Specialist Obstetrics and Gynecology Prometric & Licensing Exam 2026: Complete Syllabus, Passing Marks and Study Guide (DHA, MOHAP, DOH, SCFHS, Oman, Qatar DHP, NHRA, Kuwait MOH)

If you are an Obstetrics and Gynecology-trained physician planning to practise as a Specialist in Obstetrics and Gynecology in the Middle East, your licensing pathway will depend on the country, the recognition tier of your postgraduate qualification and the health authority you are applying to. Several regulators use a dedicated OB/GYN examination, but the question count, duration, passing standard and exemption rules are not identical.

This guide covers the major Middle East health authorities and explains the eligibility requirements, exam format, syllabus, reference books and licensing pathways relevant to Specialist Obstetrics and Gynecology candidates.

1. What is the Specialist Obstetrics and Gynecology Exam?

The Specialist Obstetrics and Gynecology licensing or classification examination assesses whether a physician with recognised postgraduate OB/GYN training has the clinical knowledge, diagnostic and surgical judgement, emergency-management ability and patient-safety awareness required for specialist practice. The scope spans general obstetrics, general gynecology, maternal-fetal medicine, gynecologic oncology, women's health, reproductive endocrinology and infertility, urogynecology, perioperative care, patient safety and professional practice.

Question type: Where a computer-based OB/GYN examination is required, questions are predominantly single-best-answer multiple-choice questions, often based on clinical scenarios. The number of questions and blueprint weighting vary by authority.

Language: English. Prometric licensing examinations covered by this guide are conducted in English.

Delivery: Mainly computer-based testing through Prometric, Pearson VUE or an authority-approved testing platform. Some applicants may be exempt from the specialty examination based on the recognition category of their postgraduate qualification.

Result: Reporting varies by authority. The UAE guideline used across DHA, MOHAP and DOH publishes a fixed passing percentage; SCFHS and Kuwait publish title-level pass thresholds; Qatar publishes a specialty qualifying-exam cut score; and Bahrain uses its general medical-practitioner licensure examination when an exam is assigned.

Attempts: Authority-specific. The UAE Unified PQR provides three examination attempts across the UAE Authorities, subject to its additional-attempt provisions. Qatar physician guidance allows three attempts where the specialty qualifying examination is required. Kuwait publishes three attempts for its OB/GYN exam, with a minimum six-week interval between attempts. Bahrain allows four initial licensure-exam attempts within three years.

2. Middle East Health Authorities and Regulatory Pathways for Specialist Obstetrics and Gynecology

Each regulator has its own specialist-classification route, and an Obstetrics and Gynecology licence or title issued by one authority is not automatically valid in another jurisdiction. The table below summarises the principal pathway across the authorities covered by this guide.

3. Specialist Obstetrics and Gynecology Passing Marks and Exam Format

Specialist Obstetrics and Gynecology examination specifications differ across Middle East regulators. Across DHA, MOHAP and DOH, the same UAE Specialist OB/GYN specification applies: 150 MCQs in 3 hours with a 60% pass mark. Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait publish separate specialist examination standards, while Oman publishes a current OEOG content blueprint without a fixed public question count, duration or pass score in that document.

*Qatar note: the current DHP qualifying-examination webpage lists Obstetrics and Gynecology as 150 MCQs in 3 hours with a 65% pass mark, while earlier/published specialty examination material lists 150 MCQs in 3.5 hours. Candidates should follow the duration shown on their current eligibility and booking confirmation. Qatar physician guidelines state that Category 3 specialty qualifications require the qualifying examination, while Category 1 and 2 qualifications do not.

4. Eligibility Criteria for Specialist Obstetrics and Gynecology Candidates

The exact requirements differ by regulator and depend heavily on how the postgraduate Obstetrics and Gynecology qualification is classified. A primary medical degree alone is not sufficient for the Specialist title; applicants need a recognised specialty qualification and must meet the experience, registration and assessment rules of the target authority.

Primary medical qualification: A recognised MBBS, MBChB, MBBCh, MD or equivalent primary medical degree from an accredited institution, with completed internship as required by the regulator.

