Checked 29 September 2026. From the Unified PQR (3rd version, April 2025) and DHA's licensing manual v1.3 (July 2025). DHA has published no statement on the Indian MBBS against its five-year degree rule; the Indian rows here are our reading, not a DHA decision.
Before an Indian doctor pays for primary source verification or books the Prometric exam, one question matters more than any syllabus: does Dubai Health Authority (DHA) accept the degree for the General Practitioner title at all? The answer sits in the Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR), the rule book DHA shares with DOH Abu Dhabi, MOHAP and the Sharjah Health Authority. This guide reads its April 2025 edition line by line, sets the Indian MBBS beside it, and is honest about the one clause nobody has an official answer to.
Where other pages get this wrong
DHA has published no ruling on whether a 4½-year Indian MBBS meets its "five years, excluding internship" rule. Nobody can promise you it does.
Commonly published instead: "Indian MBBS (5½ years with internship) is fully eligible for DHA" or "any MBBS plus two years' experience qualifies".
PQR §1.1.6 asks for a medical degree with a duration of study "not less than five (5) years (excluding internship year)". The National Medical Commission describes the MBBS as 4½ academic years followed by a one-year internship. Coaching sites report Indian MBBS doctors being registered as GPs, but that is their report, not a DHA rule. The safe step is a Sheryan eligibility review before you pay anyone else.
Unified PQR, April 2025, §1.1.6, §1.2.1, §4.1.6 and chapter 5.
What the PQR asks of a General Practitioner
The General Practitioner row in the PQR's physician table is short: an MBBS, MBChB or equivalent from an accredited institution, successful completion of the internship, and two years of clinical experience. The detail that decides real applications is spread across the general chapters. Here it is in one place.
| Rule | What the PQR says | Clause |
|---|---|---|
| Degree length | A medical degree with duration of study not less than five years, excluding the internship year | PQR 1.1.6 |
| Internship | One year of internship after graduation | PQR 1.2.1.1; 4.1.4 |
| No evidence of internship | An additional two years of experience is required | PQR 1.2.1.2 |
| Internship inside a foreign programme | May be accepted if completed after the date of the final degree exam; two years of clinical experience after it are then required for GP | PQR 1.2.1.3 |
| Experience for GP | Two years of clinical experience after the internship | PQR chapter 5 table |
| Specialties that count | Cardiology, Critical Care Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, General Surgery, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pediatrics | PQR 4.1.6 |
| Home licence | A valid licence or registration in the home country or country of last employment, covering the required experience | PQR 1.3.1–1.3.2 |
| Good Standing Certificate | Not older than six months when you apply; from the last employer if the country has no regulator | PQR 1.3.3 |
| Life support | Valid CPR, BLS or ACLS training | DHA licensing manual 5.29 |
| Qualification not listed | May be evaluated by the PQR Committee, which may grant an appropriate title | PQR 1.1.7.5 |
The Indian MBBS, clause by clause
The right-hand column is our reading, not DHA's. We could find no DHA, DOH or MOHAP document that names the Indian MBBS or the Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship (CRMI).
| PQR clause | Indian MBBS (NMC) | Our reading |
|---|---|---|
| 1.1.6 — degree of at least 5 years, excluding internship | 4½ academic years, then a 1-year internship | Not met on a literal reading. No DHA ruling found; the committee route (1.1.7.5) exists for qualifications not listed |
| 1.2.1.1 — 1-year internship | CRMI of 1 year | Met |
| 1.2.1.3 — internship inside the programme counts only if done after the final exam | CRMI starts after the final MBBS examination | Met, on how CRMI is structured |
| Chapter 5 — 2 years of clinical experience after internship | Not part of the degree | You must build it: 24 months after CRMI in one of the 8 specialties |
| 1.3 — licence and Good Standing Certificate | State Medical Council or NMC registration | Keep it valid for the whole experience period; GSC not older than 6 months |
The five-year mismatch, printed both ways
Two official texts that do not line up, and no ruling between them
- DHA's side (official): PQR §1.1.6 — "Physicians applying for General Practitioner title must complete a medical degree with duration of study not less than five (5) years (excluding internship year)."
- India's side (official, read as a search excerpt): the NMC's Graduate Medical Education Regulations describe a minimum period of study of 4½ academic years followed by one year of internship.
- What coaching sites report: Interface and examcure treat an Indian MBBS with CRMI plus two years of post-internship experience as the standard eligible profile. That is a report of practice, not a rule we can check.
- What we did not find: any DHA statement, FAQ or circular that settles it either way.
Neither text is wrong on its own terms: DHA sets a threshold and the NMC describes a course, and read literally the course falls short of the threshold. We are not resolving that, because we cannot: only DHA's own eligibility review of your documents can. Spend AED 200 there before you spend USD 280 at Prometric.
Experience: what counts and what does not
The two years must be clinical and after the internship, and the PQR lists the eight specialties whose experience it accepts for GP (§4.1.6): Cardiology, Critical Care Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, General Surgery, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Pediatrics. A junior residency or medical officer post in one of these reads cleanly; experience in, say, dermatology or radiology is not on the list. Sub-specialty experience "may be accepted" on application (§4.1.7).
