Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) Setup
Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) setup for clinics, medical centres, pharma and device companies, health tech and wellness businesses. We sort out which licences you need from DHCA and DHA and handle setup through to visas.
Description
Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) is Dubai's healthcare and wellness free zone, set up in 2002. It lists ten hospitals, 168 clinical facilities and more than 400 business partners across Phase 1 in Oud Metha and Phase 2 in Al Jaddaf. The Dubai Healthcare City Authority (DHCA) runs the free zone and issues company licences through its Masaar online system.
Who licenses what changed with Dubai Law No. 16 of 2024. DHCA licenses the company and its commercial activity. Any healthcare activity in DHCC, such as a clinic, day surgery, lab or pharmacy, also needs licences and permits from the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), and DHCC's own site now says healthcare and professional licensing in the zone is managed by DHA. If you're weighing a location outside DHCC, see our Dubai healthcare facility setup (DHA) page.
Non-clinical businesses, such as medical equipment and pharma trading, healthcare consultancy, recruitment, health IT and medical tourism, need the DHCA commercial licence plus any sector approvals for their products. Founders who are individual shareholders can use the Zawel Commercial Licence: issued instantly, two visas, and no office or Ejari needed in the first year (both required from renewal), for activities that need no outside approval.
Clinical setups take longer. You lease or buy a clinical unit, fit it out to the required healthcare standards, appoint an approved medical director, license your doctors and nurses with DHA, and pass a pre-opening inspection before you can treat patients. Plan the fit-out and staff licensing together, because the facility can't open until both are done.
DHCC offers clinical units, offices, retail units and land. For small teams, the DHCX business centre has an Executive Desk with two visas and an Executive Office with three, on one- to two-year leases. After the licence come the Dubai investor visa, employment visas for staff and a corporate bank account. Medical, scientific and research specialists may also qualify for the UAE Golden Visa.
Cost depends on whether you're clinical or non-clinical, the unit and fit-out, the number of visas and staff licences, and the licence term. Message us on WhatsApp or live chat for a written quote.
What's Included
- Assessment of your activity: clinical, non-clinical or Zawel-eligible
- Map of the licences you need from DHCA and DHA, and the order to apply
- DHCA commercial licence application through Masaar
- Premises selection: DHCX desk, office, retail or clinical unit
- Coordination of DHA facility licensing steps for clinical setups (you appoint the medical director and staff)
- Establishment card, visa and Emirates ID applications
- Support with the corporate bank account application
Requirements / Prerequisites
- A healthcare, wellness or related commercial activity accepted by DHCA
- One or more shareholders (individuals only for Zawel), or an existing parent company for a branch
- Premises in DHCC (not needed in year one under Zawel)
- Clinical: a unit fitted out to healthcare standards, an approved medical director and DHA-licensed professionals
- Product approvals where you trade medicines or medical devices
- NOC from your current employer if you hold a UAE employment visa and your situation requires one
Required Documents
- Initial application form and business plan
- Passport copies and CVs of shareholders, directors and managers
- Passport photos and, for UAE residents, visa and Emirates ID copies
- Proposed trade names
- Branch or corporate shareholder: parent company licence or certificate of incorporation, constitutional documents, board resolution, attested as required
- Clinical: medical director and professional credentials for DHA licensing, facility design drawings
Our Process
- Consultation: clinical, non-clinical or Zawel route
- Reserve the trade name and submit the application on Masaar
- DHCA review and initial approval
- Lease or buy premises (not required in year one for Zawel)
- Commercial licence issued by DHCA
- Clinical only: fit-out, DHA facility licence, staff licensing and pre-opening inspection
- Establishment card, visas, medical test and Emirates ID
- Corporate bank account application
Pricing
Contact us on WhatsApp for a tailored quote for this service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who licenses a clinic in Dubai Healthcare City now?
DHCA issues the company's commercial licence. Under Dubai Law No. 16 of 2024, the healthcare activity itself needs licences and permits from the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), plus any DHCA approvals. Doctors and nurses in DHCC are licensed through DHA.
What is the Zawel licence in DHCC?
Zawel is DHCC's instant commercial licence for startups and SMEs owned by individuals. It comes with two visas and doesn't need an office or Ejari in the first year. It covers activities that need no outside approval, such as IT, marketing, HR and recruitment, consultancy and medical tourism.
Can a non-clinical business set up in DHCC?
Yes. Medical equipment and pharma trading, healthcare consultancy, health IT, recruitment and wellness businesses can take a DHCA commercial licence. Trading in medicines or devices also needs product approvals.
How many visas can a DHCC company get?
It depends on your premises. In the DHCX business centre, an Executive Desk allows two visas and an Executive Office three. Zawel gives two. Larger offices and clinics get quotas based on size.
How long does DHCC setup take?
DHCC issues Zawel licences instantly and describes a three-step online registration for other licences. Clinical facilities take much longer because of fit-out, DHA licensing and inspection. We give you a schedule once we know your plans.
How much does it cost to set up in Dubai Healthcare City?
It depends on clinical vs non-clinical activity, premises and fit-out, visas and staff licences, and the licence term. Tell us your plans and we'll send a written quote.
Should I open my clinic in DHCC or elsewhere in Dubai?
Both need DHA healthcare licensing. DHCC gives free zone ownership, DHCA company services and a medical community with referral networks. A DHA clinic elsewhere lets you choose any neighbourhood. Your patient catchment and ownership plans decide it.