Gulf dental licensing exams at a glance: pattern, pass mark and results

Every Gulf health authority sets its own licensing exam for dentists. They are all computer-based, single-best-answer multiple-choice papers, but the length, the pass mark and the number of attempts differ. This guide puts them next to each other so you can choose where to apply.

DHA — Dubai Health Authority

Delivered at Prometric centres. 150 questions in a little under three hours. You need 60% overall, and the authority also looks at your score in core clinical subjects. The result is issued electronically straight after the exam.

MOH — Ministry of Health and Prevention, UAE

Delivered at Prometric centres. 150 questions in three hours, with a 60% pass mark. Results are normally available online within a day.

DOH — Department of Health, Abu Dhabi

Delivered at Pearson VUE centres. 150 questions in three hours, with a 65% pass mark. Results usually arrive the same day.

The three UAE authorities share an attempt limit: the commonly quoted figure is three attempts in total across DHA, MOH and DOH, so plan each sitting carefully.

SDLE — Saudi Dental Licensing Exam

Delivered at Prometric centres for the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties. It is the longest of the group: 200 questions sat in sections over about six hours. It is scored on a scale rather than as a percentage, and results take a few weeks.

QCHP / DHP — Qatar

150 questions in three and a half hours, with a 60% pass mark. Attempts are limited per year.

NHRA — Bahrain

150 questions in three hours, with a 60% pass mark. A set number of attempts is allowed within a three-year window.

OMSB — Oman

100 questions, with a 65% pass mark, and a limited number of attempts in a calendar year. See our separate guide to the OMSB pattern.

How to choose

Start from where you want to work, not from which paper looks easiest: a licence is only useful in the place that issued it. Then check the experience requirement for your title (general dentist or specialist) and the validity period of a pass, because some results expire if you do not complete registration in time.

Before you rely on this

Licensing rules, fees and pass marks are changed by the authorities from time to time. Treat the figures here as a starting point and confirm them on the authority's own website before you apply or pay.