Quick answer
DHA officially publishes a pass score per title in its CBT guideline: 60%for General Practitioners (150 MCQs, 3 hours). Individual candidates never see their own numeric score — only Pass/Fail in Sheryan — and DHA does not publish how many candidates actually pass (the “pass rate”). Target 70%+ in timed mocks as a buffer. Category table below.
Candidates often confuse two different numbers: the pass score (the threshold DHA sets, which is officially published per title) and the pass rate (the share of candidates who pass, which DHA does not publish). This page gives the confirmed pass score by category, then the honest caveat on pass rate.
Before booking, review total costs in our DHA exam fees breakdown.
| Category | Official pass score | Safe target score | Title code |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Practitioner | 60% | 70%+ | GEN5331 |
| Specialist physician | 45–70%, varies by specialty | 10 pts above your specialty's score | Varies (e.g. INT5921, GEN5341) |
| Registered nurse | 50% | 65%+ | RNT0312 |
| Pharmacist | 60% | 70%+ | PHO5481 |
| Dentist (general) | 60% | 70%+ | GEN5301 |
Pass scores sourced from the official DHA CBT guideline (updated May 2026), matched to each title's exam code. DHA reserves the right to change a specialty's pass score without updating that document, so treat these as the best current confirmed figures and verify your exact title code in Sheryan.
Officially published (DHA CBT guideline)
Not published by DHA
First attempt
Community reports and prep-industry commentary suggest a meaningful share of first-attempt fails come from unfamiliarity with question style and time pressure, not pure knowledge gaps — candidates who complete a structured multi-week plan with timed mocks report the strongest first-attempt outcomes.
Retake
DHA does not publish a separate retake pass-rate figure, and no verified public split of first-attempt vs. retake pass rates could be confirmed. There is no published limit on the number of attempts, but there is typically a mandatory waiting period of 30–90 days between attempts. Each retake requires reapplying through DHA Connect and paying the full exam fee.
No official DHA statistics on first-attempt vs. retake pass rates are publicly available. Treat the above as directional community commentary, not measured data.
Because DHA does not publish how many candidates actually pass, and your own numeric score is never shared, a safer preparation strategy is to target consistent scores well above the officially published minimum for your category.
Practice to build your score buffer with our DHA MCQ practice bank.
DHA publishes the required pass score per title in its official CBT guideline. For General Practitioners (code GEN5331), the pass score is exactly 60%. This is different from the "pass rate" (the share of candidates who pass) — DHA does not publish that figure.
The officially published GP pass score is 60% on a 150-question, 3-hour Prometric CBT. Individual candidates are not shown their own numeric score — only Pass/Fail in Sheryan. Target 70%+ in timed mocks as a safety buffer above the published threshold.
Yes — the DHA CBT guideline lists a pass score for each title code it covers. GP and Dentist (General) are both 60%; Registered Nurse is 50%; Pharmacist is 60%; specialist physician categories range from 45% to 70% depending on specialty. What DHA does not publish is an annual pass-rate dashboard (how many candidates actually pass).
No single percentage applies to all roles. The official CBT guideline sets a different pass score per title code — see the category table below for the confirmed figures, and verify your specific title in Sheryan since DHA can update requirements without notice.
Many older or third-party guides estimate a 55–65% "scaled score" because DHA does not share individual numeric results. The official CBT guideline resolves this: the published pass score for GP is 60%, not an estimate. Older content that predates the guideline update may not reflect this.
A practical strategy is to target a buffer above the official threshold and aim for consistently strong timed performance. Building stability in mixed-subject blocks is safer than aiming exactly at the published minimum.
There is no published limit on the number of DHA exam attempts. However, there is typically a mandatory waiting period of 30–90 days between attempts. Each retake requires reapplying through DHA Connect and paying the full exam fee.
Note: third-party websites may report different score estimates. Use them for orientation only. For decisions that affect licensing eligibility, rely on DHA and Sheryan guidance for your exact profession.
Practice in timed mode, identify weak domains early, and build a stable score buffer before exam day.
