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Dubai has emerged as the Middle East’s top healthcare hub, providing the region’s biggest standalone healthcare free zone. The proof is in the pudding – international healthcare giants such as Cleveland Clinic, Moorfields Eye Hospital, and Great Ormond Street Hospital, have established their healthcare business operations in Dubai, capitalizing on the booming medical environment.
According to Horizon Grand View Research, the UAE healthcare industry is projected to grow to USD 8,030 million by 2030, with an estimated CAGR of 13.2% between 2024 and 2030. However, the vast majority of healthcare entrepreneurs struggle to navigate the complex regulatory system in Dubai, which involves numerous agencies, licensing policies, and procedures involving compliance requirements. The difference between professional registration and business setup tends to be confusing, causing entry delays into the market.
Here, we will explain the step-by-step process of obtaining a healthcare business license in Dubai, including approval, up-to-date cost breakdowns, and a smooth healthcare business setup in Dubai.
A healthcare business license issued by Dubai authorities serves as official permission to operate medical facilities, provide healthcare services, or engage in healthcare-related commercial activities within the emirate. This license is fundamentally different from individual professional licensing and covers the broader business setup required for Dubai healthcare business registration.
Healthcare business licensing has a dual regulatory framework. The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) regulates healthcare businesses in mainland Dubai, while the Dubai Healthcare City Authority (DHCA) regulates businesses located in the Dubai Healthcare City free zone. Both authorities have different requirements and operating models tailored to accommodate various business models required for a healthcare business setup in Dubai.
Your Dubai healthcare facility license allows you to set up medical facilities, hire healthcare professionals, import medical equipment, and offer specialized healthcare services to local and international patients. Without Dubai healthcare business registration, healthcare businesses cannot be legally carried out, staff can be hired, or critical financial and administrative systems can be accessed.
Healthcare entrepreneurs who opt for Dubai are provided with an integrated ecosystem specifically designed to drive growth and innovation in the medical sector.
Dubai has emerged as a prominent regional healthcare leader. Healthcare expenditure in 2023 totaled AED 22.24 billion, representing 5.2% of the emirate’s GDP, having doubled over the last decade.
As per the DHA, nationwide healthcare expenditures are rising by 7.4% year on year, with high federal expenditures in the pipeline for 2025, setting the ecosystem up for expansion.
However, it has a promising future as a growth story and an increase in the number of patients and medical tourism, public-private partnerships, and the digital health ecosystem have been catalysts to this upward trend. Today, by opening your healthcare business in Dubai, you can get a good supported market and make a prominent difference at once.
The UAE Medical Tourism Market was valued at USD 0.10 billion in 2022 and is expected to increase substantially, with a CAGR of 24.61% during 2028. The healthcare industry can make full use of this surge in foreign patients availing themselves of high-quality medical care through a smart healthcare business setup in Dubai.
The Ministry of Health in the UAE is launching a multimillion-dollar program that will enhance healthcare facilities, utilize modern technology, and establish high-quality supply chains to reduce the depth of operations for healthcare companies.
In Dubai, PPPs (public-private partnerships) are used to attract foreigners to license their services with the government. This infrastructure enables proper delivery of services, which gives the companies an opportunity to focus on the main provision of health care services. This makes a healthcare business setup in Dubai more operationally efficient.
The healthcare authorities in Dubai offer systematic regulatory requirements that stabilise between the control of quality and business adaptability. The supporting state consists of hassle-free licensing procedures, proper compliance standards, and continuous assistance to the growth of a healthcare business.
Lately, the government of UAE and DHA have shown a keen interest in initiating different programs to encourage the establishment of the healthcare sector in Dubai. The government launched programs in the year 2016, including the Dubai Health Strategy 2021 that worked towards the accomplishment of four critical strategies, including the health and lifestyle, the excellence in service delivery, the smart healthcare, and the governance, all of which support long-term success in a healthcare business setup in Dubai.
This licence permits the opening and operation of physical healthcare centres. The activities included are:
Note: This license is essential for launching a full-scale healthcare business setup in Dubai.
This professional licence permits practitioners to provide consultations and specialist services, which include:
This trading license allows for the importation, exportation, and distribution of medical products, as well as related trading business, such as:
This specialist healthcare license accommodates the growing health sectors, and services it includes are:
After exploring the benefits of a healthcare business setup in Dubai, the next step is understanding the licensing process. Adherence to rules and regulations and documentation is important in guaranteeing easy approval and preventing delays in the launch of your business.
Define your healthcare business activity. Start by defining the particular healthcare services your company will offer. Healthcare activities in Dubai include medical practices, diagnostic testing, healthcare consulting, selling medical equipment, and the pharmaceutical business.
Timeline: 1-2 days
Choose between operating within mainland Dubai and operating under DHA Licence or operating within Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) all dependant on your business profile and operational requirement.
