UAE Nursing Exam Syllabus: DHA, DOH, and MOHAP Breakdown
Chapter 4: Comparative Nursing Exam Syllabus Breakdown
That’s a crucial next step! Understanding the syllabus content is key to focusing your study efforts. While the specific weighting of topics can change, here is a breakdown of the general syllabus areas and key differences for the nursing licensure exams (Prometric/CBT) across DHA, DOH, and MOHAP.
Common Core Content Areas
All three examinations assess a core body of nursing knowledge essential for safe practice anywhere in the UAE. These typically include:
- Fundamentals of Nursing: Professional standards, ethics, legal issues, patient safety, infection control, and basic nursing procedures.
- Pharmacology & Medication Administration: Drug classifications, routes, dosage calculations, and adverse effects.
- Medical-Surgical Nursing (Adult Health): Management of common acute and chronic diseases (e.g., Cardiovascular, Respiratory, Endocrine disorders).
- Maternal and Child Health Nursing: Care during pregnancy, labor, postpartum, and pediatric care.
Authority-Specific Syllabus Emphasis and Format
The content is broadly aligned under the Unified PQR, but the emphasis on certain areas or the exam format itself can distinguish one authority from another.
| Authority | Key Syllabus/Format Emphasis | Language(s) |
| DHA (Dubai) | Straightforward MCQ format. Strong emphasis on General Nursing Practice, Patient Safety, and specific Dubai Healthcare Regulations/Protocols. | English only. |
| DOH (Abu Dhabi) | MCQ format, but often more scenario-based and focused on clinical judgment and evidence-based practice aligning with Abu Dhabi’s advanced standards. | English only. |
| MOHAP (Northern Emirates) | MCQ format (sometimes with an additional Viva/Oral component). Tends to focus heavily on Nursing Fundamentals, general knowledge, and UAE-specific health regulations. | English (and sometimes Arabic support). |
Detailed Nursing Syllabus Weights (Example: DHA)
For nurses, studies suggest a breakdown of topics might look similar to this for the DHA exam, illustrating the major domains tested:
| Topic Area | Approximate Weightage |
| Fundamentals of Nursing | ≈ 25% |
| Unit Management and Leadership | ≈ 22% |
| Adult Nursing | ≈ 20% |
| Pediatric Nursing | ≈ 18% |
| Maternal Health | ≈ 15% |
Key Takeaways on Differences:
- Depth vs. Breadth: The DOH exam is often perceived as requiring deeper clinical reasoning due to its focus on case scenarios. MOHAP covers a broader theoretical base across the Northern Emirates. DHA remains a solid assessment of general competency for Dubai’s high-volume system.
- Language: If you are more comfortable with Arabic terminology, the MOHAP exam historically provided more flexibility, though English remains the standard language for professional practice.
For a visual guide on the topics you’ll need to cover, here is a helpful breakdown of the syllabus content for the DHA exam for nurses.
[Watch This Before You Apply For UAE DHA, MOH, DOH Syllabus Guide]
This video provides a breakdown of the complete syllabus for the DHA, MOH, and DOH exams, helping you understand the core topics to prepare for.
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