How to Apply for the DHA GP Exam and Find Past Papers in 2026
Applying as a GP Quick Summary
To apply for the DHA GP exam you need a recognised medical degree, a 12-month internship, a valid licence and 2 years of licensed clinical experience after internship. You then apply in Sheryan, clear DataFlow verification and book the Prometric CBT with your Eligibility ID. DHA does not publish past papers, so GPs prepare with recall-based MCQ banks instead.
Before applying for the DHA (Dubai Health Authority) exam, a GP (General Practitioner) has to meet the eligibility criteria for the title. If you pass this Prometric exam, DHA gives you an Eligibility Letter, which stays valid for one year and lets you apply for jobs in Dubai. DHA past papers are not released to the public, but you can practise with DHA GP recall questions written by Interface Medical Education.
This page answers the questions GPs ask us before they apply: can I apply with my degree and my experience, what are the steps, where are the past papers, and how hard is it to find a GP job afterwards. For the timeline from application to exam day, read the DHA exam schedule for GPs.
Who can apply for the DHA GP exam?
DHA follows the Unified Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR). For the General Practitioner title, these are the points the officer checks:
| Requirement | What DHA expects |
|---|---|
| Degree | MBBS, MBChB, MD or an equivalent basic medical degree. Distance and correspondence degrees are not accepted. |
| Internship | 12 months of rotating internship. |
| Experience | 2 years of clinical experience after internship, in general practice or fields such as emergency medicine, family medicine, internal medicine, general surgery, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, cardiology or critical care. |
| Licence | A valid licence that covered the experience you claim. Unlicensed work does not count. |
| Good standing | A Good Standing Certificate from your last regulator, not older than 6 months. |
| Gap in practice | Over 2 years out of practice means extra CME and training; non-UAE nationals with a gap over 5 years cannot apply. |
UAE graduates are the exception: they do not need the 2 years if they apply for the GP title within 2 years of finishing internship. How DHA counts each month is explained on our DHA GP clinical experience page.
Can I apply with a foreign degree or without a licence at home?
This is the question we get most from graduates of China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Ukraine and similar universities. DHA does not ask where you studied as long as the degree is recognised. What it does ask is if your experience was licensed. If you have not cleared your home screening test (for example FMGE in India), you usually have no licence at home, so the jobs you did in that time cannot be counted. In that case, get registered first and then build your 2 years.
Government jobs are fine. A salaried, licensed medical officer post in a basic health unit, rural health centre or district hospital counts the same as a private hospital job, as long as the work is clinical and the certificate shows your post, department and exact dates. Volunteer work, observerships and clinical attachments do not count.
Not sure where you stand? Run your details through the Sheryan self-assessment tool before you pay anything.
How do I apply for the DHA GP exam?
Fees for each stage are listed on DHA Prometric exam cost. Most GPs we teach apply in Sheryan while they are still preparing, because DataFlow can take several weeks.
Are DHA GP past papers available?
No. DHA and Prometric do not publish past papers, and anyone selling a "real" DHA paper is selling something that does not exist. What does exist are recall questions: topics and cases that candidates remember after their exam, rewritten into practice MCQs. They show you the style and the favourite topics, which is why they help.
Use recalls for the last few weeks, and build your base on clinical MCQs before that. Our DHA GP study material page has a 3-month plan and textbook list, and DHA preparation sources and model papers explains how to judge a question bank. You can also try free DHA sample questions.
Is Getting a GP Job in Dubai Difficult These Days?
Yes, it is harder than it was a few years ago. Private clinics earn more from specialists (ENT, orthopaedics, internal medicine, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology) because they bring in more insurance billing. GPs bill less, so clinics hire fewer of them, and many employers prefer doctors who already have UAE experience or know UAE insurance coding.
That does not mean fresh applicants never get hired. What helps:
- Pass the exam early. Your eligibility is valid for a year, so apply for jobs as soon as your result is out.
- Show emergency or urgent care experience. Walk-in clinics and hospital emergency departments hire GPs more often than small clinics.
- Keep your CV clear: dates, departments, procedures you can do on your own.
- Learn basic UAE insurance and ICD coding before interviews. Employers notice it.
For what the employer has to do to activate your licence, read DHA eligibility and employment requirements. Other DHA exams and QBanks are listed on the DHA exam page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a fresh MBBS graduate apply for the DHA GP exam?
Usually not. DHA asks for a 12-month internship plus 2 years of licensed clinical experience after it. UAE graduates are the exception if they apply within 2 years of finishing internship.
Can I apply for the DHA exam without a licence in my home country?
Your experience has to be licensed, so without a licence it does not count towards the 2 years. Graduates who have not cleared a home screening test should get registered first and then build their experience. The Sheryan self-assessment tool confirms your case.
Does government or rural health centre experience count for DHA?
Yes, if it was a salaried, licensed clinical post. Ask for an experience certificate that states your post, department and exact start and end dates, because DataFlow verifies it with the employer.
Where can I find DHA GP past papers?
DHA does not release past papers. Candidates use recall-based MCQ banks and sample questions that follow the exam style, together with standard clinical revision.
Can I sit the DHA GP exam outside the UAE?
Yes. Once Sheryan gives you an Eligibility ID, you can book the CBT at a Prometric centre in many countries, including Pakistan, India and Nigeria.
How long is the DHA eligibility valid after passing?