Timeline: 2-3 days
| Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) Option | Mainland Dubai Option |
| 100% foreign ownership permitted | Direct access to local UAE market |
| Access to the region’s largest healthcare free zone. | Integration with government healthcare initiatives. |
| Streamlined healthcare business license processes in Dubai | Broader service area coverage |
| Focus on international patient market, Comprehensive healthcare ecosystem. | Local insurance network participation |
Note: Renowned healthcare free zones are Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC), Dubai Science Park, specializing in healthcare research and development, and the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC). All these are ideal for launching a compliant healthcare business setup in Dubai.
All practicing healthcare professionals must obtain the appropriate DHA healthcare license approvals before commencing business operations. The process typically takes 3-6 months for DHA registration, requiring careful planning of the timeline.
Timeline: 4-6 weeks
DHA Professional Licensing Process:
1. Register on DHA Sheryan platform at https://services.dha.gov.ae.
2. Complete self-assessment tool to verify eligibility.
3. Submit required documentation for professional qualification review.
4. Schedule and complete DHA examination (if applicable).
5. Obtain professional license upon successful evaluation.
Required Documentation:
Register the name of your healthcare business in Dubai with your jurisdiction and reserve the actual name of your healthcare business in Dubai and make the primary steps to register your business in Dubai. The first is that the name of your business should be descriptive of the activities that you are engaged in related to healthcare, and this should meet the naming requirements in UAE.
The method of doing it can either be online, through a portal of the relevant authority to search for the availability of names, or through going to approved typing centers or the business setup consultants physically.
The trade name should clearly justify the business of healthcare activities, and should not conflict with the names already registered, in addition, it should conform with cultural and linguistic standards of UAE. Also, it must be appropriate to be used in terms of medical services.
Timeline: 3-5 days
Make detailed legal documents complete such as your Memorandum of Association (MoA) which will act as your constitution in the healthcare business. Make sure that it meets the regulation of commerce in the UAE and other rules regarding health. The essential documentation components are:
Note: To obtain professional legal assistance, consider employing well-reputed legal consultants, such as Stratrich Consulting, who understand the UAE healthcare law to ensure that all paperwork meets the regulatory standards for your healthcare facility license in Dubai.
Timeline: 1-2 weeks
Secure suitable healthcare facility space that is up to regulatory standards and caters to your planned service delivery model. All healthcare enterprises are required to have a registered address in Dubai that complies with the requirements of a healthcare facility.
Dubai facility options:
Regulatory requirements:
Timeline: 1-2 weeks
Get all the necessary paperwork and make a comprehensive application in your healthcare business license in Dubai with the associated fees. The timings of processing are also different based on the jurisdiction of your choice and the complexity of your business.
Note: You can submit the license application online through the concerned authority’s online platform for speedy processing, or offline by going to service centres with complete documents for physical submission.
Timeline: 1-2 days
When your application is passed, you will get the approval of your healthcare business license Dubai as well as other permits you need to operate. This is the last process which usually takes 5 to 15 working days depending on the complexity of the application and the jurisdiction where applied.
Note: The final package of license contains a Healthcare business license, Certificate of incorporation, Professional service permits, Facility operation approvals, and Chamber of Commerce membership (if required).
Identifying the costs of setting up a healthcare business in Dubai will help gain information on how to plan, as well as allow enough funding in the launch and running of business.
| Business Type | Initial Investment Capital | Range (app.) (AED) | Additional Requirements |
| Medical Clinic | AED 50,000 | 50,000 – 200,000 | Equipment, staff licensing |
| Diagnostic Center | AED 100,000 | 100,000 – 500,000 | Specialized equipment, facility |
| Small Hospital | AED 500,000 | 500,000 – 2,000,000 | Comprehensive infrastructure |
| Healthcare Consulting | AED 25,000 | 25,000 – 75,000 | Professional licensing, office |
| Medical Equipment Trading | AED 30,000 | 30,000 – 150,000 | Warehouse, import permits |
*Note: Fees are subject to change. Verify current rates with relevant authorities.
As you have explored the benefits, license types, and the process of getting the healthcare business license in Dubai. Now, the next step of a healthcare business setup in Dubai is a promising opportunity, but navigating the regulatory landscape, preparing documentation, and meeting compliance standards can be complex. To ensure a smooth and stress-free healthcare business setup in Dubai, it’s best to work with experienced consultants like Stratrich Consulting who thoroughly understand DHA, DHCC, and UAE healthcare regulations.
At Stratrich Consulting, we can help you secure your healthcare license and healthcare business setup in Dubai with complete compliance and strategic guidance. From selecting the right jurisdiction to obtaining approvals and operational permits, we simplify every step of the process, allowing you to focus on delivering high-quality healthcare services.
Ready to turn your healthcare vision into reality? Start your journey with Stratrich today and ensure a successful healthcare business setup in Dubai. Contact us for expert assistance.
