Do I need both EMREE and the DHA exam?

Not necessarily. EMREE is for residency entry and the DHA exam is for licensing in Dubai. Doctors who want both a residency place and a Dubai licence may need to prepare for both.

Is EMREE harder than the DHA exam?

They test different things, so difficulty is not directly comparable. EMREE is a competitive entrance exam where scores can be ranked, while the DHA exam is a licensing exam with a pass threshold.

Can I use the same practice questions for both?

It is better not to. The exams have different styles and subject spreads. Meddex keeps separate question banks and mock exams for each so your results mean something.

Which exam should doctors take first?

It depends on your plan and timing. Residency windows are fixed each year, so many doctors plan around the EMREE window first. Confirm dates with the organisers.

Exam comparison

EMREE vs DHA exam: key differences.

Two different exams for two different goals. Here is how to tell them apart.

Short answer: EMREE and the DHA exam are two different exams. EMREE is a residency entrance exam for doctors who want specialty training in the UAE. The DHA exam is a licensing exam for professionals who want to practise in Dubai. Doctors may need one, the other or both, depending on their plans.

Which exam do you need?

The right exam depends on what you are trying to do, not on your profession alone.

You want to work in Dubai as a nurse, doctor, dentist, pharmacist or allied health professional: the DHA licensing exam is the one to look at.
You are a doctor who wants a residency place in the UAE: EMREE is the entrance exam to look at.
You are a doctor who wants both a Dubai licence and a residency place: you may need to prepare for both, as separate exams with separate rules.
You are a nurse, dentist, pharmacist or allied health professional: EMREE does not apply to you.

Comparison table

EMREE and the DHA licensing exam compared
Feature	DHA licensing exam	EMREE residency exam
Full name	Dubai Health Authority licensing exam	Emirates Medical Residency Entrance Examination
Purpose	Shows you have the knowledge to practise safely in Dubai, as one step towards a DHA licence	Pre-entry exam used when applying for medical residency (specialty training) in the UAE
Who it is for	Nurses, physicians, dentists, pharmacists and allied health professionals	Physicians only
Organiser	Dubai Health Authority, delivered through Prometric	Official: conducted by NIHS through the UAE University College of Medicine and Health Sciences portal
What it leads to	A licence to practise in Dubai once the other licensing steps are done	Eligibility to be considered by residency programmes, not a licence
Format	Multiple choice (DHA states MCQ; it does not state single best answer or the number of options)	Multiple choice (the organiser does not state single best answer or the number of options) (official: multiple choice; answer options not stated)
Questions	Official: 150 for Registered Nurse and General Practice, 100 for consultants. Meddex mocks use 150	Usually 120 (official), plus some unscored trial items
Duration	Official: 3 hours for most titles, including registration and introduction time. Meddex mocks use 3 hours of answering time	Usually 3 hours (official)
Delivery	Computer-based, at a Prometric test centre	Computer-based, paper may be offered if circumstances require (official)
Pass mark	Official: set by the DHA for each title, for example 50 percent for a Registered Nurse, 60 for General Practice, General Dentist and Pharmacist, and 55 to 70 for specialist physicians. Meddex mocks use the nurse figure for nurses and 60 percent as a planning benchmark otherwise	Official: 60 percent for the 2025 to 2026 cycle, reset periodically. Meddex mocks also use 60 percent as a study target
When you can sit it	By appointment at a test centre once you are eligible. Some applicants are exempt through the DHA qualification requirement tables, and an exemption covers the exam only	Several sittings through the academic year (twelve in 2025 to 2026, December to June), with online registration. Read the current cycle page
Score validity	Official: the registration certificate after a pass is valid for one year from the result date, and a pass older than two years may need a new assessment if there is a gap in practice	Official: 24 months from submission to the authorities
Subjects	10 domains in Meddex's study map, from patient safety to public health	7 subjects: Internal medicine, Ob & Gyn, Paediatrics, Surgery, Family medicine, Psychiatry, Public health
Meddex track	DHA licensing exam: for all five professions	EMREE residency exam: physicians only, kept separate

Why they get mixed up

Both are computer-based, multiple-choice exams that doctors in the UAE talk about in the same breath, and both involve three-hour sittings in the figures we use. The overlap ends there. They have different organisers, different registration routes, different results and different consequences.

Passing one does not count as passing the other. The DHA exam does not get you a residency place, and EMREE does not give you a licence.

How Meddex keeps them separate

Meddex has two tracks. The DHA licensing exam track serves all five professions. The EMREE residency exam track is for physicians only. Each has its own questions, mock exams, subjects, timing, progress and readiness score, so nothing you do in one changes the other.

Doctors preparing for both can switch tracks in the app and keep two separate study plans.

Check the official sources

DHA details come from Meddex mock exam settings and should be confirmed with the DHA and Prometric. EMREE details come mainly from the organiser portal, which we read on 15 October 2026. Where a figure is marked reported, the organiser does not publish it.

About these facts. EMREE facts marked official come from the organiser portal run by UAE University for the National Institute for Health Specialities (NIHS), which we read on 15 October 2026. We are independent and not connected to it. Some details, such as the number of answer options and negative marking, are not published there and stay marked reported. Rules and dates change, so check the portal and your residency authority before you register.

Meddex is an independent preparation platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), Prometric, UAE University or the National Institute of Health Specialties (NIHS). Always confirm exam details on the official websites. Last reviewed 15 October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

EMREE exam guideFormat, subjects, scoring and preparation.EMREE application checklistDocuments and steps for the residency entrance exam.DHA licensing checklistDocuments, steps and a timeline to tick off.DHA exam guideFormat, domains and the licensing overview.DHA exam for doctorsWhat physicians should expect.DHA exam for nursesTopics and plan for nurses.

Find out where you stand.

Take the free 10-minute test. You get a score for each subject and know what to study first. No sign-up needed.

Try a free 10-minute test Create a free account