The PQR also says what kind of work counts. Experience must be hands-on clinical experience gained as a licensed healthcare professional during salaried employment or a contractual period; non-clinical and teaching experience are not considered (§1.2.2.3), and the PQR's definition of experience excludes volunteer jobs and observerships. Months spent as an unpaid observer, or teaching in a medical college without clinical duties, do not add to the 24.
| Your situation | Experience needed for GP | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Internship done after the final exam | 2 years after the internship | PQR 1.2.1.3; chapter 5 |
| No evidence of an internship | An additional 2 years (4 years in all, on our arithmetic) | PQR 1.2.1.2 |
| Graduate of a UAE university (non-UAE national) | Exempt from experience within 3 years of finishing the internship; after that, the 2 years apply | PQR 4.2.1.2.1 |
| UAE national, or child of an Emirati woman | Exempt from experience within 3 years of finishing the internship | PQR 4.2.1.1.1 |
| UK graduate with Foundation 1 and 2 | A third year of experience after graduation | DHA licensing manual 5.32 |
| Residency at Dubai Health / MBRU in an accepted specialty | May be exempted from the DHA GP exam if completed in the last 2 years with no gap and a DHA GSC | DHA licensing manual 5.31 |
DOH Abu Dhabi prints the same rule more bluntly in its GP licensing page: two years after the internship, or four years in total with no evidence of an internship, and the last day of that experience must be no older than two years when you apply.
The gap-of-practice rule
A break from clinical work does not end eligibility straight away, but it adds requirements, and after five years it ends it for non-UAE nationals. The physician column of the PQR table reads:
| Time since you last practised | Physicians must add |
|---|---|
| 3 to under 4 years | 80 CME/CPD credits and 6 months of training in an approved setting |
| 4 to under 5 years | 120 CME/CPD credits and 8 months of training |
| 5 to 10 years | Non-UAE nationals cannot apply. UAE nationals and children of Emirati women: 200 CME/CPD credits and 12 months of training |
| More than 10 years | No one can apply, on the PQR's general rule (1.7.6) |
One wording difference to know about: DHA's licensing manual v1.3 defines "discontinuity in practice" as an interruption exceeding two years "as per PQR", while the PQR's own gap table starts at three years. The CME and training requirements above are the PQR's; if your gap is between two and three years, expect DHA to ask about it (for example, a trainee restriction is one tool the manual names) and raise it in the eligibility review.
Two consequences are easy to miss. The training must be in a setting the authority recognises (PQR 1.7.3–1.7.4). And after it, non-UAE nationals sit the licensing exam even if they hold an exam-equivalency such as PLAB or AMC (PQR 1.7.5; UAE nationals and children of Emirati women are excepted).
Check your likely position
DHA GP eligibility checker
Answer for yourself. The checker applies the PQR clauses above and gives one of three answers: not yet, check with Sheryan first, or meets the published rules. It only covers the checks listed below the tool, and it never says an Indian MBBS meets the rules, because DHA has not said so.
Our reading of the PQR (April 2025) and DHA's licensing manual v1.3. Not a DHA decision; the Sheryan eligibility review is.
The checker only rearranges the tables on this page. Here is how it decides, for anyone reading without JavaScript:
| If | Checker says |
|---|---|
| Gap in practice of more than 10 years (anyone), or more than 5 years (non-UAE nationals) | Not eligible to apply (PQR 1.7.6) |
| Fewer than 24 months of post-internship experience (48 with no accepted internship; none for UAE nationals and UAE-university graduates within 3 years of the internship) | Not yet, with the months still needed |
| Some of the months are observership, volunteer, teaching or non-clinical work | Not yet (PQR 1.2.2.3) |
| No valid home licence or Good Standing Certificate | Not yet (PQR 1.3) |
| Indian MBBS, or any degree under 5 years of study | Check with Sheryan before paying (PQR 1.1.6) |
| Internship finished before the final exam | Check with Sheryan (PQR 1.2.1.3) |
| UK graduate with Foundation 1 and 2 | Check with Sheryan: licensing manual 5.32 asks for a third year after graduation |
| Everything above met, degree of 5+ years | Meets the published rules we check, on our reading |
What to do first, and what it costs
The order matters because the Prometric exam fee is not refunded (Prometric states a strict no-refund policy), and verification money is spent on a degree DHA may later not accept. DataFlow has its own refund terms, separate from DHA's and Prometric's; read them before you pay. Check eligibility with DHA itself first.
| Step | Fee | Time | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Sheryan account and self-assessment | Free (automated assessment) | Immediate | An automated first answer |
| 2. Review Registration Eligibility (optional) | AED 200 credentialing fee + Knowledge and Innovation fees | 10 working days | A review of your actual documents; "does not give you the right to practice" |
| 3. Primary source verification (DataFlow) | Shown when you pick a package; DataFlow's May 2023 article gave AED 1,235 for doctors | 15 working days from payment (DHA FAQ); 15–24 working days (DataFlow, 2023) | Verified degree, internship, experience, licence |
| 4. Prometric exam GEN5331 | USD 280 | Within 2 working days (assessment manual 7.2.14); "shared instantly" (DHA FAQ) | Pass or fail on Sheryan |
The DataFlow figure is dated: AED 1,235 was DataFlow's own "fixed package" price for doctors in an article of 24 May 2023, and DHA's FAQ says the current PSV fees sit in its fee list and depend on the package. Treat 1,235 as a guide and use the price the portal shows you. Our step-by-step and cost guide walks the whole process, including the fact that verification and the exam can run at the same time.
