What is the DHA GP exam?
The DHA General Practice exam (code GEN5331) is the computer-based test that general practitioners sit to be licensed by the Dubai Health Authority. It has 150 multiple-choice questions in 3 hours, the pass score is 60%, and it is delivered by Prometric at test centres worldwide. You receive a Pass or Fail result, not a score.
The exam format
| Exam code | GEN5331 (Physicians, General Practice) |
|---|---|
| Questions | 150 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) |
| Time | 3 hours, which DHA says includes registration, the introduction and the exam itself |
| Pass score | 60% |
| Fee | USD 280, paid to Prometric when you book |
| Result | Pass or Fail in your Sheryan account, usually within 2 working days. The score is not shared. |
| Attempts | Up to 3 attempts. Failing the third attempt blocks a new DHA application for 2 years. |
Source: DHA Healthcare Professional Licensing Assessment Guideline (CBT, updated Sep 2026) and the DHA Manual for Professional Assessment v1.1, rules 4.6 to 4.10 and 7.2.14. DHA can change the content, format or pass score without updating the guideline, so check the current version before you book.
What the exam covers
The DHA guideline lists 12 coverage areas for General Practice:
- Chronic diseases (hypertension, diabetes, asthma, COPD, thyroid, lipids, CKD)
- Acute and common medical problems
- Common paediatric problems
- Women's health (pregnancy, contraception, menopause)
- Emergency problems (resuscitation, anaphylaxis, DKA, overdose, sepsis)
- Common surgical problems
- Common psychiatric problems
- Common eye and ENT problems
- Common skin problems
- Basic epidemiology and evidence-based medicine
- Family medicine concepts
- Screening and periodic health examination
Our 105 questions are grouped into 10 practice topics, with epidemiology, screening and family medicine combined into one.
Free official resources, and what we add
DHA publishes the topic list and a reference list (including Toronto Notes, Davidson's, Harrison's, Kumar and Clark, Hacker and Moore and Nelson Essentials of Pediatrics) but no official practice questions. We add original clinical vignettes at licensing level. Each explanation says why the answer is right, why the tempting wrong option is wrong, and which guideline or textbook it comes from. Drugs are given by generic name only.
How to prepare
- Read the General Practice page of the DHA CBT guideline and note the 12 coverage areas.
- Take the 5 free questions to see the style: short clinical scenarios with one best answer.
- Revise thresholds and first-line treatments from current guidelines, such as blood pressure, HbA1c, CURB-65 and resuscitation drug doses.
- Practise one topic at a time, starting with chronic disease and emergencies, which feature heavily.
- Practise the arithmetic for sensitivity, specificity, NNT and relative risk until it is quick.
- Sit timed mock exams so the pace of the real exam feels normal.
Practice questions with answers
Tap a question to see the correct answer and explanation.
Using NICE criteria, which average daytime ambulatory blood pressure confirms stage 1 hypertension?
- 130/80 mmHg or higher
- 135/85 mmHg or higher
- 140/90 mmHg or higher
- 150/95 mmHg or higher
Answer: B, 135/85 mmHg or higher. NICE defines stage 1 hypertension as clinic blood pressure 140/90 to 159/99 mmHg with a daytime ABPM or home average of 135/85 to 149/94 mmHg. 140/90 is the clinic threshold, not the ambulatory one. Source: NICE NG136 Hypertension in adults, definitions.
A 70-year-old man with community-acquired pneumonia is orientated. His respiratory rate is 32/min, blood pressure 110/70 mmHg and urea 8 mmol/L. What is his CURB-65 score?
- 2
- 4
- 1
- 3
Answer: D, 3. CURB-65 gives one point each for confusion, urea above 7 mmol/L, respiratory rate 30/min or more, systolic below 90 or diastolic 60 mmHg or less, and age 65 or over. Working: confusion 0 + urea 8 (1) + RR 32 (1) + BP 110/70 (0) + age 70 (1) = 3, which indicates high severity and hospital assessment. Source: NICE NG138 Pneumonia (community-acquired): antimicrobial prescribing; Davidson's, respiratory chapter.
During adult basic life support, what chest compression rate and depth are recommended?
- 100 to 120 per minute, 5 to 6 cm deep
- 60 to 80 per minute, 3 to 4 cm deep
- 80 to 100 per minute, 4 to 5 cm deep
- 120 to 140 per minute, 6 to 7 cm deep
Answer: A, 100 to 120 per minute, 5 to 6 cm deep. Current resuscitation guidelines recommend compressions at 100 to 120 per minute to a depth of 5 to 6 cm, allowing full recoil and minimising interruptions. Source: Resuscitation Council UK, Adult basic life support guidelines (2021); ERC Guidelines 2021.