Key Takeaways:
- The DHA exam in Dubai is a requirement to clear before practising as a pharmacist.
- Eligibility: Bachelor of Pharmacy/Doctor of Pharmacy degree, 2 years of work experience, and a certificate of good standing.
- Dubai Health Authority (DHA exam): 150 multiple-choice questions, 165 minutes, passing score 65%.
- Fees: Prometric exam, AED 880; PSV, AED 900–1,200; License, AED 1,000.
- The whole journey can be done in 6 months if the steps are followed without any delay.
- Last step: license activation by a UAE employer facility in Dubai.
Dubai has become one of the most attractive global destinations for pharmacists from India. With the healthcare sector doing wonderfully, up-to-date infrastructure, and competitive salary packages, pharmacists are moving from India to Dubai for better career opportunities.
Every pharmacist must pass the DHA exam and obtain a professional license to practice legally. With good scheduling, the whole way, from India to Dubai, can be done in only 6 months.
This blog provides a step-by-step roadmap with a monthly breakdown of your journey, as well as practical tips to make your trip easier.
Why Indian Pharmacists Choose Dubai
1. Tax-Free Salary & Earnings
Compared to India, Dubai pharmacists receive high salaries that are tax-free. New graduates’ salaries are about AED 6,000–8,000, while senior pharmacists are paid over AED 10,000.
2. Housing & Lifestyle Benefits
Most probably, employers will be there to grant you a housing allowance, take care of your transport, and health insurance, thus making life easy for you.
3. Career Advancement
Healthcare in Dubai is on the rise, thus creating the demand for pharmacists. They can go for clinical, hospital, or community pharmacy with further specialisation in any.
4. Indian Community & Cultural Familiarity
There is a large Indian population in Dubai, and as a result, Indian culture is well-represented, including Indian food and social activities. It is easily available and is of great comfort.
5. Quality of Life
The metropolis has all the advantages of world-class infrastructure, safety, and living standards suitable for the entire family, thus being the ideal place for long-term residence.
6. International Exposure
If you decide to work in Dubai, you will become a pharmacy professional within the global pharmacy system and will be recognized in other Gulf countries as well.
The 6-Month Journey from India to Dubai
Step 1: Check Your Eligibility
You should first check if you fulfill the requirements for a DHA job as a pharmacist:
- Degree: Bachelor of Pharmacy or Doctor of Pharmacy from a university of international standard.
- Experience: At least 2 years of professional work.
- Good Standing Certificate: A certificate issued by the current licensing authority (valid 6 months).
- Passport: At least 6 months left before expiration.
Step 2: Apply for the DHA Exam
- Sign up on the Sheryan portal.
- Submit your documents: passport, photo, degree, transcript, licensing, Certificate of Good Standing, and experience letters.
- Do the PSV (Primary Source Verification) with DataFlow.
Step 3: Obtain the DHA Eligibility Letter
After your PSV is cleared and you pass the test, DHA sends you the Eligibility Letter, which is valid for 1 year. With this letter, you can apply for pharmacy jobs in Dubai.
Step 4: Begin Your Job Hunt in Dubai
- Send applications to hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies.
- Use Dubai-based job portals and recruitment agencies.
- If you have the DHA Eligibility Letter, it makes you highly employable.
Step 5: Secure a Job Offer & Process Your Visa
- Submit the job offer letter, along with your employer’s details, to the DHA.
- Your employer sponsors your work visa and residence permit.
- Once approved, you’re legally permitted to live and work in Dubai.
Step 6: Relocate to Dubai & Kickstart Your Career
- With your employer facility, activate your DHA pharmacist license (AED 1,000).
- Enjoy your practice in Dubai with full legality.
Month-by-Month Roadmap
| Month | Key Actions | Outcome |
| Month 1 | Check eligibility, gather documents, and register on Sheryan | Registration initiated |
| Month 2 | Upload documents, apply for PSV (DataFlow) | Verification in process |
| Month 3 | Book DHA exam via Prometric | Exam scheduled |
| Month 4 | Sit for DHA exam (150 MCQs, 165 mins) | Results in 2–5 days |
| Month 5 | Obtain the Eligibility Letter, and start job applications | Job interviews & offers |
| Month 6 | Employer finalizes visa & license activation | Begin work in Dubai |
Common Challenges
- PSV Delays: Universities/employers not responding on time..
- Incomplete Documents: Your application is being returned due to unclear scanned documents.
- Exam Pressure: The inability of candidates to handle clinically based questions.
- Job Search: The healthcare sector in Dubai is usually very competitive.
Staying Motivated Throughout the Process
- Through the Sheryan portal, keep monitoring your deadlines.
- To gain confidence for the exam, practice MCQs daily.
- Pharmacists who are already working in Dubai can give you valuable guidance, so stay connected with them.
- Split the 6-month plan for better time management into weekly milestones.
Conclusion
Pharmacists in Dubai are structured, and yet the outcome is satisfying. If the Indian pharmacists take the necessary steps according to the DHA’s procedure, they will be able to change their location and start their work within half a year.
All the way from the verifications of the qualifications to starting the license, you are getting closer to a well-paid and tax-free job that is recognised internationally in Dubai.
FAQs – Dubai Health Authority Exam for Pharmacists (2025)
A licensing test to work legally as a pharmacist in Dubai.
BPharm/PharmD graduates with 2 years of work experience and a Good Standing Certificate.
Complete 150 MCQs in 165 minutes.
65% (as per DHA CBT guidelines).
Prometric fee AED 880, PSV AED 900–1,200, license activation AED 1,000.
Regular PSV: 25 working days, Express: 14 working days.
Within 2–5 working days on Sheryan.