Practise it, don't just read it
Once the eligibility question is settled, the exam is the next gate, and topic quizzes show quickly which areas need the most work.
The ProSyllabus DHA GP library has eight 10-question topic quizzes: Cardiovascular and Respiratory Medicine, Endocrine, Renal and Gastrointestinal Medicine, Pediatrics and Child Health, Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Women's Health, Emergency and Acute Care, Infectious Disease and Antimicrobials, Dermatology, ENT and Common Primary-Care Presentations, and Preventive Medicine and Ethics. Each question comes with an explanation.
Is Indian MBBS eligible for the DHA GP exam?
DHA has published no ruling on it. The PQR asks for at least five years of study excluding internship; the Indian MBBS is 4½ years plus a one-year internship. Coaching sites report Indian doctors being registered, but the safe step is a Sheryan eligibility review of your documents before paying for verification or the exam.
How many years of experience do I need for DHA GP?
Two years of clinical experience after the internship, in one of eight specialties: Cardiology, Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, General Surgery, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, or Pediatrics.
Does my CRMI count as the DHA internship?
On our reading, yes: PQR 1.2.1.3 accepts an internship that is part of a foreign programme if it was completed after the final degree exam, which is how CRMI is structured. DHA has not named CRMI in any document we found.
Does experience during the internship count toward the two years?
No. The PQR asks for two years of clinical experience after the internship.
Does experience in dermatology or radiology count for DHA GP?
They are not among the eight specialties listed in PQR 4.1.6. Sub-specialty experience may be accepted on application under 4.1.7.
What if I have no internship certificate?
PQR 1.2.1.2 requires an additional two years of experience, so four years in all on simple arithmetic. DOH Abu Dhabi states the four-year total directly.
I have been out of practice for four years. Can I still apply?
Yes, as a non-UAE national, but you need 120 CME/CPD credits and eight months of training in an approved setting, and then you sit the exam.
What is the maximum gap in practice DHA allows?
Five years for non-UAE nationals and ten years for UAE nationals and children of Emirati women (PQR 1.7.6). Beyond that you cannot apply.
How old can my Good Standing Certificate be?
Not older than six months when you apply, issued by the regulator of your last country of work, or by the last employer where there is no regulator.
Do I need BLS or ACLS for the DHA licence?
DHA's licensing manual (5.29) requires valid CPR, BLS or ACLS training for all healthcare professionals.
Can a UAE graduate skip the two years?
Graduates of UAE universities are exempt from the experience requirement within three years of finishing the internship (PQR 4.2.1.2.1); after three years the normal two years apply. UAE nationals and children of Emirati women have the same three-year exemption (4.2.1.1.1).
Does observership or teaching count as experience?
No. PQR 1.2.2.3 counts only hands-on clinical experience as a licensed professional in salaried or contractual work; non-clinical and teaching experience are excluded, and the PQR definition of experience excludes volunteer jobs and observerships.
Should I pay for DataFlow before checking eligibility?
We would not. The Sheryan self-assessment is free, and the document review costs AED 200 plus Knowledge and Innovation fees and takes about 10 working days. The Prometric exam fee is not refunded, and DataFlow has its own refund terms, so read them before paying for verification.
More in this series
Sources
- official — Unified Healthcare Professional Qualification Requirements (PQR), 3rd version, April 2025
- official — DHA Manual for Licensing Healthcare Professionals v1.3 (effective 18/07/2025)
- official — DHA — Self Assessment Tool service ("the automated assessment is free")
- official — Sheryan — Review Registration Eligibility (PQR)
- official — Sheryan — Get Registered (NRG)
- official — DHA Sheryan — FAQs (read 29 Sep 2026)
- official — DHA Manual for Professional Assessment v1.1 (effective 08/05/2025)
- official — Prometric — Dubai Health Authority exams page (read 29 Sep 2026)
- official — DataFlow Group — How To Apply & Pass the DHA Licensing Exam (24 May 2023)
- official — DOH Abu Dhabi Circular 151/2024 — Licensing Service Catalogue and Procedural Manual (incl. FAQ)
- official — National Medical Commission (India) — GMER 2023 (read as a search excerpt; the PDF did not download)
- official — National Medical Commission — Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship Regulations 2021
- reported — Interface — clinical experience required for DHA General Practitioner
- reported — examcure — DHA licence process guide for doctors 2025
official = a document published by the conducting body. reported = a news or coaching site we could not check against an original. Where sources disagree this page says so rather than picking one.
