources: (1) DHA Practice Questions on Prometric website. (2) Mosby's Comprehensive Review of Nursing for NCLEX-RN — excellent for MCQ practice. (3) DHA nursing exam preparation apps (available on Google Play/App Store). (4) YouTube channels specific to DHA exam preparation. (5) Study groups on Telegram/WhatsApp with nurses preparing for DHA. Focus on: medication administration, patient safety, infection control, and clinical decision-making — these are heavily tested. Take at least 500–700 practice MCQs before your exam date.
Yes. DHA exams are conducted at Prometric test centres in multiple Indian cities including Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, and Kochi. You do not need to travel to Dubai for the exam.
DHA covers Dubai, MOH (Ministry of Health) covers the other 6 UAE emirates. HAAD (now DoH) covers Abu Dhabi. If you plan to work in Dubai, you need DHA. If you want to work anywhere in UAE, MOH is most flexible.
There is no official limit on DHA exam attempts. However, after multiple failures, DHA may require additional documentation or a cooling-off period.