DHA Exam Syllabus 2026: What You Need to Know

The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) exam is one of the most sought-after Gulf medical licensing examinations. Understanding the complete syllabus is the first step to passing on your first attempt.

Pro Tip: The DHA exam follows a standardized format across all categories with 150 multiple-choice questions and a time limit of 2.5 hours. A score of 60% or above is required to pass.

DHA Exam Syllabus for Nurses

The nursing category syllabus covers the following major areas with approximate weightage:

1. Fundamental Nursing (25-30% marks)

Basic nursing care and patient hygiene

Vital signs monitoring and documentation

Infection control and prevention protocols

Patient safety and fall prevention

Wound care and dressing techniques

Catheterization and drainage management

Key focus areas: Infection control protocols and patient safety standards are heavily tested.

2. Medical-Surgical Nursing (25-30% marks)

Pre and post-operative nursing care

Cardiovascular and respiratory disorders

Endocrine and metabolic disorders

Gastrointestinal and renal disorders

Neurological assessment and care

Pain management and pharmacology

Tip: Focus on cardiac care and respiratory nursing as these are high-weightage topics.

3. Community Health Nursing (15-20% marks)

Public health principles and epidemiology

Maternal and child health

Communicable disease control

Health education and promotion

4. Pharmacology (10-15% marks)

Drug classification and mechanism of action

Common drug dosages and calculations

Drug interactions and side effects

Safe medication administration

5. Nursing Management (10-15% marks)

Leadership and delegation

Patient care planning

Documentation and reporting

Ethical and legal issues in nursing

DHA Exam Syllabus for Doctors

The medical category syllabus is more specialized based on the doctor's specialty:

General Practitioner (GP) Syllabus

Internal Medicine: Diagnosis and treatment of common diseases

General Surgery: Surgical principles and emergency care

Pediatrics: Child health and common pediatric conditions

Obstetrics and Gynecology: Antenatal care, labor management

Emergency Medicine: Trauma care, CPR, triage

DHA Exam Pattern and Marking Scheme

Total Questions: 150 MCQs (single correct answer)

Total Marks: 150 marks (1 mark per question)

Time Duration: 2.5 hours (150 minutes)

Passing Score: 60% (90 out of 150 marks)

Negative Marking: No negative marking — attempt all questions

How to Prepare Using This Syllabus

Step 1: Download the official DHA syllabus from the DHA website and cross-reference with this guide.

Step 2: Start with high-weightage topics — focus 60% of your study time on topics that carry the most marks.

Step 3: Practice MCQs daily — use our mock tests that follow the exact DHA exam pattern.

Step 4: Review weak areas — identify topics where you score low and revise them systematically.

Step 5: Take timed practice tests — simulate exam conditions to build time management skills.

Start your DHA exam preparation today with Drishti Abroad's comprehensive coaching and our proven 95% pass rate.

DHA Exam Syllabus 2026: Complete Topic-Wise Breakdown