Short answer: EMREE is the Emirates Medical Residency Entrance Examination, a pre-entry exam for doctors who want residency training in the UAE. The organiser says there are usually 120 multiple-choice questions to complete in 3 hours, on a computer. It is not a licence and it is a different exam from the DHA exam.
01Chapter 1
What EMREE is
EMREE stands for the Emirates Medical Residency Entrance Examination. Doctors who want a place on a specialty training programme in the UAE sit it, and programmes use the result when they look at applications.
It is an entrance exam, not a licensing exam. Passing it does not by itself let you practise as a doctor in any emirate.
02Chapter 2
Who sits it and who runs it
EMREE is for physicians only. The organiser describes it as a unified entry examination conducted by the National Institute for Health Specialties (NIHS) through the UAE University College of Medicine and Health Sciences, for the UAE residency system. Its portal also covers dental and pharmacy sister exams.
Eligibility rules and documents are set by the organiser and the residency authorities, so read the official page before you register. EMREE facts here come from the organiser portal (UAE University, read on 15 October 2026) and from candidate sources where the portal is silent, such as the number of answer options and negative marking. Rules change, so check the official EMREE website for the current cycle.
03Chapter 3
The format
The organiser says there are usually 120 multiple-choice questions in 3 hours, computer-based, and some unscored trial questions can be added with extra time. It does not state the number of options or whether there is negative marking, so treat those as unconfirmed. Sittings run on several dates through the academic year: the 2025 to 2026 cycle listed twelve physician sittings from December 2025 to June 2026. Registration is online.
The questions test clinical application: diagnosis, investigation and management at the level of a recent graduate with some clinical experience.
04Chapter 4
How it differs from the DHA exam
The DHA exam is a licensing exam for professionals who want to work in Dubai. Meddex mock exams for it use 150 questions in 3 hours. EMREE is for residency entry. They have different organisers, rules and results.
Frequently asked questions
Emirates Medical Residency Entrance Examination.
No. It is a residency entrance exam. Licensing exams, such as the DHA exam, are separate.
The organiser describes it as a unified entry examination conducted by the National Institute for Health Specialties through UAE University. Its portal is the place to confirm current rules.
No. EMREE is for physicians applying for residency.
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.
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