So, you’ve decided to take your nursing career to the Middle East. Maybe it’s the tax-free salary, the world-class hospitals, or just the fact that you’re ready for a change of scenery from your current bedside hustle. But then you hit the first wall: the alphabet soup of exams. DHA, HAAD (DOH), MOH, Prometric… it sounds more like a collection of bad Wi-Fi passwords than a career path.
Choosing the right nurse license exam UAE or GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries offer isn’t just about picking a name you like. It’s about mapping out your next three to five years. Pick wrong, and you might find yourself stuck in a city you didn’t plan for, or worse, out of pocket by thousands with no license to show for it.
In this guide, we’re breaking down the “Big Four” so you can stop scrolling through forums and start studying.
Why Your Exam Choice Actually Matters
Think of these exams like a VIP pass to a specific club. If you have a DHA (Dubai Health Authority) license, you’re working in Dubai. If you want to work in the capital, Abu Dhabi, you need the HAAD (now officially called the DOH or Department of Health).
While there is “reciprocity” (the ability to transfer your license), it’s not always a simple click of a button. Starting with the right exam saves you from “license migration” headaches later on. Plus, each authority has its own personality, difficulty level, and processing speed.
The Eligibility Breakdown: Who Can Play?
Before you pay a single cent for DataFlow (the primary source verification system), you need to know if you even qualify.
Exam Type | General Education Requirement | Experience Requirement (2026 Update) |
|---|---|---|
DHA (Dubai) | BSN or Diploma | 2 years post-registration (Freshers now allowed under specific “Assistant” or “Intern” categories) |
HAAD/DOH (Abu Dhabi) | BSN (Registered Nurse) | 2 years post-registration (Strict adherence to BSN for RN title) |
MOH (Northern Emirates) | BSN or Diploma | 2 years (Flexible for various specialized clinics) |
Prometric (Saudi/Oman/Qatar) | BSN or Diploma | 1-2 years (Varies by country; Saudi is often the most flexible) |
Which Exam Leads to Which Country?
This is where most nurses get tripped up. Let’s map it out clearly:
- DHA: This is strictly for the Emirate of Dubai. If you want to work at the Burj Khalifa-adjacent hospitals or specialized clinics in Jumeirah, this is your ticket.
- HAAD (DOH): This covers Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. These hospitals are often government-run or massive multi-specialty centers (like Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi).
- MOH: This is the “Federal” license. It covers the Northern Emirates: Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, and Umm Al Quwain.
- Prometric: This is a broad term. “Prometric” is the company that administers the tests for many countries.
- Saudi Prometric nurses are taking the SNLE (Saudi Nursing Licensing Exam).
- Oman Prometric is for the OMSB (Oman Medical Specialty Board).
Qatar Prometric is for the DHP (Department of Healthcare Professions).
The "Oman DHA Difference"
A common question is the Oman DHA difference. Simply put, they are entirely different jurisdictions. While you can sometimes use your DataFlow report from a DHA application to speed up an Oman application, you still have to sit the Oman-specific Prometric exam and meet the OMSB’s specific clinical requirements.
Difficulty Level
Let’s be real—none of these are “easy,” but some are definitely more of a headache than others.
- HAAD (DOH) – The Heavyweight
DOH Abu Dhabi has partnered with Pearson VUE and uses Computer Adaptive Testing (CAT). This means the exam adapts to you. If you’re getting questions right, they get harder. It’s widely considered the most “cognitively difficult” because it focuses heavily on clinical reasoning and case studies rather than just memorizing facts.
- DHA – The Specialist
The DHA exam is linear (fixed number of questions) and administered via Prometric. While the clinical part is standard, 2026 updates show a heavy lean toward UAE-specific regulations, telehealth protocols, and patient rights. It’s “administratively difficult”—you need to know the laws as well as the labs.
- Saudi & Oman Prometric – The Foundation
These are generally seen as more “straightforward.” They test the fundamentals: Med-Surg, Pediatrics, OB-Gyn, and Ethics. For Saudi Prometric nurses, the pass mark is usually around 60% to 65% depending on the current scaling.
Cost & Validity: The Wallet Check
Migrating isn’t cheap. Here is what you’re looking at in 2026:
- DataFlow (Verification): Roughly $200–$400 (varies by how many documents you have).
