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Compass — United Arab Emirates

Working as a dentist in the UAE:one framework, three licences, plainly.

There is no single "DHA exam" that covers the whole country. One shared standards framework, three licensing authorities, and the one that matters is the emirate where you want to work. This page explains all three.

Compare the three authorities Find my licensing path

First, the shape of the thing

One framework,
local licences.

The UAE uses a unified Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR) framework across MOHAP, the Department of Health Abu Dhabi (DOH), the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and the Sharjah Health Authority. But you do not apply to "the UAE". You apply to the authority with jurisdiction over the place you intend to work.

A pass is only one component. Pearson VUE says so explicitly about Abu Dhabi: pass the exam and you still get no licence unless the rest of your application meets DOH eligibility criteria.

The three authorities

Same baseline, different doors.

The shared PQR baseline for a general dentist: a BDS, DDS or DMD or equivalent, a completed internship, and two years of clinical experience. Distance and honorary qualifications do not count.

DHA Dubai

Run by the Dubai Health Authority through the Sheryan portal. The most fully published exam in the UAE.

The exam

CBT delivered by Prometric. 150 multiple-choice questions, 3 hours, pass mark 60%. Result shown in Sheryan as pass or fail.

What it covers

Anaesthesia and pain management, oral medicine and surgery, periodontics, endodontics, restorative, implants, orthodontics and paediatrics, patient education and ethics. DHA publishes the coverage and a reference list.

The process

Self-assessment, DataFlow verification and CBT in parallel, DHA review, possible oral assessment, then registration.

The catch

DHA may change content, format or pass score. Check the live guideline before booking.

DHA CBT guideline · Sheryan · Prometric DHA →

DOH Abu Dhabi

Run by the Department of Health Abu Dhabi. Approval first, then Pearson VUE.

The process

Health Professionals Licensing approves your application, you pay in TAMM, and TAMM gives you the Pearson VUE booking link.

Test day

Two original IDs, computer-based test centre, on-screen tutorial, printed pass or fail report. The result goes to DOH; it does not decide the licence alone.

What is not published

No current public question count, pass score or official question bank for general dentists. Confirm the details after eligibility approval.

How to prepare

DOH’s General Dentist Scope of Practice is the authoritative study map: diagnosis, treatment planning, referral, emergencies, ethics.

Pearson VUE DOH · Test day rules · Scope of Practice →

MOHAP

The Ministry of Health and Prevention. Evaluation first, exams where prescribed.

The process

Start with MOHAP’s Evaluation of Health Professional service. It checks your documents and prescribes examination(s) where applicable.

Documents

Education certificate and transcript, experience evidence, licence, good-conduct certificate, passport, previous DataFlow reports if any.

Fees

A published evaluation-service fee exists on the MOHAP page. It is the service fee, not an all-in licensing cost.

Practice gap

MOHAP states no practice gap beyond three years for its service. The PQR has its own remediation rules after two.

MOHAP evaluation service · The PQR →

The route, step by step

From where you are to the chair.

01

Pick your authority

The emirate you will work in decides your portal and your process. Do not shop between emirates to reset a failed attempt: the PQR allows three assessment attempts across all UAE authorities combined.

02

Check the baseline

BDS, DDS or DMD or equivalent, a completed internship, and two years of hands-on clinical experience. Volunteer work and observerships do not count.

03

Verify everything at source

DataFlow or authority primary-source verification runs on your qualification, experience and licences. Good-standing certificates should be no more than six months old at application. Never submit an altered document.

04

Book and sit the assessment

DHA: the CBT through Prometric once eligible. DOH: pay in TAMM, then book with Pearson VUE. Assessments are in English; an oral assessment may apply depending on title.

05

Register, activate, then work

DHA registration is valid for one year and a healthcare facility must activate it into a licence before you can practise. A licence is not a work permit: your employer applies for that separately.

After you pass

Passing is not a licence.

Three things sit between a pass and a first day of work.

Activation comes after the exam

DHA registration needs a hiring facility to activate it before practice can start. Do not begin work before activation.

Work rights are separate

A professional licence does not create UAE work rights. The standard work visa is employer-applied, and working without a valid MoHRE work permit is unlawful.

Titles are earned, not marketed

Specialist and consultant titles have their own PQR experience requirements. Apply for the title your documents actually support, not the most marketable title on a course advertisement.

A note on question banks. There is no official DHA, DOH or MOHAP question bank. Prometric states that it does not sell preparation content and that providers claiming official material are unauthorised. If a course sells "leaked DHA questions", walk away.

Practise for the DHA General Dentist exam.

Question practice and timed mock exams shaped around the published CBT pattern: 150 questions, three hours, so exam day feels familiar, not frightening.

Start exam practice Find my licensing path
CEJ Experts is independent of every licensing authority. No pass guarantees.

Every fact on this page comes from MOHAP, the DHA, the DOH, Pearson VUE, Prometric and UAE Government sources. Fees and processes change; we link to the official pages rather than quoting figures that would age. Back to Compass →

Not sure the UAE is your destination? Find my licensing path →