Specialty qualification: Completion of a recognised postgraduate Obstetrics and Gynecology specialty programme, board qualification or equivalent is required. Qualifications such as national specialist boards, MD/MS pathways, MRCOG/FRCOG or other credentials are assessed according to the target regulator's recognised qualification tables; the title should not be assumed from the qualification name alone.

UAE experience requirement: Under the current UAE PQR, Specialist physicians with Tier 1 or Tier 2 recognised specialty qualifications require no post-specialty experience. For Tier 3 main-specialty qualifications, UAE nationals and children of Emirati women generally require one year after the specialty qualification, while non-UAE nationals require three years.

Saudi classification: SCFHS lists Obstetrics and Gynecology as a dedicated classification examination. The current blueprint uses Registrar and Senior Registrar passing thresholds; the final professional title depends on the recognised specialty qualification, training and SCFHS classification decision.

Qatar qualification categories: Qatar DHP uses physician specialty categories. Category 1 requires one year of post-qualification experience and no qualifying exam; Category 2 requires two years and no exam; Category 3 requires at least three years of structured postgraduate specialty training, three years of post-qualification experience and the DHP qualifying examination.

Professional licence and Good Standing: A valid professional registration/licence and a recent Certificate of Good Standing are commonly required. Under UAE requirements, Good Standing documentation should be current and issued by the relevant licensing authority.

Primary Source Verification: The primary medical degree, specialty qualification, professional licence and claimed experience may require primary-source verification such as DataFlow or another regulator-approved verification provider.

Training documentation: Regulators may request internship evidence, residency or specialty-training certificates, transcripts, board certificates, operative or delivery logs, experience letters and other documents demonstrating that the applicant's training matches the requested OB/GYN title.

Resuscitation and clinical privilege requirements: BLS, ACLS and other emergency or specialty-specific credentials may be required by the regulator, employer or facility for clinical privileging. Surgical, operative obstetric and other advanced privileges remain subject to facility and regulator credentialing.

Examination exemption is not uniform. UAE authorities apply PQR-based exemption rules, Qatar exempts Category 1 and Category 2 physician specialty qualifications from the qualifying exam, and other regulators apply their own recognition and assessment policies. Candidates should not book an examination until the regulator confirms that an exam is required for their specific qualification and title.

5. Specialist Obstetrics and Gynecology Syllabus and Core Study Areas Across Middle East Health Authorities

The 10 study areas below consolidate the UAE Specialist Obstetrics and Gynecology examination coverage with the current SCFHS and Kuwait specialist blueprints. The UAE guideline covers General Obstetrics, General Gynecology, Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Gynecologic Oncology, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Urogynecology and Pelvic Floor Disorders, Perioperative Management, Patient Safety and Professionalism/Ethics. SCFHS and Kuwait additionally identify Women's Health as a separate domain. Oman publishes a more granular 14-area OEOG content blueprint that maps closely to these same clinical competencies. This 10-topic framework is therefore designed for broad Middle East preparation rather than presented as the blueprint of one authority.

Topic 1: General Obstetrics

Preconception counselling, antenatal care, normal pregnancy, labour and delivery, fetal surveillance and intrapartum monitoring, induction and augmentation, operative vaginal delivery, caesarean delivery, postpartum care, multiple pregnancy, preterm labour and PPROM, antepartum haemorrhage, postpartum haemorrhage, shoulder dystocia, cord prolapse, uterine rupture, Rh alloimmunisation and other common obstetric emergencies.

Topic 2: General Gynecology

Abnormal uterine bleeding, amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, endometriosis, adenomyosis, uterine fibroids, benign adnexal masses, pelvic inflammatory disease, vulvovaginal disorders, cervical screening abnormalities, contraception, common office procedures, benign gynecologic surgery and evidence-based evaluation of pelvic pain and menstrual disorders.

Topic 3: Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational and pregestational diabetes, fetal growth restriction, fetal anomalies, prenatal screening and diagnostic testing, multifetal gestation, maternal medical disease in pregnancy, preterm-birth prevention, fetal surveillance, alloimmunisation, placental disorders and management of high-risk pregnancy.