One year. During that time a Dubai health facility has to hire you and activate your licence.
Your Comments
Readers have asked us these questions over time. Tap any question to open it and read our reply.
Bekele bedada (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia): how to work in Dubai and DHA GP past papers
"I am general practitioner working In Ethiopia for one year and 6 months here after completing my internship and graduation .I wanna work in Dubai but I dont know how to do that and let me know about dha gp past papers. please guide me to do so . I have good emergency and surgical skill here. "
Bekele bedada
Medical Qualification: General practitioner
City, Country: Addis ababa
Dr. Sunilkumar Koitty veettil (India): consultant orthopaedics after MOH Oman
"Papers needed for consultant/ senior specialist orthopaedics Was specialist A grade in MOH Oman."
Dr. Sunilkumar Koitty veettil
Medical Qualification: MBBS ,MS Ortho Cli. Ord, MCh
City, Country: India
Dr. Adeeba Khan (Allahabad, India): experience needed for an orthodontist in Dubai
"What is the minimum experience required to work as an Orthodontist in Dubai as well orthodontist exam questions."
Dr. Adeeba Khan
Medical Qualification: MDS Orthodontics
City, Country: Allahabad, India
Sidra (Islamabad, Pakistan): does government BHU or RHC experience count?
"Hi, I have completed MBBS from pakistan. I am planning to appear in DHA exam after gaining experience two years. I have a question regarding that two years experience. Can i do a government contract based job in primary and secondary care health units as a medical officer and use that experience for DHA exam. I am confused because i want to know that whether i am eligible after that two years job in rural health centers or basic health units in peripheral areas of Pakistan."
Sidra
Medical Qualification: MBBS
City, Country: Islamabad Pakistan
Anjali Gulia (New Delhi, India): applying without MCI registration
"My name is Anjali gulia From India ...i hv done my mbbs from kyrgzstan since 2017 ...i m planning to appear in DHA exam to get job in dubai...plz guide me ...and can i apply to dha exam without mci registration ...and how to prepare fr this exam...plz give me all information about this exam ."
Anjali Gulia
Medical Qualification: Mbbs
City, Country: New delhi
ONYEBUCHI CHINUA WAEZ (Nigeria): planning to move to the UAE with 2 years experience
"I am a fully licensed and registered medical practitioner, and I have about 2 years post qualification experience, for now. I am currently working, but still making plans to relocate to the UAE as soon as possible. I also do have special interest in emergency medicine, maternal and child health. Thanks for the guidance and information, I really appreciate it."
ONYEBUCHI CHINUA WAEZ
Medical Qualification: MBBS
City, Country: Nigeria
JOHN ZACHARIA (Kollam, India): China MBBS without the screening test
"I am graduated MBBS and internship in China.I have 2 years experience.I am not passing screening test in India.Can i attend this test? "
JOHN ZACHARIA
Medical Qualification: Mbbs
City, Country: KOLLAM,INDIA
afreen sheikh (Lucknow, India): DHA exam pattern for optometrists
"plz give ur valuable information regarding dha exam pattern number of questions exact syllabus books refer for optometrist ."
afreen sheikh
Medical Qualification: bachelor of optometry
City, Country: Lucknow, india
Madiha Arshad (Chishtian, Pakistan): applying from Pakistan with 7 years experience
"Hi. Ive a experience of 7 years as medical officer in Government hospital. Can u plzz let me know about the procedure for applying for DHA exam from Pakistan. Regards."
Madiha Arshad
Medical Qualification: MBBS
City, Country: Chishtian, Pakistan
Dr.Maham Altaf (Karachi, Pakistan): DHA or MOH exam for a dentist
"I have completed my BDS nd i have 4 years of experiwnce in private clinic please tell me the criteria that how can i apply for the DHA or MOH exams and how i can work in dubai as a dentist... "
Dr.Maham Altaf
Medical Qualification: BDS, RDS, C- orthodontist, C- Implantologist
City, Country: pakistan karachi
Manjri (India): DHA documents and registration
"I want to apply for dha exam. please help me for dha documents and registration."
Manjri
Medical Qualification: Mbbs dgo
City, Country: India
Shilpa rao (Hyderabad, India): B Pharmacy without experience
"Im recently completed my B pharmacy. I dont have any experience as a pharmacist Im I eligible to write DHA exam."
Shilpa rao
Medical Qualification: B pharmacy
City, Country: Hyderabad
Iheme joslene (Lagos, Nigeria): nursing licence expiring in 4 months
"Hi, am a registered nurse, Bnsc holder in my country Nigeria I have more than two years working experience and have gathered all the credentials needed for the registration of DHA examination but my problem is my nursing license will expire in the next four (4) months, pls can I still use it and apply for the exam before it expires? Thanks. "
Iheme joslene
Medical Qualification: Registered Nurse
City, Country: Lagos Nigeria
Mir Shakeel Ahmed (Rawalpindi, Pakistan): FSc MLT with laboratory experience
"I passed my fsc mlt exam from federal board islamabad and I have 3year experience in labortory from AFIP rwp .Now I want to apply for dubai .. What will be the criteria ."
Mir Shakeel Ahmed
Medical Qualification: Fsc MLT
City, Country: Rawalpindi
Pass the DHA GP exam with Interface Qbank
Past papers are not published. Practise with recall-based MCQs, clinical explanations and timed Prometric-style mock exams.
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