DHA Syllabus 2026

DHA Exam Syllabus 2026 - Subject-Wise Blueprint for Dubai Prometric

Quick answer

DHA GP preparation covers Internal Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, and Obstetrics & Gynaecology. Common planning weights are IM 35–40%, Surgery 20–25%, Pediatrics 20–25%, and OBGYN 15–20%. Confirm your title in Sheryan and PQR.

Use this syllabus guide to organize your DHA preparation by core clinical domains. DHA assessments are delivered through Prometric CBT, while the exact requirements are title-dependent and should be verified on official DHA resources.

DHA Syllabus Overview

Planning weights for DHA GP preparation (not an official published table)
SubjectTypical share
Internal Medicine35–40%
Surgery20–25%
Pediatrics20–25%
Obstetrics & Gynaecology15–20%

Internal Medicine

Core domain

Cardiology, Respiratory, Endocrinology, Nephrology, GI, Infectious disease.

General Surgery

Core domain

Acute abdomen, trauma, peri-operative care, common surgical conditions.

Pediatrics

Core domain

Neonatal care, childhood infections, emergencies, vaccination, growth milestones.

Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Core domain

Antenatal care, labor complications, gynecology basics, postpartum care.

This is a preparation framework, not an official weight table. Confirm title-specific exam scope via DHA Sheryan and PQR.

How to Use the Syllabus Efficiently

  • Start with Internal Medicine to capture the largest question share early.
  • Practice 50-100 MCQs daily and tag weak topics inside each subject.
  • Run weekly mixed blocks to improve subject-switching under time pressure.
  • In the final 2 weeks, switch to timed mocks and targeted weak-area revision.

Frequently Asked Questions

What subjects are included in the DHA exam syllabus?

For many doctor pathways, candidates prepare across Internal Medicine, General Surgery, Pediatrics, and Obstetrics & Gynaecology in a clinical MCQ style. The exact assessment scope depends on your title and category in DHA requirements.

Which subject has the highest weight in DHA?

DHA does not publish one universal weight table for all titles in a single public page. A practical approach is to prioritize core clinical domains and confirm your title-specific requirements through DHA Sheryan and PQR.

Is the DHA syllabus the same for all professions?

No. The exact blueprint can differ by profession (doctor, nurse, dentist, pharmacist, allied health). Always verify your category on the official DHA channels.

How should I study the DHA syllabus?

Use a subject-based plan: start with high-yield Medicine topics, then rotate through Surgery, Pediatrics, and OBGYN while practicing daily MCQs and weekly timed mixed blocks.

Related DHA Resources

Official references: DHA Sheryan and Unified PQR.

Start DHA Subject-Wise Practice

Practice on high-yield DHA syllabus topics with free Prometric-style MCQs and detailed explanations.

Practice Free Now

Mapping DHA syllabus topics to weekly study quotas

Divide the four GP pillars across eight weeks: two weeks medicine-heavy, one surgery, one paediatrics, one OBG, then repeat with mixed integration. Reserve the final two weeks for full mocks and error-notebook review only.

Ethics, communication, and public-health stems appear less frequently than core clinical subjects but are high yield per minute spent — do not skip them entirely.

  • Simulate 170-minute sessions at least four times before exam day
  • Maintain an error log categorised by system, not by question number
  • Stop heavy new content 5 days before Prometric

Syllabus depth vs exam breadth

DHA syllabi list topics; exams sample them probabilistically. Cover all listed systems once, then overweight high-yield acute presentations seen in recent recalls rather than rare subspecialty minutiae.

Closing gaps before you book Prometric

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.

  • Three mixed mocks ≥70% in the final 14 days
  • Error notebook reviewed cover-to-cover once
  • Sheryan profile green for verification and exam authorization
  • Employer HR aware of tentative result timeline

DHA regulatory reference — Dubai emirate specifics

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.

  • Scope: Dubai emirate facilities under DHA oversight
  • Assessment: Prometric CBT for most physician categories
  • Verification: DataFlow PSV is the standard document route
  • Results: Pass/Fail recorded in Sheryan for many titles
  • Sponsorship: employer-linked activation after Pass
  • Renewal: CME credits logged before license expiry
  • Language: patient-facing Arabic helps clinically but exam language is English
  • Reciprocity: other UAE licenses may require reassessment when transferring

DHA Prometric exam — parameters to plan mocks around

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.

  • Book only when Sheryan shows active exam authorization
  • Bring passport matching Sheryan profile exactly
  • Arrive 30 minutes before appointment start
  • Expect clinical stems across medicine, surgery, paediatrics, and OBG for GP
  • Plan two travel days if testing outside Dubai

Study volume benchmarks reported by DHA candidates

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.

  • Target 70%+ on three consecutive mixed mocks before booking
  • Re-do missed questions after 48–72 hours
  • Keep a one-page error sheet updated after every session
  • Simulate full 150-question length at least four times

Official source reminder

Figures and policies change. Confirm your profession category, fee schedule, and document list in Sheryan (DHA Connect) before paying verification or exam fees.

Reviewed by Dr. Mohsin Ali Baloch
Last updated
Aligned with Dubai Health Authority pathways

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.

DHA exam syllabus mapping

Map syllabus topics to weekly quotas. Most doctors benefit from covering high-yield medicine first, then specialty-specific areas, then ethics / public health where applicable.

  • Week 1–2: diagnostic mock + syllabus gap list
  • Mid-plan: subject-wise timed blocks
  • Final weeks: full-length mocks + error notebook
  • Last 5 days: light review — avoid new heavy topics

What to verify on official channels

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

Turn licensing research into exam-ready performance

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.

More practice resources

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.