Short answer: The EMREE organiser lists its test centre at the College of Medicine and Health Sciences in Al Ain. Travelling and any visa are the candidate’s job. Face recognition plus official ID, passport and UAE ID, are required. Arriving more than ten minutes after the start means no entry, and you cannot leave in the first half hour.
Where do you sit EMREE, and what do you need to travel?
The organiser’s portal gives a test centre at the College in Al Ain, and its rules page sets strict arrival and identity rules. If you are travelling from another emirate or another country, the rules below are the ones to plan around. This guide lists what the organiser states, and where it says nothing. Meddex is independent and is not connected to UAE University or the National Institute for Health Specialities (NIHS).
Key facts and where they come from
All official, from the organiser’s portal pages Rules, FAQs, Index and Exam Structure, read on 15 October 2026.
- The test centre is at the College in Al Ain, with a map location in the page footer.
- Face recognition plus official ID, passport and UAE ID, “are a MUST”.
- Emirates ID is preferred, and a valid passport is mandatory for non-residents.
- Obtaining a visa to travel for the exam is the candidate’s responsibility.
- Arriving more than 10 minutes after the start means no entry. Arriving within 10 minutes gives no extra time.
- You cannot leave during the first half hour.
- Date changes and fee transfers are not allowed once you are enrolled, and fees are non-refundable.
Which identification will you need?
The rules page states that face recognition and official ID are required, naming the passport and the UAE ID. The FAQ adds that Emirates ID is preferred and a valid passport is mandatory for non-residents. So a resident should expect to carry both, and a non-resident must carry a valid passport. The pages we read do not say what happens if a document is expired, damaged or does not match your registration, so check validity well before the date, and make sure your name on your registration matches the document exactly.
What should you plan for the trip?
The organiser puts the visa on you, so start early if you need one. Beyond that, the pages we read give no advice on transport, accommodation or parking, and we will not guess. A prudent plan, which is ours and not the organiser’s, is to arrive in Al Ain the day before, so a delay does not cost you the exam. With a late-arrival rule of ten minutes and no extra time, a missed connection cannot be fixed on the day. Date changes are not allowed once enrolled, so a missed sitting costs the fee.
If you are applying from abroad, our guide for doctors applying from abroad covers who can register, ID, travel and attempts together.
What happens in the room?
The rules describe an on-screen confidentiality agreement, which you must accept, and a chief proctor who announces halfway and three-quarter time. Sharing questions on social media leads to debarment and a report to the health authorities, according to the organiser. A 15 minute practice session may be offered before a computer-based sitting if required. Our guide to the EMREE exam-day rules lists these in order, and paper or computer explains the delivery format.
How do you prepare for the day itself?
Treat the day as a logistics exercise. Put the document check on a list, travel the day before, sleep, and arrive with time to spare. Our guides on the last 24 hours and the last 7 days work for EMREE too.
What is a sensible checklist for the week before?
Documents valid and matching your registration, visa sorted if you need one, travel booked for the day before, a plan for the morning that leaves a wide margin, and a light revision day, not a heavy one. If something fails, remember that the organiser does not allow date changes once you are enrolled, so fix what you can early.
What we do not know
Frequently asked questions
This article is general educational guidance, not official advice. Exam rules, fees and timelines are set by the Dubai Health Authority and the test provider and can change, so always confirm the latest details on their official channels. Review of Meddex content by named, licensed clinicians is not complete yet. See how we write and check our content.
Last updated .