By Adil Ahmad, Business Setup Consultant at Gulf Corporate Services
Summary
To open a clinic in Dubai, you need two licences: a trade licence from the Department of Economy and Tourism and a health facility licence from the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), or from the DHCC regulator if you set up in Dubai Healthcare City. Most clinic setups take 3 to 6 months and cost about AED 450,000 to 1.5 million. This guide covers clinic types, steps, documents, costs, and timelines.
Clinic Setup in Dubai at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Health regulator, mainland | Dubai Health Authority (DHA), through the Sheryan portal |
| Health regulator, free zone | Dubai Healthcare City Authority for clinics in DHCC |
| Trade licence | Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) or the free zone authority |
| Initial (inactive) facility licence | Valid for 1 year |
| Active facility licence | Valid for 1 year, renewable |
| Typical setup time | About 3 to 6 months |
| Typical budget | About AED 450,000 to 1.5 million (market estimate) |
| Medical director | DHA-licensed professional required |
Why Open a Clinic in Dubai
Dubai is one of the most attractive healthcare markets in the region. Health insurance is mandatory for residents, so patients have coverage. Demand for dermatology, dental, physiotherapy, and family medicine keeps growing, and medical tourism adds overseas patients. In my experience, a well-located specialist clinic with good insurance approvals can break even within two to three years, depending on rent and patient mix.
Types of Clinics You Can License in Dubai
| Clinic type | Typical budget (AED, market estimate) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| General practice (GP) clinic | 450,000 to 700,000 | Fastest to license |
| Dental clinic | 400,000 to 1.2 million+ | Higher equipment cost |
| Dermatology or aesthetic clinic | 500,000 to 1.5 million+ | Strong cash-pay demand |
| Physiotherapy centre | 400,000 to 800,000 | Lower equipment cost |
| Polyclinic | 1 million+ | Several specialties under one licence |
| Diagnostic centre or day surgery | on quote | Extra approvals, including Dubai Municipality |
Budget ranges are drawn from Business Dubai’s clinic cost guide and our own project experience.
How to Open an Aesthetic Clinic in Dubai
Aesthetic and dermatology clinics are among the most requested setups. DHA licenses aesthetic procedures by practitioner, so injectables, lasers, and minor procedures must be performed by professionals whose DHA licence covers them. Many cosmetic treatments also carry 5% VAT, unlike basic healthcare. If you plan a wellness or spa concept instead, compare it with a wellness consultancy licence or a nail salon, which follow lighter rules.
Specialist Clinic Licences: Dental, Dermatology, Orthopedic and More
Specialist clinics follow the same DHA facility process, but the services you list decide your staffing, room design, and equipment rules. For example:
- Dental clinic licence in Dubai: needs dental chairs, sterilisation areas, and licensed dentists and dental assistants
- Dermatology clinic licence: often combines medical and aesthetic services, so VAT and practitioner scope must be planned
- Orthopedic or rheumatology clinic: may need imaging, which requires extra radiation approvals
- Physiotherapy centre: needs treatment rooms and licensed physiotherapists
Planning an in-house pharmacy too? See our guide to starting a pharmacy business in Dubai. Add specialties at the start where possible. Adding a new service later means another DHA review and, often, a new inspection.
Clinic License in Dubai: The Two Licences You Need
1. Trade licence. This is your company licence, issued by DET on the mainland or by the free zone authority. You can estimate it with the Invest in Dubai business cost calculator.
2. DHA health facility licence. This lets you treat patients. According to the DHA Sheryan FAQ, DHA licenses health facilities across Dubai, starting with an inactive licence valid for one year, followed by an active licence after final inspection.
Every doctor, nurse, and allied health professional also needs an individual DHA professional licence.
Mainland vs DHCC Free Zone Clinic
| Point | Mainland (DHA) | Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) |
|---|---|---|
| Patients | All of Dubai | Patients who visit DHCC |
| Ownership | Foreign ownership allowed for most healthcare activities | 100% foreign ownership |
| Regulator | DHA | Dubai Healthcare City Authority |
| Rent | Varies widely by area | Usually within DHCC buildings |
| Corporate tax | 9% above AED 375,000 | 0% only on qualifying income, if conditions are met |
Read more on mainland company formation and free zone company setup, or see the official Dubai Healthcare City site.
Requirements to Open a Clinic in Dubai
- A DHA-licensed medical director to oversee clinical work
- A trade name approved by DET or the free zone
- Premises suitable for healthcare, with an affection plan from Dubai Municipality
- An engineering layout in AutoCAD showing each room’s area
- Licensed medical staff for every service you offer
- Medical malpractice insurance
- An electronic medical record system connected to NABIDH, Dubai’s health information exchange
- A medical waste disposal contract
Do you have to be a doctor to own a clinic? Usually not. A business owner can invest, as long as a qualified, DHA-licensed medical director runs clinical operations. The owner can also be the medical director if they meet DHA’s professional criteria.
Documents Required for a Clinic License
- Passport copies of all shareholders
- Trade name reservation certificate
- Affection plan (Dubai Municipality map) and Ejari tenancy contract
- Engineering layout drawings
- Medical director’s DHA licence or eligibility letter
- Staff qualifications, verified degrees, and good standing certificates
- Business plan describing services and specialties
- Malpractice insurance policy
Doctors trained abroad may need degree equivalency in the UAE and primary source verification before DHA licensing.
