Dubai Healthcare Facility Setup (DHA)
Set up your Dubai healthcare facility — clinic, polyclinic, pharmacy, diagnostic centre, or medical company. DET trade license plus DHA facility licensing. Octavon handles the company setup; clinical credentialing is operator-led.
Description
Dubai Healthcare Facility Setup covers the company-side establishment of a healthcare facility on Dubai mainland — clinic, polyclinic, day surgery centre, pharmacy, diagnostic laboratory, or medical equipment trading company — through DET mainland licensing combined with Dubai Health Authority (DHA) facility licensing. The DHA regulates all healthcare facilities outside DHCC (which has its own regulator, DHCA). This service covers the facility/company side of healthcare licensing only; individual practitioner credentialing (DataFlow primary source verification, DHA exam, medical malpractice insurance) is appointed and processed by the clinical operator through DHA's separate professional licensing system.
Facility setup requires DET initial approval for the medical activity, DHA Facility Licensing (which includes facility category determination, premises inspection against DHA specifications, infection control compliance, medical equipment registration, and a licensed medical director appointment), Civil Defence NOC, premises in healthcare-zoned location with appropriate medical fit-out, and ongoing DHA compliance monitoring. Pharmacy operations add Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) drug controlled substances licensing. Octavon coordinates the facility and company licensing pathway — the clinical operator's appointed medical director handles the practitioner-side credentialing.
Octavon Global Advisory handles complete Dubai healthcare facility setup — activity and facility category assessment, DET trade license coordination, premises feasibility and healthcare zoning check, DHA Facility Licensing application coordination, Civil Defence NOC, medical equipment registration guidance, MOA drafting, Ejari, Establishment Card, investor visa, and corporate bank account introduction. Facility setups typically complete in 8 to 16 weeks depending on facility category, fit-out, and DHA inspection scheduling. Clinical practitioner credentialing runs in parallel and is operator-managed.
What's Included
- DET Mainland Trade License (Medical Facility Activity)
- DHA Facility Licensing Application Coordination
- Facility Category Assessment
- Civil Defence NOC for Medical Premises
- Premises Feasibility and Healthcare Zoning Check
- Medical Equipment Registration Guidance
- Memorandum of Association (MOA)
- Trade Name Reservation
- Healthcare-Compliant Ejari
- Dubai Chamber of Commerce Membership
- Establishment Card and Immigration Card
- Investor Visa (1 included)
- Medical Fitness Test and Emirates ID
- Corporate Bank Account Introduction
- Insurance Empanelment Guidance (Operator-Led)
Requirements / Prerequisites
- Premises in healthcare-zoned location meeting DHA specifications
- Medical director credentialed by DHA (operator-appointed)
- Activity-specific clinical staff (operator-appointed and credentialed by DHA)
- Medical equipment compliant with DHA registration
- Infection control and clinical protocols (operator-developed)
- Pharmacy: MOHAP controlled substances pathway (parallel track)
- Minimum 1 shareholder
- Business plan and facility category clarity
Required Documents
- Passport Copy of All Shareholders (6+ months validity)
- Passport-sized Photographs
- UAE Visa Copy and Emirates ID (if UAE resident)
- 3 Proposed Trade Name Choices
- Facility Concept and Service Scope
- Business Plan
- Premises Floor Plan and Medical Fit-Out
- DHA-Compliant Equipment List
- Medical Director Credentials (DHA-licensed, operator-appointed)
- Office Lease / Ejari
- Infection Control Protocols (operator-developed)
- NOC from Current Sponsor (if applicable)
Our Process
- Consultation on facility category (clinic, polyclinic, pharmacy, diagnostic, etc.)
- Premises feasibility and healthcare zoning verification
- Trade name reservation with DET
- DET initial approval for medical activity
- Premises Ejari registration
- Medical fit-out to DHA specifications
- Civil Defence NOC inspection
- DHA Facility Licensing application submission
- DHA premises inspection
- Medical equipment registration
- Medical director appointment by clinical operator
- DHA facility licence issuance
- DET final trade license
- Establishment Card, visa, medical, Emirates ID
- Corporate bank account opening
- Insurance empanelment (operator-led)
Pricing
- Basic Fee: AED 35,000
- Service Fee: AED 8,500
- VAT (5%): AED 2,175
- Total: AED 45,675
Frequently Asked Questions
What healthcare facilities does this service cover?
The company / facility side of: clinics (single-specialty and polyclinics), day surgery centres, diagnostic laboratories, imaging centres, pharmacies, medical equipment trading companies, and homecare service companies, all on Dubai mainland under DHA. Facilities inside DHCC use the separate DHCC / DHCA route — see our Dubai Healthcare City service.
Does Octavon handle individual doctor and nurse licensing?
No — that is operator-led and out of scope for business setup consultancy. Individual practitioner credentialing (DataFlow primary source verification, DHA exam scheduling, medical malpractice insurance, ongoing professional development tracking) is the clinical operator's responsibility through DHA's professional licensing system. We facilitate the company and facility setup that allows your medical director and team to operate.
How long does Dubai healthcare facility setup take?
Standard facility setups typically take 8 to 16 weeks from start to operating licence — driven by DHA premises inspection scheduling, fit-out time, and equipment registration. Small clinics with standard layouts trend toward 8-10 weeks; polyclinics, day-surgery, and diagnostic centres trend toward 12-16 weeks or more.
How much does Dubai healthcare facility licensing cost?
Government and regulatory fees typically run AED 40,000-80,000 first year covering DET license, DHA facility licensing, Civil Defence, medical equipment registration, and Ejari. Fit-out to DHA specifications is the largest cost (AED 200,000-2,000,000+ depending on facility type) and is outside the regulatory budget.
What is the difference between DHA and DHCC for setting up a clinic?
DHA regulates healthcare facilities across Dubai mainland — anywhere outside Dubai Healthcare City. DHCC is a free zone with its own regulator (DHCA) operating within the DHCC district. DHA suits clinics targeting neighbourhood catchments across Dubai; DHCC suits operators wanting a healthcare-clustered location and the free zone regulatory framework. We compare both based on your patient catchment plan.
Do pharmacies need additional licensing beyond DHA?
Yes. Community pharmacies require DHA facility licensing plus MOHAP (Ministry of Health and Prevention) registration for controlled substances and prescription medicines, plus DHA-licensed pharmacist-in-charge. The MOHAP track runs in parallel to DHA and adds 4-8 weeks. We coordinate both tracks.
Can a foreign investor own 100% of a Dubai medical facility?
Yes, for most medical facility activities under DET mainland licensing following Federal Decree-Law No. 32 of 2021. A few specific clinical activities may still require Emirati participation or partnership — we confirm against the latest DHA activity list at consultation. DHCC offers 100% foreign ownership across all activities.