The complete guide to the DHA licensing exam
Everything a General Dentist needs to license with the Dubai Health Authority — straight from DHA's own current CBT guideline and licensing manuals: the exact exam structure (exam code GEN5301), the DataFlow verification chain, the real attempt-and-reapplication rules, and the subject coverage the assessment actually draws from.
At a glance
Checked 1 October 2026
- Delivery
- Computer-based test via Prometric (prometric.com/DHA)
- Format
- 150 questions, 3 hours — exam code GEN5301
- Pass score
- 60% for General Dentist — published, but your own result isn't shared
- Attempts
- 3 in total, pooled across all UAE authorities (DHA, DOH, MOHAP, SHA)
Straight from DHA's own guideline
The exam, exactly as DHA specifies it
Pulled from DHA's current CBT Assessment Guideline, not secondhand estimates.
Questions
Multiple-choice, single-best-answer — General Dentist runs under exam code GEN5301.
Duration
The full session, including registration and instructions — not just time spent on questions.
Pass score
Published outright for General Dentist. What DHA keeps private is your own result, not the cut-off itself.
Attempts, pooled
Across all four UAE authorities combined (DHA, DOH, MOHAP and SHA) — not three per authority.
The pathway
DHA's own 5-step licensing process
Straight from DHA's Manual for Licensing Healthcare Professionals — DataFlow verification is where most delays actually happen.
Step 1: Fulfil the PQR
The Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements (3rd version, April 2025, shared by DHA, DOH, MOHAP and SHA) set the bar for the General Dentist title: a BDS/DMD/DDS, a 12-month internship, two years of clinical experience and a valid licence from your home country. Start with a self-assessment in Sheryan before you spend on verification.
Step 2: Get verified through DataFlow
DHA requires a positive Primary Source Verification result from DataFlow before your application can move forward — your degree, licence, experience letters and good-standing certificate all get checked directly with the issuing bodies.
Step 3: Create your Sheryan account and get your Eligibility ID
Once your PQR and PSV checks clear, Sheryan issues an Eligibility ID — you'll need it to complete the Prometric booking process. DHA's current manuals don't publish a fixed turnaround for this step, so confirm timing directly in Sheryan.
Step 4: Sit the Prometric CBT
150 questions, 3 hours, booked at prometric.com/DHA. The exam fee is USD 280. Arrive 30 minutes early for check-in, and bring the same passport you registered in Sheryan — a name mismatch reported less than 5 days before your exam is on you, not DHA.
Step 5: Get your result through Sheryan
Pass or Fail is uploaded to Sheryan within 2 working days. Separately, Prometric issues a "Learning Outcome" report showing your strengths and weaknesses by domain — useful feedback, but it is explicitly not your score or your result. Only a pass gets you the Professional Registration Certificate.
Read this before you book
What DHA's current manuals actually say
The specific rules that decide whether a bad exam day is recoverable — from documents effective through 2029-2030, not an old policy PDF.
Your score stays private — the cut-off doesn't
DHA publishes the pass score for General Dentist outright (60%), but will never share your own result value beyond Pass/Fail. Prometric's separate "Learning Outcome" report shows domain-level strengths and weaknesses without revealing your score.
3 attempts, pooled nationally
The unified PQR gives three attempts in total across the UAE authorities — DHA, DOH, MOHAP and SHA — not three per authority. You must declare every attempt you have made at any of them when applying.
Fail 3 times, and the default is a 2-year block
Failing your third attempt blocks you from reapplying for a DHA licence for two years. A fourth attempt can be requested online with a signed letter declaring every attempt you failed at other UAE authorities — DHA reviews each request. You can also requalify for three new attempts by earning an additional recognized qualification, or two years of clinical licensed experience after your last attempt.
No mandatory wait between attempts
DHA's own manual states there's no restriction on the duration between re-sits — rebook the moment a slot is available, according to assessment availability.
Reschedule 5+ days out, or forfeit the fee
Reschedule at least 5 days before your exam and Prometric charges its change fee. Later than that, cancel or no-show, and the fee is gone — DHA exam fees are non-refundable. A missed exam does not count as a failed attempt, though.
