Comprehensive Surgical Logbook Template for DHA Licensing (2026 Guide)
: Categorize your level of involvement for each case:
For any surgeon seeking to practice in Dubai, obtaining a license from the is the essential first step. However, the path to licensure is paved with documentation, and for surgical specialties, one document stands above the rest: the surgical logbook.
Never use the patient's real name.
For official DHA application guidelines, refer to the (www.dha.gov.ae) and ensure that all required documents—including your Good Standing Certificate (GSC) and Primary Source Verification (PSV)—are current and complete.
Option 2: The Individual Case Card Layout (Recommended for Word/PDF)
Date of Surgery Patient ID/MRN Age/Gender Pre-op Diagnosis (ICD-10) Procedure Name CPT Code Laterality Surgeon Role Emergency Status Anesthesia Type Complexity Grade Complications Converted? Hospital Name 15/01/2024 MRN-8821 58/F K40.90 - Inguinal Hernia Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia Repair with Mesh 49650 Left Primary Surgeon Elective General Intermediate None No Rashid Hospital, Dubai 22/01/2024 MRN-9912 34/M K35.80 - Acute Appendicitis Laparoscopic Appendectomy 44970 Bilateral Primary Surgeon Emergency General Intermediate Post-op fever (resolved) No Mediclinic City Hospital 05/02/2024 MRN-1278 72/M K63.5 - Colon Diverticulitis Laparoscopic Left Colectomy 44207 Left Primary Surgeon (Supervised) Elective General Major None No King's College Hospital
To be accepted by the DHA, your logbook must meet specific formatting and verification standards: typed only ; handwritten logbooks are not accepted. Verification : Every page must be signed and stamped by the Head of Department or Medical Director. : Must be in English or Arabic (official translations are required for other languages). Data Verification : Unlike other documents, the logbook is typically not required to be verified by Dataflow during the initial application. DHA portal Key Data Points to Include
Do not wait until the end of your employment contract to fill out years of surgical data. Memory fade leads to inaccurate logging.
Before submitting your logbook, use this checklist for a final review:
Review your recent surgical activity to ensure your skills are current. Essential Components of a DHA-Compliant Logbook
Evidence that you maintain a safe volume of cases annually.
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