Topic 4: Gynecologic Oncology

Preinvasive and invasive cervical disease, endometrial cancer, epithelial and nonepithelial ovarian cancer, vulvar and vaginal malignancies, gestational trophoblastic disease, hereditary cancer risk, staging principles, surgical and systemic treatment concepts, surveillance, complications and appropriate referral to gynecologic oncology.

Topic 5: Women's Health and Preventive Gynecology

Well-woman care, age-appropriate screening, cervical cancer prevention and HPV vaccination, contraception counselling, adolescent gynecology, sexual and reproductive health, menopause, menopausal hormone therapy, osteoporosis and long-term health, preventive counselling and risk assessment across the female life course.

Topic 6: Urogynecology and Pelvic Floor Disorders

Stress, urgency and mixed urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, fistulae, pelvic floor dysfunction, initial office evaluation, urinalysis and post-void residual assessment, indications for urodynamics, conservative management, pessaries, pelvic-floor rehabilitation and principles of surgical treatment and referral.

Topic 7: Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility

Female and male infertility evaluation, ovulatory dysfunction, PCOS, hyperprolactinemia, ovarian reserve, tubal and uterine factors, recurrent pregnancy loss, endometriosis-associated infertility, ovulation induction, controlled ovarian stimulation, intrauterine insemination, IVF/ICSI concepts and recognition of complications such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.

Topic 8: Perioperative Management

Preoperative assessment and optimisation, informed consent, antimicrobial and venous-thromboembolism prophylaxis, blood management, safe surgery, laparoscopy and open-surgery principles, prevention and recognition of ureteric, bladder, bowel and vascular injury, postoperative care, enhanced recovery, wound complications, thromboembolism and recognition of deterioration.

Topic 9: Patient Safety

Correct patient and procedure identification, medication safety, obstetric haemorrhage preparedness, transfusion safety, infection prevention, VTE risk assessment, fetal and maternal deterioration recognition, safe handover, surgical safety processes, incident reporting, communication during emergencies and prevention of avoidable maternal and neonatal harm.

Topic 10: Professionalism and Ethics

Informed consent and capacity, confidentiality, shared decision-making, maternal autonomy, refusal of recommended treatment, maternal-fetal ethical conflict, reproductive ethics, culturally sensitive counselling, documentation, disclosure of adverse events, safeguarding, professional boundaries, appropriate referral and multidisciplinary communication.

Cross-Authority Focus: Obstetrics and General Gynecology Carry the Greatest Published Weight

The SCFHS blueprint assigns 21% to General Obstetrics and 17% to General Gynecology, followed by Gynecologic Oncology at 13% and Maternal-Fetal Medicine at 11%. Kuwait uses a very similar 150-question blueprint, with 36 questions in General Obstetrics and 31 in General Gynecology. Oman organises the specialty differently, giving particularly high weight to normal pregnancy, antepartum haemorrhage, reproductive endocrinology, menstrual abnormalities and medical disorders in pregnancy. Candidates should therefore master routine obstetric and gynecologic decision-making before moving to narrower subspecialty areas.

6. Recommended Reference Books

The UAE Specialist Obstetrics and Gynecology guideline, the current SCFHS blueprint and the Kuwait OB/GYN blueprint use the same six core references. Several textbook editions named by the regulators are old, so candidates should use these official titles as the examination framework while studying from the latest available editions and current evidence-based guidance from major professional bodies:

Williams Obstetrics by Cunningham and colleagues. The regulator documents list the 23rd edition (2009); use the latest available edition for current obstetric definitions, surveillance and management.

Clinical Gynecologic Endocrinology and Infertility by Speroff and colleagues. The regulator list names the 7th edition; use the latest available edition for reproductive endocrinology, infertility and menopause.

Berek and Novak's Gynecology by Jonathan Berek and colleagues. The regulator list names the 14th edition; use the latest available edition for contemporary general gynecology and gynecologic oncology.

Comprehensive Gynecology by Katz and colleagues. The regulator documents list the 5th edition; use the latest available edition for current clinical gynecology.

