Emirati Board — General Surgery
DHA Specialist General Surgery pass mark: 65%.
Route Overview
There are two routes to specialist practice in the UAE.
The specialty licensing route is an examination through your emirate's health authority — see Getting Licensed to Practise.
The Emirati Board route runs through NIHS: Part 1, the Final Written, and the Comprehensive Clinical Examination.
Emirati Board examinations are booked through exams.nihs.ae, not through Prometric.
Exam Structure
| Stage | Format |
|---|---|
| Part 1 | 150 Single Best Answer MCQs, plus up to 10% unscored pretest items |
| Final Written | 2 papers of 100–125 SBA MCQs each — 200 to 250 in total, plus up to 10% pretest |
| Comprehensive Clinical Examination | Performance-based, multi-station, using real-life clinical scenarios |
Blueprints are published for all six specialties.
Attempts, Validity & Renewal
| Rule | Details |
|---|---|
| Attempts per exam component | Maximum 2 |
| Part 1 pass mark | 65%, with a sliding scale. If fewer than 70% of candidates pass, the score may be lowered one mark at a time toward a 70% pass rate or a 60% score, whichever comes first. Never below 60% |
| Final Written pass mark | Not published as a number — "determined according to the scientific standards" |
| Exam durations | Not published |
The Comprehensive Clinical Examination
NIHS assesses six domains: data gathering and history taking; physical examination and practical skills; data interpretation; clinical reasoning and analytical skills; decision-making and management; and communication and professionalism. Domain percentages are not published. Station counts and timings are published for General Surgery and Gastroenterology only.
The 2026 examination window runs October to December, with some specialties spanning two days.
Fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| NIHS annual training fee | AED 1,000 excluding tax |
| NIHS certification exam service fee | AED 3,000 |
| DHA specialty professional assessment | USD 280 |
| SHA professional assessment — physicians | AED 500 |
| MOHAP and DOH assessment fees | Not published |
| DataFlow verification | Not published |
Comprehensive Clinical Examination
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Stations | 8–12 |
| Station timing | 10–12 minutes each, with 3 minutes before each station |
| Pass rule | At or above the Minimum Performance Level in at least 70% of stations |
| 2026 window | October to December |
These figures are published for General Surgery and Gastroenterology only.
What we offer
General Surgery preparation for the Emirati Board and the specialty licensing examination.