Gulf Health Exam

DHA vs HAAD vs MOH vs Saudi Prometric: which exam do you need?

You take the exam of the regulator where you will work. Dubai needs DHA, Abu Dhabi needs DOH (formerly HAAD), the other emirates need MOHAP, Saudi Arabia needs SCFHS, and Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain each have their own. In the UAE your attempts are shared across the authorities.

Which exam for which place

"MOH" is confusing because it means different ministries. For a UAE job it means MOHAP. For Kuwait or Oman it means that country's ministry. Always check the country.

The UAE shares your attempts

DHA's manual says you get three attempts counted across all UAE authorities, and the unified qualification rules say the same. A failure in Dubai therefore uses an attempt that Abu Dhabi and the other emirates can see. DHA sets no waiting period between its dates. After three failures you cannot reapply to DHA for two years. DHA also describes one final attempt with a different authority, and new attempts after an additional recognised qualification or two years of licensed clinical experience. DHA's separate licensing manual mentions two additional attempts in one place, so confirm the wording with the authority before you plan around it.

The same UAE rules put the exam in English and give an exemption for UAE nationals and children of Emirati women.

Attempts elsewhere

Can one result carry to another country?

Sometimes. A 2022 Bahrain nursing document says NHRA accepts Registered Nurse results from UAE (DHA and HAAD), Qatar and Oman Prometric exams and the Saudi Nurse Specialist result, but not the Saudi Nurse Technician result. Other regulators have their own exemption lists, such as Qatar's exemption for a recent NCLEX. Rules change, so check the current list. Because the core nursing content overlaps, preparing once helps for all, and our free 20-question check shows where to start.

If you are a nurse deciding between destinations, compare the formats side by side on our Prometric exam guide.

Common questions

Is HAAD the same as DOH?

Yes. HAAD was the old name of the Department of Health Abu Dhabi, now DOH. Pearson VUE still labels its program HAAD.

Does the DHA exam work in Abu Dhabi?

DHA is Dubai's regulator. Abu Dhabi has its own DOH process. The UAE shares an attempt count and a unified set of qualification rules, but you must satisfy the regulator of the place where you will work.

Which is easier, DHA or Saudi Prometric?

They are different shapes. DHA has 150 questions in 3 hours with a 50% pass mark. SCFHS has 200 questions in two parts with a scaled pass score of 500. Compare your own mock results rather than relying on rumours.

How many attempts do I have in the UAE?

Three, counted across DHA, DOH and MOHAP, per the DHA manual and unified qualification rules.

Which exam do I need for the Gulf in general?

There is no single Gulf exam. You need the one for the country or emirate where you will work.

Related guides

Sources

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