Medicine > Arab Board (ABHS)
Shared · GCC / Arab League
The Arab Board of Health Specializations (ABHS) is one of the leading regional postgraduate medical education authorities, operating under the League of Arab States and the Council of Arab Health Ministers. Founded in 1978, its core mandate is to improve healthcare standards across the Arab world by establishing unified, high-quality residency training frameworks and issuing the standardized Arab Board Certificate — a Specialist Qualification recognized by many healthcare regulatory authorities across the region, subject to each country’s licensing and classification policies. ABHS administrative and secretariat functions have been reported at various times in Damascus, Amman, and Cairo; candidates should confirm the current operating address via arab-board.org directly.
Pathway Snapshot
The Arab Board follows a structured postgraduate framework: secure an accredited residency slot, complete 9 months of training, pass the Initial Exam, complete a research project and logbook, pass the Final Knowledge Exam and Final Practical Exam, and earn the Arab Board Specialist Certificate.
Complete Journey: Accredited Hospital Residency → 9 Months Training → Initial Exam → Logbook & Research → Final Knowledge Exam → Final Practical Exam → Arab Board Specialist Certificate.
The Arab Board of Health Specializations (ABHS) is one of the leading regional postgraduate medical education authorities, operating under the umbrella of the League of Arab States (Arab League) and the Council of Arab Health Ministers. Founded in 1978, it serves as a benchmark for postgraduate medical training across all 22 member countries of the Arab League.
Its core mandate is to improve healthcare standards by establishing unified residency training frameworks, accrediting training centers, and issuing the standardized Arab Board Certificate — a Specialist Qualification recognized by many healthcare regulatory authorities across the Arab region, subject to each country’s licensing and classification policies. ABHS administrative and secretariat functions have been reported at various times in Damascus (Syria), Amman (Jordan), and Cairo (Egypt); candidates should confirm the current operating address via arab-board.org directly.
Residency training under the Arab Board follows a structured, outcome-based postgraduate framework:
| Specialty Category | Specialty Track | Standard Duration |
|---|---|---|
Primary Clinical Specialties |
Internal Medicine | 4 Years |
| Pediatrics | 4 Years | |
| Obstetrics & Gynaecology | 5 Years | |
| Family Medicine | 4 Years | |
| Emergency Medicine | 4 Years | |
| Anaesthesia & Intensive Care | 4 Years | |
| Psychiatry | 4 Years | |
| Dermatology & Venereology | 4 Years | |
| Ophthalmology | 4 Years | |
| Otolaryngology (ENT) | 4 Years | |
Surgical Specialties |
General Surgery | 5 Years |
| Orthopedic Surgery | 5 Years | |
| Urology | 5 Years | |
| Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery | 5 Years | |
Extended Surgical Tracks |
Neurosurgery | 6 Years |
| Pediatric Surgery | 6 Years | |
Subspecialties & Imaging |
Neurology | 5 Years |
| Radiology & Medical Imaging | 4 to 5 Years |
The Arab Board uses a three-stage examination framework. The exact examination format may vary by specialty according to the official specialty guide.
Detailed subject blueprints for each specialty and exam stage are published by the ABHS Scientific Councils — candidates should refer to their specialty-specific program guide available through the ABHS portal.
What we offer
Full Arab Board Initial Exam and Final Knowledge Exam question banks for Internal Medicine, General Surgery, Pediatrics, and O&G. Flashcards, self-assessments, AI study companion, and mentorship, all mapped to the ABHS framework.
Start Arab Board Prep →The following is confirmed from the ABHS’s official regulations. Exam dates may vary between specialties and examination cycles.
Exam Schedule
Eligibility Timelines
Confirmed from the official ABHS regulations:
The ABHS does not publish an “academic dismissal” rule in its examination regulations. Training program status is governed by a separate Training Programs document; candidates should confirm their program-specific policies with their sponsoring institution.
The ABHS does not use a fixed percentage pass mark. Instead:
Candidates should consult their specialty-specific program guide for the most current information.
An Arab Board Specialty Certificate is widely recognized across GCC regulatory authorities. However, the extent of recognition varies:
Recommendation: Arab Board certification may support specialist classification, but exam exemption cannot be guaranteed and varies by regulator. Candidates should confirm exemption status directly with SCFHS, QCHP, OMSB, KIMS, or NHRA before assuming exemption from any licensing exam.
There is substantial overlap between the Arab Board syllabus and the national board syllabi of Saudi Arabia (SCFHS), Qatar (QCHP/QBMS), Oman (OMSB), and Kuwait (KIMS). The underlying medical curriculum, clinical practice guidelines, and diagnostic reasoning frameworks are similar across GCC examinations.
The MCIQ Arab Board question bank is designed to support preparation for the Arab Board examinations and may also be useful for candidates preparing for several GCC specialty examinations because of the substantial overlap in core clinical content. Candidates should supplement with country-specific public health guidelines and local protocols where relevant.
The ABHS Executive Office sets official examination and registration fees, approved by the Supreme Council. The ABHS publishes an official fee schedule on its portal, categorized by administrative tier. Fees vary based on training category and country of residence. The official regulations confirm that for candidates who defer an exam at least 15 days in advance with a valid excuse, 50% of the paid fee carries over to the next sitting.
Recommendation: Confirm current fee amounts directly via arab-board.org or through your sponsoring institution. Do not rely on unverified figures from third-party sources.