A pass is reusable for 2 years
If you passed the DHA assessment within the last 2 years, DHA uses that result — no new exam. Passed more than 2 years ago? Expect a new assessment, unless you obtained DHA registration for the same title within 5 years of passing and have had no gap in practice.
DHA's own exam coverage
What GEN5301 actually tests
Copied directly from DHA's current CBT Assessment Guideline for General Dentist. DHA weighs each domain when scoring your answers, but — unlike some other Gulf authorities — doesn't publish the exact percentage breakdown.
- Anesthesia and Pain Management
- Endodontics
- Cosmetic
- Oral Medicine / Oral Surgery
- Implant Surgery
- Deformities and Orthognathic Surgery
- Periodontics
- Restorative Dentistry
- Patient Education
- Temporomandibular Joint
- Orthodontics / Pediatric Dentistry
- Ethics
Practise DHA-style questions
20 questions free, with dentist-written explanations. No card needed.
DHA FAQ
Questions candidates actually ask
Answered against DHA's current live manuals, not an outdated policy PDF.
How many questions is the DHA General Dentist exam, and how long do I get?
150 multiple-choice questions in 3 hours, under exam code GEN5301 — that 3-hour window includes registration and instructions, not just time spent answering.
What score do I need to pass?
60% for General Dentist — DHA publishes this pass score outright. What stays private is your own individual result: you'll only ever see Pass or Fail in Sheryan, never your actual score or percentage.
Will I get any feedback at all if I fail?
Yes, indirectly — Prometric issues a separate "Learning Outcome" report showing your strengths and weaknesses across exam domains. DHA is explicit that this report does not reflect your actual result, but it's still useful for knowing where to focus a re-sit.
How many attempts do I actually get at the DHA exam?
Three in total, pooled across the UAE authorities (DHA, DOH, MOHAP and SHA) under the unified PQR — not three per authority. Fail your third attempt and the default is a two-year block on reapplying with DHA. You can request a fourth attempt with a signed declaration of your other UAE attempts (DHA reviews it), or requalify for three new attempts via an additional qualification or two years of clinical licensed experience.
What ID do I need to bring on exam day?
A valid passport with details matching your Sheryan registration exactly. If there's a mismatch, you need to contact DHA at least 5 days before your exam — DHA isn't responsible for extra charges caused by a late report.
Can I reschedule if something comes up?
Yes, if you do it at least 5 days before your exam — you'll still pay Prometric's change fee. Later than that, cancel, or no-show, and the exam fee is forfeited (DHA fees are non-refundable). A cancellation or no-show is not counted as a failed attempt.
How long does my pass stay valid?
DHA reuses a pass from the last 2 years — no new exam needed. If you passed more than 2 years ago, expect a new assessment, unless you got DHA registration for the same title within 5 years of passing with no gap in practice. Once issued, the Registration Certificate is valid for one year from your result date.
Do I need to retake the exam if I already passed MOH or HAAD/DOH?
Possibly not. The unified PQR has licensure-recognition provisions for professionals who hold a valid licence from another UAE authority, for the same or a lower title — check the current criteria in Sheryan before booking anything.
Official sources
Checked 1 October 2026
The facts on this page come from these official pages. Rules change — confirm with the regulator before you book or apply.
- DHA licensing assessment guideline (CBT) — exam code, questions, fee, pass scoreDubai Health Authority(opens in a new tab)
- Manual for Licensing Healthcare Professionals, v1.3 (July 2025)Dubai Health Authority(opens in a new tab)
- Manual for DHA Professional Assessment, v1.1 (May 2025)Dubai Health Authority(opens in a new tab)
- Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR), April 2025MOHAP, DOH, DHA and SHA (hosted by DOH)(opens in a new tab)
DHA articles on the blog
Ready to start on the DHA blueprint?
Subject-wise practice, a high-yield recall bank and timed, Prometric-style mock tests — tagged to the same domains GEN5301 actually tests, with every answer verified by a dentist.
LicenseDent is an independent exam-prep platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any licensing authority.