DHA General Surgery License Guide
Your clear, step-by-step path to practicing General Surgery in Dubai.
Updated August 2025
This guide provides a clear, step-by-step process for Indian General Surgery doctors seeking to obtain a professional license from the Dubai Health Authority (DHA). This license is legally required to practice in Dubai and proves your qualifications and skills.
Your DHA Licensing Journey: A Simple Overview
1
Check Eligibility
3
Verify Documents (Dataflow)
2
4
Pass Exam (CBT/Oral)
5
Get Eligibility Letter
General Surgery License Pathways for Indian Doctor
| A. Specialist General Surgery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Pathway | Required Qualifications | Experience |
| Pathway | MBBS + MS/DNB (General Surgery) | **3 years** experience post MS/DNB |
| B. Specialist – Subspecialty (General Surgery ) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Requirement | Required Qualifications | Experience |
| **Standard** | MBBS + MS/DNB (General Surgery ) + MCH / DrNB / FNB in respective subspecialty | No experience required |
| C. Consultant General Surgery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Note | Required Qualifications | Experience |
| Cannot become Consultant directly after MD/MS/DNB. | MBBS + MS/DNB (General Surgery) + MCH / DrNB | Five (5) year of experience post qualification |
| D. Consultant – Subspecialty (General Surgery ) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Requirement | Required Qualifications | Experience |
| **Standard** | MBBS + MS/DNB (General Surgery ) + MCH / DrNB / FNB in respective subspecialt | Four (4) years of experience post qualification |
Recognized General Surgery Subspecialties (Applicable to Specialist & Consultant)
- Colon And Rectal Surgery
- Complex General Surgical Oncology
- Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery
- Gastrointestinal Surgery
- Hand Surgery
- Hospice And Palliative Medicine
- Surgical Critical Care
- Surgical Oncology
- Thoracic Surgery
- Visceral Surgery
DHA Licensing Process – Step by Step
Step 1: Create Your DHA Sheryan Account
The Sheryan portal is the online platform where you will manage your entire DHA license application. It’s your digital gateway to becoming a licensed General Surgery in Dubai.
Documents Required to Open a Sheryan Account:
- Valid Passport: A clear copy of your passport.
- Passport-sized Photograph: A recent photograph with a white background.
- Active Email ID: An email address that you check regularly for updates.
Once your account is created, you will be assigned a unique DHA ID, which you will use for all subsequent steps.
Step 2: DHA Primary Source Verification (PSV) via DataFlow
Purpose: Verify the authenticity of your documents before applying for the DHA license.
Required Documents :
- Higher Degree Certificate
- License (Valid license)
- Good Standing Certificate (From your licensing authority)
- Experience Certificate (If any; 1 letter included in base fee)
PSV Fees:
- Base Fee: AED 1235 (covers 4 documents: Degree, License, Good Standing + 1 Experience Letter).
- Extra Documents: AED 300 per document (e.g., additional experience letters).
- +5% VAT (Applicable on total fee).
Note: Some universities/authorities may charge extra for verification replies.
Processing Time: 3–6 weeks (Depends on how quickly your university/employer/licensing board responds to DataFlow’s verification requests).
Step 3: DHA Exam
All exam details are consolidated in the Exam Details section below for your convenience.
Step 4: Apply for Eligibility Letter
- Log in to your Sheryan account.
- Apply for the “Get Registered” service.
- Ensure your documents are verified by DataFlow and your exam results are recorded.
- Pay the AED 200 fee.
You will receive your Eligibility Letter, typically within 24 hours. This letter allows you to begin your job search in Dubai.
DHA General Surgery Exam
Requires a mandatory **Computer-Based Test (CBT)**.
Requires an **Oral Examination**.
A. Computer-Based Test (CBT) for Specialist General Surgery only
Booking and Logistics (Prometric)
| Booking Portal | Visit prometric.com/dha |
|---|---|
| Exam Selection | Select **“General Surgery ”** (Code: GES5171). |
| Cost (Fee) | **USD 280** (paid directly to Prometric). |
| Test Centers in India | Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Gurgaon, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Trivandrum. |
| Exam Day Requirements | Original Passport, DHA Eligibility ID, and Prometric Confirmation Letter. |
CBT Syllabus (150 Questions), Pass Score 65 %
The exam covers comprehensive knowledge across the following core General Surgery topics:
- • Fluid and Electrolytes
- • Shock
- • Sepsis and Surgical Infections
- • Endocrine and Breast
- • Upper GI
- • Vascular
- • Pediatrics
- • Skin and Soft Tissue
- • Professionalism and Ethics
- • Hepato-biliary
- • Hernia (all)
- • Perioperative Care
- • Trauma and Critical Care
- • Colorectal and Perianal
- • Pancreas and Spleen
- • Patient safety
Recommended Preparation References
- SabistonTextbook of Surgery, latest Edition.
- ChwartzTextbook of Surgery, latest Edition.
- Current Surgical Therapy by John L. Cameron, latest Edition.
- Bailey and Love`s Short Practice of Surgery, latest Edition.
- Rush Surgical Review, latest Edition.
- Professionalism and Ethics, Handbook for Residents, Practical guide, Prof. James Ware, Latest Edition.
- Essentials of Patient Safety, SCHS, Latest Edition.
B. Oral Examination for Consultants and Subspecialty Specialists
This assessment is mandatory for Consultant-level applicants.
| Standard Fee | **AED 500** |
|---|---|
| Urgent Fee | **AED 2,000** |
| Format | Can be conducted **in-person** or **virtually**. |
You can complete the **DataFlow Verification** and the **DHA Exam/Oral Assessment** in any order, or concurrently, to significantly speed up your overall license application timeline.
DHA Exam & Experience Exemption (For General Surgery )
General Surgery doctor are exempted from the DHA exam if they meet either of the following criteria:
✅ Criteria : License + GSC from Recognized Countries
General Surgery doctor holding a valid license and Good Standing Certificate (GSC) from one of the recognized licensing authorities listed below are exempted from the DHA Prometric exam, provided that:
- The degree was obtained within the last 3 years, OR
- There has been no gap in clinical practice since their last employment.
Recognized Countries & Licensing Authorities:
UK , USA, Australia, Canada, Ireland, Singapore, Germany, France, South Africa, New Zealand, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands, Iceland, Luxembourg, South Korea.
🌐 English Language Proficiency (if applicable)
If your medical education was not in English, you must pass one of the following language proficiency tests::
- IELTS: Minimum 5.0
- TOEFL: Minimum 500
- OET: Minimum Grade C
- Cambridge English: Minimum 169
Activate the License:
Once you have a job, your employer will finalize the process and activate your official license, allowing you to legally work.