- Exam Fees: DHA: ~$280
- HAAD (DOH): ~$250–$300
- Saudi Prometric: ~$290
Validity: Most “Eligibility Letters” (the “You Passed!” certificate) are valid for one year. If you don’t find a job and activate your license within that year, you might have to pay for an extension or, in worse cases, retake the test.
The Best Exam for You
Best for Freshers: DHA or Saudi Prometric
If you just graduated and don’t have the “magic 2 years” of experience yet, don’t lose hope. The nurse license exam UAE landscape has shifted. Dubai (DHA) has become more welcoming to new graduates under “Assistant Nurse” roles. Saudi Arabia also has pathways for recently graduated nurses to enter as “Technicians” or “Specialists” depending on their degree and internship status.
Best for Experienced Nurses: HAAD (DOH)
If you have 5+ years of experience in a specialized unit (ICU, ER, NICU), go for Abu Dhabi. The hospitals there are massive and often offer some of the highest salary packages for highly skilled specialists.
Fastest Exam for Migration: Saudi Prometric
If you need to move now, the Saudi path is generally the fastest. The visa processing is streamlined, and the demand for nurses in the Kingdom is currently astronomical due to their “Vision 2030” healthcare expansion.
Fatal Mistakes Nurses Make When Selecting Exams
I’ve seen brilliant nurses fail their migration journey not because they weren’t good at their jobs, but because they made these avoidable mistakes:
- Ignoring the “Gap of Practice” Rule: Most Middle Eastern regulators are very strict about this. If you haven’t worked clinically for more than 2 years, your application might be rejected immediately. In 2026, many require you to complete a “Refresher Course” or clinical training if you’ve been away from the bedside.
- Doing DataFlow Last: Many nurses study for the exam, pass it, and then start their document verification. Big mistake. DataFlow can take 2 to 3 months if your university is slow to respond. Start it the moment you decide to go.
- Assuming One License Fits All: You cannot work in Dubai with a Saudi Prometric license. You cannot work in Abu Dhabi with a DHA license (without a conversion process). Pick your city first, then your exam.
- Not Checking the “PQR” (Professional Qualification Requirements): Each authority has a PDF called the PQR. It’s boring, but it’s the Bible. It tells you exactly which degrees they accept. If your degree is “Distance Learning” or “Part-time,” you might be ineligible for certain titles.
Underestimating the “Ethics” Questions: Nurses often fail because they focus only on Pharmacology and Med-Surg. In the Middle East, questions about cultural sensitivity, patient privacy, and UAE-specific healthcare laws are “make or break” sections.
Conclusion
Choosing between HAAD, DHA, MOH, or Prometric is the first real step of your international career. Don’t rush it. Look at where you want to live—do you want the glitz of Dubai, the steady pace of Abu Dhabi, or the cultural immersion of Saudi Arabia?
Once you’ve picked your destination, the exam choice becomes easy.
1.Which exam is easiest for Kerala nurses?
Most Kerala nurses find the Saudi Prometric (SNLE) or DHA (Dubai) to be the most manageable.
- Saudi Prometric: It has a very high pass rate for Indian nurses and focuses on fundamental clinical knowledge.
- DHA: It is popular because it uses a fixed-question format (linear) rather than the “adaptive” style of the HAAD/DOH, which gets harder as you answer correctly.
Kerala Advantage: Since nursing education in Kerala is known for its strong focus on medical-surgical and maternal health, you’ll find that 70% of these exams cover topics you’ve already mastered.
2.Can I convert my DHA license to HAAD (DOH)?
Yes, but it is not “automatic.” It is a process called License Transfer.
- The Rule: In 2026, you generally need to have worked under your DHA license in Dubai for at least 6 months before you can “seamlessly” transfer it to Abu Dhabi (DOH/HAAD) without retaking an exam.
- The Shortcut: If you have a DHA Eligibility Letter (meaning you passed but haven’t worked yet), you still have to apply for an “Evaluation” with the DOH. You can reuse your DataFlow report, which saves you a lot of money and time!
3.Is Prometric accepted in multiple countries?
Technically, no. While “Prometric” is the name of the company that conducts the tests, each country has its own specific exam content.
- The “Company” vs. The “License”: You cannot use a Saudi Prometric result to get a license in Oman. Each country (Saudi, Oman, Qatar) requires you to register for their specific version of the exam.
- The DataFlow Bonus: The good news? Your DataFlow (document verification) is often “transferable.” If you’ve already verified your certificates for Saudi, you can usually pay a small “Report Transfer” fee to send those results to Oman or the UAE instead of starting from scratch.