Start Free PracticeDHA does not publish specialty-level pass-rate tables each cycle. Forum percentages often mix GP, specialist, and outdated years. Treat them as morale stories, not planning data.
Safer metrics: rolling mock accuracy above 70% on mixed 150-question sessions, stable pacing under 65 seconds per question, and shrinking error clusters in medicine and surgery systems.
If mixed mocks remain below 60% with fewer than four full sessions completed, delay Prometric even when authorized. Authorization windows can sometimes be reissued after targeted study — paying for a likely fail wastes money and morale.
Dubai HR may ask attempt history during interviews. Frame retakes with a concise improvement plan — mock score trends, subject focus, and completed CME — rather than avoiding the topic.
The Dubai Health Authority regulates independent healthcare practice within the Emirate of Dubai. It is separate from the Department of Health (DOH) in Abu Dhabi and from MOHAP licensing for Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, and Umm Al Quwain. Your offer letter emirate determines which regulator you pursue first — switching later requires a new application even when exams look similar.
Sheryan (often called DHA Connect) hosts eligibility questionnaires, primary-source verification status, exam authorizations, and license lifecycle events. Keep the email tied to your profile active; password resets during verification windows delay query responses.
Dubai facilities activate licenses after you pass assessment, complete medical fitness at approved centres, and satisfy malpractice insurance rules tied to your employer. Locum contracts and visit arrangements do not replace full DHA licensure for unsupervised clinical duties.
GP physician categories sit for 150 single-best-answer MCQs in a 3-hour computer-based session, with an officially published pass score of 60%, per the DHA CBT guideline (updated May 2026). Individual candidates are not shown their own numeric score — only Pass/Fail in Sheryan. There is no penalty for wrong answers — unanswered items at timeout count as incorrect.
Prometric centres enforce biometric check-in and provide a whiteboard or note sheet depending on location. Flag-and-review lets you revisit marked questions within the same session if time remains; practice this workflow in timed mocks so it feels automatic on exam day.
Candidates who pass on the first or second attempt commonly report 3,000–6,000 MCQs completed with explanation review, not merely answered. Volume without review plateaus around 55–60% mock accuracy; logging why distractors fooled you adds the last 10–15 points needed for comfortable Pass margins.
Working doctors often schedule 40–60 MCQs on weekdays and one 100–150 question mock on weekends for 10–12 weeks. Full-time study can double weekday volume — adjust using mock trends, not guilt.
In the final week, reduce new topic introduction. Sleep regularisation matters: Prometric sessions start at fixed appointment times regardless of your night-shift recovery from hospital duties.
Figures and policies change. Confirm your profession category, fee schedule, and document list in Sheryan (DHA Connect) before paying verification or exam fees.
This guide is written for doctors preparing for DHA licensing in Dubai, UAE. Requirements change — always confirm fees, deadlines, and eligibility on official authority portals before booking your exam slot.
Dubai Health Authority does not always publish a single pass-rate percentage for every cycle and specialty. Treat viral "pass rate" claims skeptically unless tied to an official report for your profession.
What you can control: mock performance, time management, and breadth across high-yield systems. A safer approach is setting a personal target above any minimum benchmark discussed in candidate forums — then validating against official scoring guidance when available.
Rather than chasing one magic number, look for stable scores across multiple timed sessions, improvement on previously missed topics, and fewer panic guesses in the final quarter of each mock.
Before acting on any third-party guide (including this one), confirm your profession category, document list, and fee schedule directly with Dubai Health Authority. Policies in Dubai, UAE are updated without always being reflected in older blog posts.
If your profile involves gaps in practice, multiple registrations, or credentials from several countries, expect additional review steps — generic checklists may not cover your case.
Next step — exam practice
Reading guides alone rarely converts to exam performance. After you confirm Dubai Health Authority requirements, use GulfMedExams to drill Prometric-style MCQs with explanations, track weak systems, and revisit high-yield topics before booking your slot.
Requirements, fees, and timelines change. This page is educational — always confirm your category-specific rules on official authority portals before paying verification or exam fees.