How to Open a Clinic in Dubai: Step-by-Step
- Choose your clinic type and location (mainland or DHCC).
- Reserve your trade name with DET or the free zone.
- Get DHA initial approval through Sheryan by submitting your layout and documents. DHA issues an inactive facility licence.
- Issue your trade licence and sign the Ejari lease.
- Complete the fit-out exactly as approved. Under the DHA Health Facility Guidelines, any change from approved plans needs new approval.
- License your medical staff and link your EMR to NABIDH.
- Request activation and final inspection through Sheryan.
- Receive your active DHA licence and start seeing patients.
Inspectors can approve, approve with conditions, suspend pending a second inspection, or reject, so fix every item before you book the visit.
Clinic Setup Cost in Dubai
| Cost item | Approx. cost (AED) |
|---|---|
| Trade name and DET trade licence | 12,000 to 22,000 |
| DHA initial approval | 500 to 2,000 |
| DHA facility activation (one year) | 2,500 to 40,000, by facility category |
| DHA inspection | 1,000 to 4,000 |
| Professional licensing per doctor, including exams and verification | 10,000 to 15,000 |
| Fit-out | 150,000 to 300,000 |
| Medical equipment | 50,000 to 500,000+ |
| EMR and NABIDH setup | 10,000 to 30,000 |
| Malpractice insurance (per year) | 3,000 to 10,000 |
| Rent (per year, mid-range) | 100,000 to 250,000 |
DHA fee bands are taken from the DHA Sheryan fee schedule as summarised by Zavis. Other figures are market estimates. Compare general licence costs in our guide to the cost of a trade license in Dubai.
How Long Does Clinic Setup in Dubai Take?
| Stage | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Trade name and initial approvals | 1 to 2 weeks |
| DHA document review | 2 to 6 weeks |
| Fit-out | 6 to 10 weeks |
| Doctor licensing | 1 to 2 months, in parallel |
| Final inspection and activation | 2 to 4 weeks |
| Total | about 3 to 6 months |
Insurance Approvals and Patient Flow
A licence lets you open, but insurance networks keep you busy. Most Dubai patients pay through mandatory health insurance, so apply to insurers and third-party administrators as soon as your DHA licence is active. Approval can take several weeks to a few months. Meanwhile, plan cash-pay services, corporate health packages, and online booking to build early patient volume. Remember your own staff also need health insurance.
Doctor and Staff Licensing in Dubai
Each professional applies through Sheryan, completes primary source verification, and passes the DHA assessment for their title where required. Plan staff licensing in parallel with fit-out, because it is often the slowest step. The medical director must stay licensed throughout, and staff licences must be renewed before they expire.
VAT and Corporate Tax for Clinics
- VAT: basic and preventive healthcare is generally zero-rated, while cosmetic and elective services are usually taxed at 5%. Mandatory VAT registration applies above AED 375,000 in taxable supplies
- Corporate tax: 9% on taxable income above AED 375,000. DHCC clinics can get 0% only on qualifying income
- Keep clear records of zero-rated and standard-rated services
Check current rules with the Federal Tax Authority. Our team handles VAT registration and corporate tax.
Opening a Clinic in Abu Dhabi or Saudi Arabia
Abu Dhabi clinics are licensed by the Department of Health instead of DHA. See our guide to opening a medical clinic in Abu Dhabi. Expanding to the Kingdom? Read about the healthcare business in Saudi Arabia and our business setup in Saudi Arabia services.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Signing a lease before DHA confirms the layout works
- Changing the fit-out without new approval
- Hiring doctors before checking they can get DHA licences
- Underestimating working capital for the first six months
- Ignoring VAT differences between basic and cosmetic services
Expert tip from Adil Ahmad: Get DHA initial approval on your layout before you commit to fit-out. A small change, such as a missing hand-wash basin or a corridor that is too narrow, can cost weeks and tens of thousands of dirhams to fix later.
FAQs on Clinic License in Dubai
How much does it cost to open a clinic in Dubai?
About AED 450,000 to 1.5 million, depending on the specialty, location, and equipment.
Who issues a clinic license in Dubai?
DHA issues the health facility licence, and DET or the free zone issues the trade licence. DHCC clinics are licensed by the Dubai Healthcare City Authority.
How long does it take to open a clinic in Dubai?
Usually 3 to 6 months.
Can a non-doctor open a clinic in Dubai?
Usually yes, if a DHA-licensed medical director manages clinical operations.
Can foreigners own 100% of a clinic in Dubai?
Yes in DHCC, and for most healthcare activities on the mainland. Confirm your activity with DET.
What is Sheryan?
Sheryan is DHA’s online portal for facility and professional licensing.
How long is a DHA facility licence valid?
One year, renewable. The initial inactive licence is also valid for one year.
Is VAT charged on clinic services in Dubai?
Basic healthcare is generally zero-rated, while cosmetic services usually carry 5% VAT.
Start Your Clinic Setup in Dubai
Our team manages trade licences, DHA approvals, staff licensing, corporate bank accounts, and PRO services from start to opening day. We also support business setup in Dubai for every sector. Speak with our business setup consultants for a free clinic setup plan.