Professionalism and Ethics, Handbook for Residents, SCFHS, latest edition. Reference for professional conduct, consent and ethical decision-making.

Essentials of Patient Safety, SCFHS, latest edition. Reference for patient-safety principles and prevention of avoidable harm in specialist practice.

Beyond textbook study, exam-day preparation benefits from high-quality MCQ practice. The Specialist Obstetrics and Gynecology MCQ bank on prometricguide.com is designed around the 10-topic cross-authority framework above and includes 2500 plus questions with detailed explanations covering obstetrics, gynecology, maternal-fetal medicine, oncology, women's health, reproductive medicine, urogynecology, perioperative care, patient safety and professional practice.

7. Two Ways We Can Help You Get Licensed

Prometric Guide supports Specialist Obstetrics and Gynecology exam preparation across the Middle East, while our sister company Alzantra International supports the UAE licensing process.

For Exam Preparation: Prometric Guide (All Middle East Authorities)

Whether you are targeting DHA, MOHAP, DOH Abu Dhabi, SCFHS Saudi Arabia, OMSB Oman, Qatar DHP, NHRA Bahrain or Kuwait MOH, our MCQ bank provides one broad preparation base across the major OB/GYN licensing destinations:

2500 plus Specialist Obstetrics and Gynecology MCQs mapped to the 10-topic cross-authority framework.

Detailed explanations with references to Williams Obstetrics, Berek and Novak, Speroff, Comprehensive Gynecology, current specialty guidance and patient-safety resources.

Free introductory mock tests and topic-wise practice sets.

High-yield coverage of general obstetrics, general gynecology, maternal-fetal medicine, gynecologic oncology, women's health, reproductive endocrinology and infertility, urogynecology, perioperative care, patient safety and professionalism.

Access on any device, unlimited attempts.

Explore the full Specialist Obstetrics and Gynecology exam preparation package on prometricguide.com.

For UAE Licensing Paperwork: Alzantra International (DHA, MOHAP, DOH)

For UAE licensing, Alzantra International supports Obstetrics and Gynecology candidates targeting Dubai, the Northern Emirates and Abu Dhabi with documentation and licensing coordination.

DataFlow / primary-source verification of the medical degree, specialty qualification, professional licence and experience.

DHA Sheryan Specialist Obstetrics and Gynecology application and assessment coordination for Dubai.

MOHAP specialist evaluation and licensing application for the Northern Emirates.

DOH Abu Dhabi Specialist Obstetrics and Gynecology application through TAMM.

Medical degree, internship, OB/GYN residency/specialty qualification, experience and supporting-document preparation guidance.

Eligibility submission, tracking and follow-up.

CBT or additional assessment coordination where required.

Specialist licence activation and UAE facility-credentialing support.

Contact Alzantra International at www.alzantra.ae or [email protected] for UAE licensing support. For SCFHS/Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar DHP, NHRA Bahrain and Kuwait MOH, use the relevant regulator's official pathway.

8. Frequently Asked Questions

What is the passing score for Specialist Obstetrics and Gynecology?

For DHA, MOHAP and DOH, Specialist Obstetrics and Gynecology is 150 MCQs in 3 hours with a 60% pass mark. SCFHS publishes 65% for Registrar and 70% for Senior Registrar. Qatar DHP publishes 65% for its OB/GYN qualifying exam. Kuwait MOH publishes 65% for Registrar and 70% for Senior. NHRA Bahrain publishes 60% for Bahrain licensure examinations when an examination is assigned.

Am I eligible with MRCOG, FRCOG, MD/MS or another OB/GYN specialty qualification?

Potential eligibility depends on whether the exact qualification is recognised by the target authority and how it is categorised. MRCOG, FRCOG, MD/MS, national board certificates and other specialist credentials are not automatically treated identically across regulators. The authority's recognised-qualification table determines the professional title, experience requirement and possible examination exemption.

How many questions are in the Specialist Obstetrics and Gynecology exam?

