CME Courses Online for Dentists Dubai 2026: DHA CPD Rules
Last updated on 26-Oct-2026, by Dr. Muhammad Dr. Muhammad

 

CME Courses Online for Dentists Dubai 2026

Dentist CME in Dubai Quick Summary

A DHA-licensed dentist needs 40 CPD (CME) points for every year of licence validity, so 120 points for a 3-year licence, with at least 70% related to dentistry and your specialty. Online courses count, up to the full target, as long as they are accredited by DHA or a body DHA recognises and the certificate shows the points. Upload certificates to Sheryan before your facility submits the renewal.

Most dentists in Dubai only think about CME when the licence renewal email arrives, and then find they are 30 points short. This page is about the dentist side of CME: how many points you need, which online and in-person activities DHA accepts, and how to check an activity before you pay for it. The renewal process itself (fees, timeline, documents) is on our DHA licence renewal procedure page.

How many CME points does a dentist need in Dubai?

DHA treats dentists the same as physicians for CPD (Continuing Professional Development, which most people still call CME). The target is per year of licence and is the same for general dentists, specialists and consultants.

Licence periodCPD points neededMinimum in your specialty (70%)
1 year4028
2 years8056
3 years12084

The rest (up to 30%) can be general professional development, such as infection control, CPR and BLS, ethics, communication or patient safety. Extra points do not carry forward to the next licence period, and if you hold licences in two categories the higher target applies. Sheryan will not let the renewal go through until the target is met.

Do online CME courses count for DHA licence renewal?

Yes. Under DHA's current licensing manual, online accredited activities can make up your whole target, provided they relate to your field. Older DHA guidance limited online CPD to 30% a year, so you may still hear that figure from colleagues; it no longer applies. What matters is accreditation. An online course with no recognised accreditation, or a certificate with no points on it, will be rejected at renewal no matter how good the content was.

How to find DHA-accredited CME for dentists

DHA does not run one central catalogue of courses for dentists. Instead, it accredits individual programmes: a hospital, clinic, medical training centre or conference organiser with a UAE licence applies to DHA, and the approved programme is given CPD points. Use these checks to find activities that will be accepted:

CHECK 1
Look for the accreditation on the flyer and certificate
The event should name the accrediting authority (DHA, or another UAE health authority) and the number of CPD points. If it does not, ask the organiser for the accreditation before you register.
CHECK 2
Events held in the UAE need UAE accreditation
DHA's CPD guidance says activities held in the UAE must be accredited by a UAE authority. An international accreditation stamp on a Dubai event is not enough on its own.
CHECK 3
Online and overseas activities need a recognised body
For courses run abroad or online, the provider must be accredited by a body DHA recognises, such as the Royal Colleges, other GCC health authorities or national continuing education accreditation systems. Keep the certificate showing the accrediting body and points.
CHECK 4
Match the content to your specialty
An orthodontist with 120 points in implant courses still fails the 70% rule. Plan the bulk of your points in your own field first.

If you are unsure about one activity, the DHA website and the Sheryan help pages are the official places to ask; do not rely on the provider's own claim. You can contact DHA through dha.gov.ae.

Types of CME activities dentists use

Dental conferences and congresses
Large annual dental meetings in Dubai usually carry DHA points per day of attendance, and many now allow online attendance for part of the programme.
Hands-on workshops
Implant, endodontic, aesthetic and digital dentistry workshops. They cost more but are often the most useful points for a specialist.
Online on-demand courses and webinars
Recorded lectures and self-paced modules from accredited providers and specialty associations. Convenient for filling the target across the year.
Facility and university sessions
Accredited lectures run by your own hospital or clinic group, or by dental colleges. These are often free for staff.

Routine department meetings, morning meetings, induction and product training do not count, even if you sign an attendance sheet. Serving on a DHA assessment panel does count towards your annual CPD.

How much do these CME courses cost?

The cost varies widely. Some accredited webinars and facility lectures are free, recorded online courses are usually affordable, and hands-on modules or certificate programmes cost much more. A sensible approach is to cover general and core dental points cheaply through the year, then spend on one or two hands-on courses that genuinely improve your practice. Before paying, always ask the provider two questions: who accredits this activity, and how many points will the certificate show?

Uploading CME certificates to Sheryan

Add each certificate to your Sheryan profile as soon as you receive it. Your facility submits the renewal within the 3 months before your licence expires, and it cannot do so until your points are in. A shortfall found in the last few weeks can push you past the expiry date, and you cannot practise on an expired licence. Keep the original certificates for your own records as well; DHA can ask for proof of attendance.

Licence lapsed for a long time?
If your DHA registration is no longer active and you passed the DHA assessment more than 2 years ago, you will need to be assessed again. Prepare with the DHA General Dentist, Endodontics, Orthodontics or Prosthodontics QBank.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many CME hours do dentists need to renew a DHA licence?

DHA counts CPD points, not hours: 40 points per year of licence validity for dentists, the same as for physicians. A 3-year licence therefore needs 120 points, and at least 70% must relate to dentistry and your specialty.

Are free online CME courses accepted by DHA?

Yes, if they are accredited by DHA or by a body DHA recognises and the certificate shows the CPD points. Price does not matter; accreditation does. Free accredited options include some specialty association webinars and lectures run by facilities and universities.

Can all my CME points be online?

Under DHA's current licensing manual, yes, up to 100% of the target can come from accredited online activities related to your field. The older 30% online limit no longer applies.

How do I know if a dental course is DHA accredited?

The flyer and certificate should name the accrediting authority and the number of points. Events held in the UAE need accreditation from a UAE health authority. For overseas or online courses, check that the accrediting body is one DHA recognises, and ask DHA if in doubt.

Can extra CME points be carried forward to my next licence?

