Exam guides
Gulf + Ireland dental licensing exams in one place
Format, pass mark and process for all 10 exams, researched from official regulator sources. Compare them below, then open the full guide for yours.
Dubai, UAE
DHA
Dubai Health Authority
150 questions · 3 hPrometric · pass 60%
Guide
Abu Dhabi, UAE
HAAD
Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DOH)
Pearson VUE, booked via TAMMPass/Fail only · mark not published
Guide
UAE federal
MOH
Ministry of Health & Prevention (MOHAP)
Prometric · apply with UAE PASSAjman, UAQ, RAK, Fujairah + federal
Guide
Sharjah, UAE
SHA
Sharjah Health Authority
Assessment, then licenceSharjah local-govt + private
Guide
Saudi Arabia
SMLE
SCFHS — dentists sit the SDLE
200 questions · 2 × 120 minPrometric · pass 542 (scaled)
Guide
Oman
OMSB
Omani Examination for General Dentistry
100 questions · 2 h 30Pearson VUE · pass 65%
Guide
Qatar
QCHP
Dept. of Healthcare Professions, MOPH
150 questions · 3 h 30Prometric · pass 60%
Guide
Kuwait
KMLE
Kuwait Ministry of Health
Prometric MCQ + committee interviewFormat not officially published
Guide
Bahrain
NHRA
National Health Regulatory Authority
Prometric · pass 60%4 attempts within 3 years
General Dental licence is for Bahraini nationals onlyGuide
Ireland
IDC
Dental Council of Ireland
Part 1 written + bench, Part 2Once a year · Dublin + Cork
Guide
At a glance
Compare the exams side by side
| Exam | Where you can practise | Questions | Time | Delivered by | Pass mark | Attempts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DHA | Dubai | 150 | 3 h (incl. check-in) | Prometric | 60% | 3, pooled across UAE |
| HAAD | Abu Dhabi only | Not published | Not published | Pearson VUE (via TAMM) | Not published (Pass/Fail) | 3, pooled across UAE |
| MOH | Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, RAK, Fujairah + federal government facilities | Not published | Not published | Prometric | 60% (shown as Pass/Fail) | 3, pooled · no-show counts |
| SHA | Sharjah local-government + private facilities (incl. free zones) | Not published | Not published | Prometric | Not published | 3, pooled across UAE |
| SMLE | Saudi Arabia | 200 (2 × 100) | 2 × 120 min | Prometric | 542 (scale 200–800) | Up to 4 a year, 1 per window |
| OMSB | Oman | 100 | 2 h 30 min | Pearson VUE | 65% | No maximum currently |
| QCHP | Qatar | 150 | 3 h 30 min | Prometric | 60% | 5 |
| KMLE | Kuwait | Not published | Not published | Prometric + interview | Not published | Not published |
| NHRA | Bahrain (General Dental licence: Bahrainis only) | Not published | 2 h 30 min (3 h seat time) | Prometric | 60% | 4 within 3 years |
| IDC | Ireland | Part 1: 3 written papers + bench · Part 2: written, OSCE, vivas | Once a year · 2026: Part 1 25–28 Mar, Part 2 15–18 Jun | In person — Dublin, Cork | Standard-set per question | Part 1: 2 · Part 2: 3 |
Not published = the regulator does not publish an official figure, so we don't guess. Rules change: confirm with the regulator before you book.
Official sources
Checked against each regulator's own site · 1 Oct 2026- DHADHA CBT exam guideline (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
- HAADDOH Unified PQR (opens in a new tab) · Pearson VUE DOH (opens in a new tab)
- MOHMOHAP Health Professional Evaluation (opens in a new tab) · MOHAP exam FAQ (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
- SHASHA health professional services (opens in a new tab)
- SMLESCFHS SDLE Applicant Guide 2026 (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
- OMSBOMSB General Dentistry exam page (opens in a new tab) · Pearson VUE OMSB (opens in a new tab)
- QCHPDHP Qualifying Examination (opens in a new tab) · DHP General Dental blueprint (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
- KMLEKuwait e-Gov dentist licence (opens in a new tab)
- NHRANHRA licensure examination rules (PDF) (opens in a new tab) · Prometric NHRA (opens in a new tab)
- IDCDental Council exam details (opens in a new tab)
Working in the UAE?
Four authorities — pick by where you'll work
DHADubaiPractice in the Emirate of Dubai.HAAD / DOHAbu DhabiPractice in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi only.SHASharjahSharjah local-government and private facilities, incl. free zones (since July 2025).MOHFederalAjman, Umm Al Quwain, RAK, Fujairah + federal government facilities.
Attempts are pooled: 3 in total across all four UAE authorities (unified PQR, April 2025).
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