DHA, MOHAP and DOH use the same UAE specification: 150 MCQs in 3 hours. SCFHS uses 200 MCQs in 4 hours. Qatar DHP lists 150 MCQs and currently shows 3 hours on its live page. Kuwait uses 150 MCQs over 170 minutes plus a 10-minute break. Oman publishes a detailed OEOG content blueprint but not a fixed question count/duration in that public content document.

Which reference books should I use?

The UAE, SCFHS and Kuwait published lists include Williams Obstetrics, Clinical Gynecologic Endocrinology and Infertility, Berek and Novak's Gynecology, Comprehensive Gynecology, SCFHS Professionalism and Ethics, and SCFHS Essentials of Patient Safety. Because several listed editions are old, use the latest available editions together with current evidence-based specialty guidelines.

Can I complete the exam from my home country?

Often yes when the assigned assessment is delivered through an international test network such as Prometric or Pearson VUE. OMSB states that Occupational Classification examinations are available through Pearson VUE centres worldwide. Availability for every authority depends on eligibility, the test provider and the centres shown during scheduling.

How is the SCFHS Obstetrics and Gynecology classification exam different?

SCFHS lists Obstetrics and Gynecology as a dedicated classification exam with 200 MCQs over 4 hours. Its blueprint assigns 21% to General Obstetrics, 17% to General Gynecology, 13% to Gynecologic Oncology, 11% to Maternal-Fetal Medicine, 9% to Women's Health, 8% to Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, 6% to Perioperative Management, and 5% each to Urogynecology, Patient Safety, and Professionalism/Ethics. The passing score is 65% for Registrar and 70% for Senior Registrar.

How many attempts do I get?

Attempt rules vary by authority. UAE examinations follow the Unified PQR framework of three attempts across the UAE Authorities, with its provisions for additional attempts. Qatar physician guidelines allow three attempts where the specialty qualifying examination is required. Kuwait publishes three attempts for OB/GYN, with at least six weeks between attempts. Bahrain allows four initial licensure-exam attempts within three years. OMSB currently states that there is no maximum number of OC examination attempts, subject to its applicable policies.

Does every Middle East authority use the same Specialist Obstetrics and Gynecology exam?

No. DHA, MOHAP and DOH use the same UAE OB/GYN specification; SCFHS uses a 200-question classification exam; Oman uses the OEOG Occupational Classification pathway; Qatar uses its own physician specialty qualifying exam when required; Bahrain may assign the general medical-practitioner licensure exam; and Kuwait publishes its own 150-question OB/GYN exam.

Does the exam cover both obstetrics and gynecology subspecialties?

Yes. The major specialist blueprints test a broad base specialty rather than only labour ward care or general gynecology. Maternal-fetal medicine, gynecologic oncology, reproductive endocrinology and infertility, urogynecology/pelvic floor disorders, perioperative care and women's health are all represented across major authority blueprints.

What is the best MCQ bank for Specialist Obstetrics and Gynecology exam preparation?

The Specialist Obstetrics and Gynecology MCQ bank on prometricguide.com includes 2500 plus questions aligned to the 10-topic cross-authority framework, with detailed explanations covering obstetrics, gynecology, maternal-fetal medicine, oncology, women's health, reproductive medicine, urogynecology, perioperative care, patient safety and professional practice.

9. Final Thoughts

Specialist Obstetrics and Gynecology is a recognised physician specialty across the major Middle East health authorities, but the route to the title and examination requirement is not uniform. The UAE authorities use a common published examination specification, SCFHS has a separate 200-question classification exam, Oman uses the OEOG Occupational Classification pathway, Qatar applies the specialty exam according to physician qualification category, and Kuwait publishes a dedicated OB/GYN examination blueprint.

Prepare around the complete OB/GYN scope: routine and high-risk obstetrics, general gynecology, maternal-fetal medicine, gynecologic oncology, women's preventive health, reproductive endocrinology and infertility, urogynecology, perioperative management, patient safety and professionalism. Use current clinical guidance and current textbook editions for management decisions because several official regulator reading lists still name older editions.

Prometric Guide supports Specialist Obstetrics and Gynecology candidates preparing across the major Middle East health authorities.