USMLE for Middle Eastern doctors: centres, costs and practice
Doctors from Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and the Gulf sit Step 1 and Step 2 CK every year. Here is where you can test, what it costs, and how to practise for the current exam format.
Where you can test
One testing region, eight countries
Candidates select the Middle East testing region and can use any centre in it that offers USMLE and has space. Countries listed: Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Two routes, one exam
For US residency you need ECFMG certification. Some candidates in the Gulf also take USMLE to support licensing at home, so check which route your plan serves.
What the exam costs
| Exam | Exam fee | Test-delivery surcharge | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Step 1 | US$ 695 | US$ 210 | US$ 905 |
| Step 2 CK | US$ 695 | US$ 235 | US$ 930 |
| Step 3 | US$ 955 | None (US test centres only) | US$ 955 |
Sources: fsmb.org and the ECFMG fees page, checked October 2026. Candidates in this region pay the same surcharge as other regions outside the US and Canada. Fees can change, so confirm when you register.
Practise with MedMasters USMLE Qbank
3 months
about US$ 20 a month
6 months
about US$ 15 a month
12 months
about US$ 11 a month
24 months
about US$ 8 a month
Step 2 CK and Step 3 plans are on the pricing page.
Make your English count
OET Medicine
Every ECFMG Pathway needs a satisfactory OET Medicine score, so book it alongside your Step plan.
Practise reading speed
Long vignettes reward fast, accurate reading. Timed 20-question blocks help you reach about 90 seconds a question.
Past papers and syllabus
USMLE does not publish past papers, so no local past-paper bank can stand in for the real exam. Study the official content outline as your syllabus, and use MedWorld questions written to the same blueprint.
Middle East questions answered
Which countries in the Middle East have test centres?
Is English proficiency tested separately?
Does USMLE count for licensing in the Gulf?
Do the questions come in Arabic?
Start practising
Message us your country and Step and we will confirm your plan.