No. Points above the target for one licence period do not carry forward. Spread your activities across the licence period rather than collecting them all in one year.

Who submits the renewal, me or my clinic?

Your facility submits the DHA renewal through Sheryan within the 3 months before expiry. Your job is to have your CPD certificates, insurance and personal details uploaded and correct before then.

Your Comments

Readers have asked us these questions over time. Tap any question to open it and read our reply.

Dr. Neena Aman (India): free online CME courses for licence renewal

"Im working as dentist in Dubai. can you please suggest free online CME courses that i can attend for my license renewal."
Dr. Neena Aman
Medical Qualification: grneral dentist
City, Country: india

Team Interface: Look for accredited webinars from dental specialty associations and lectures run by your own facility or a dental college; many are free. Check that each certificate names the accrediting body and the points, and keep at least 70% in your own field. You need 40 points per year of your licence.
dr.misha (Layyah, Pakistan): MBBS with 2 years as a medical officer, am I eligible?

"i want to apply for DHA exam.i have 2yrs experience as a medical officer in pakistan. how to start with DHA Sheryan, pls let me inform,am i eligible for exam.i have no idea about this exam. "
dr.misha
Medical Qualification: MBBS
City, Country: layyah.pakistan

Team Interface: For the DHA GP title you need 2 years of experience after internship, without a gap of more than 2 years, so you may well be eligible. Confirm it in the Sheryan self-assessment linked in your comment, read the DHA requirements for GPs, and practise with the DHA GP QBank.
RESHMA NAAZ ANSARI (India): MSc Radiology Technology with 7 years experience

"I am completed my msc and i want to give DHA exam . i have 7 + years experience . please guide me."
RESHMA NAAZ ANSARI
Medical Qualification: MSc in Radiology Technogy
City, Country: india

Team Interface: Radiology technologists are licensed under DHA's allied health titles. Our DHA technician and technologist exam page covers eligibility and the exam. Confirm your title in Sheryan before you apply.
Seraj Uddin (Karachi, Pakistan): DHA requirements, and do I need both DHA and MOH?

"Kindly tell me about the procedure and requirements of DHA exam. also tell me if one have to clear both of the exam or only one either DHA or MOH? also tell me where to prepare for these test from? "
Seraj Uddin
Medical Qualification: MBBS
City, Country: Karachi, Pakistan

Team Interface: You only need the licence of the authority where you will work: DHA for Dubai, MOHAP for its facilities in the northern emirates, DOH for Abu Dhabi. A licence can later be transferred; see transferring a MOHAP licence to DHA or DOH. For preparation, start with DHA GP exam study material.
Dr Mehreen ashfaq (Lahore, Pakistan): DHA licence for a physiotherapist

"Aoa i have dr of physiotherapy i wana apply for job at UAE so i need DHA lisense Kindly tell me procedure"
Dr Mehreen ashfaq
Medical Qualification: DPT
City, Country: Lahore, pakistan

Team Interface: Physiotherapists apply under DHA's allied health titles: create a Sheryan account, run the self-assessment, then complete DataFlow and book the exam. The document list is on DHA DataFlow requirements.
aviansh (Delhi, India): where is the DHA online application form?

"my mother is an eye surgeon with an experience of 20 years. she wants to apply for DHA exam online but cannot find the link for the application form. can any of you please mail me the required link ."
aviansh
Medical Qualification: mbbs
City, Country: delhi india

Team Interface: There is no separate form to download. Applications are made online on the DHA Sheryan portal, where your mother creates an account and applies for the specialist title in ophthalmology. Our DHA requirements for specialists page explains the tiers.
Nouman (Pakistan): MBBS from China, is the PMDC exam needed before DHA?

"Hi, I did mbbs from china, Im from Pakistan, can I eligible for DHA exam? I did pass PMDC exam in pakistan. Is it necessary to pass PMDC exam before DHA exam ? Kindly let me know as soon as possible thanks "
Nouman
Medical Qualification: Mbbs
City, Country: Pakistan

Team Interface: DHA does not ask for the PMDC exam itself. But your experience must be gained as a licensed doctor, so in practice you need PMDC registration to build the 2 years of experience the GP title requires. Your medical school must also be listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools.
Okpokpatohor perfect (Asaba, Nigeria): high school certificate lost, nursing licence still valid

"Im 45years with 10years experience as a clinical nurse. while I was in 2nd year in the state school of nursing, there was crisis (1998) and my high school certificate got burnt. im left with my nursing and midwifery certificates and valid practicing license, I just enrolled to re-write the high school exam, will it be accepted."
Okpokpatohor perfect
Medical Qualification: Registered nurse /midwife
City, Country: Asaba, Delta state, Nigeria

Team Interface: DHA verifies your nursing education and licence through DataFlow. Whether a missing school certificate matters depends on your nursing qualification route, so ask Sheryan support or DataFlow before you pay, and see the DHA exam for nurses and midwives for the usual documents.
fatima (Karachi, Pakistan): 2 months unpaid leave during 3 years of experience

"hello, i want to ask that i have 3 years experience in a hospital.but during this 3 years tenure i came to dubai for 2 months on visit visa.and took unpaid leaves from the hospital.and then went back and joined again.so can i apply for dha license exam? will i be eligible? will they do any objection about that? "
fatima
Medical Qualification: Bachlors physiotherapy
City, Country: karachi, pakistan

Team Interface: A short unpaid leave is not a gap of practice, which DHA defines as more than 2 years out of clinical work. DHA counts salaried clinical employment, so ask your hospital to state your exact dates of service, and the unpaid period may simply be left out of the total.

Keep your DHA dental licence on track

If you need to be reassessed, practise with dentist MCQs in timed Prometric mode, with clinical explanations.

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