DHA Exam Pattern 2026 - Format, Questions, Duration and Marking

Sessions are computer-based with flag-and-review functionality. You may mark uncertain items and return before submission if time allows. There is no negative marking — answer every question before the timer ends.

Clinical vignettes often include redundant normal findings to test prioritisation. Read the last sentence first to identify what the stem actually asks (next investigation vs immediate management vs definitive treatment).

Old paper counts claiming 200 questions or negative marking are outdated for current GP CBT guidance. Trust your booking letter and January 2026 CBT candidate communications over forum screenshots.

Run a final gap audit: can you explain why each distractor in your last mock was wrong? If you only remember the correct letter, you are not exam-ready. Re-open explanations for every missed item from your last three mixed sessions.

Confirm administrative gates in Sheryan the same week you book — expired DataFlow status or inactive home registration can void a paid Prometric seat even when clinical prep is strong.

Pack logistics early: passport, confirmation printout, approved centre directions, and a realistic sleep plan for the two nights before testing. Dubai traffic can turn a 20-minute commute into an hour during peak hours.

On exam week, avoid new question banks or unfamiliar video courses. Consolidate your error notebook and run one final mixed mock two days before — not the night before, when fatigue skews results.

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.

Most GP physician categories sit for 150 single-best-answer MCQs in a computer-based session commonly timed around 170 minutes under the January 2026 DHA CBT guideline referenced in candidate communications. 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.