How to Set Up a Healthcare Business in the UAE

To know how to set up a healthcare business in the UAE, you must first identify your governing health regulator, secure economic department approval, obtain a facility licence plus individual professional licences, and complete location, engineering, and electronic medical record approvals before you open. The exact regulator depends on where you operate: the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) in Dubai, the Dubai Healthcare City Authority – Regulatory (DHCR) inside DHCC, the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DOH) in Abu Dhabi, or the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) across the Northern Emirates.

How to set up a healthcare business in the UAE: the regulators

First, your jurisdiction decides your regulator. Because the UAE runs federal and emirate-level health systems together, the licensing authority changes depending on where your facility sits.

Most private healthcare facilities operate under a licence granted by their governing regulator, typically the DHA, the DHCR, or the DOH, or by MOHAP in the case of the Northern Emirates. Federal Law No. 4 of 2015 on Private Health Facilities provides the national framework, although DHCC runs its own licensing system.

Dubai (mainland): DHA and Sheryan

In Dubai, the Dubai Health Authority regulates all healthcare facilities except those inside DHCC. The DHA was established under Dubai Law No. 13 of 2007 and runs the fully integrated Sheryan digital system for online licensing.

Notably, the sequence starts at the Dubai Economic Department, which gives initial approval and then asks you to obtain DHA approval before completing your documents.

Dubai Healthcare City: DHCR

Dubai Healthcare City is a purpose-built healthcare free zone. Here, licensing is managed by the DHCR rather than the DHA, so the process and standards differ from mainland Dubai.

Abu Dhabi: DOH and TAMM

The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi governs the entire emirate through the TAMM central portal. Furthermore, DOH facility standards rest on Abu Dhabi Law No. 10 of 2018, and the regulator requires Malaffi EMR integration plus FANR authorization for imaging equipment.

Northern Emirates: MOHAP

MOHAP governs Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, and Umm Al Quwain under Federal Law No. 4 of 2015, using UAE PASS-integrated digital platforms. Therefore, if you are opening outside Dubai and Abu Dhabi, MOHAP is usually your primary touchpoint.

Facility licence vs professional licence: what you actually need

Importantly, two distinct licences apply to almost every healthcare venture. As a result, founders who budget for only one often stall mid-process.

• Facility licence: issued to the company that owns and operates the clinic, pharmacy, or medical centre.
• Professional licence: issued to each individual healthcare practitioner who works there.

For DHA professional licences, clinical staff must complete DataFlow primary source verification (PSV), pass the Prometric exam, and provide a Good Standing Certificate. Consequently, you should begin staff credentialing early, because these checks run on their own timelines.

Regulator	Jurisdiction	Digital platform	Mandatory EMR
DHA	Dubai (excluding DHCC)	Sheryan	NABIDH
DHCR	Dubai Healthcare City free zone	DHCC systems	DHCC requirements
DOH	Abu Dhabi emirate	TAMM	Malaffi
MOHAP	Northern Emirates	UAE PASS platforms	As specified by MOHAP

Step-by-step setup: location, engineering, and EMR approvals

Next, the practical build-out follows a strict order, especially in Dubai. While the steps below reflect the DHA pathway, the logic carries across emirates.

1. Company formation and economic department approval

First, register your legal entity and obtain initial approval from the relevant economic department. In Abu Dhabi, the new facility must contact the Department of Economic Development to issue the needed approvals, irrespective of facility type. A clear corporate structure helps here, and our company formation and corporate structuring teams support founders through this stage.

2. DHA location pre-approval (before the lease)

Crucially, you must obtain DHA location pre-approval before signing any lease, and you should not pay rent before this step. Although it feels counterintuitive, this protects you from committing to premises the regulator may reject.

3. Engineering drawings and municipality layout approval

After pre-approval, commission a DHA-approved engineering firm for architectural and MEP drawings per the DHA Health Facility Guidelines. Then submit these to the DHA and Dubai Municipality for layout approval before any fit-out begins.

Meanwhile, Dubai Municipality verifies the Makani Number and the DM plot number certificate to approve the location. In addition, you need a waste management contract with Dubai Municipality to obtain a DHA licence.

4. EMR connectivity

Before submitting the facility application, select a NABIDH-approved EMR vendor, obtain connectivity approval, and upload proof through the Sheryan portal. Securing these external approvals and NOCs from UAE regulators is exactly where our External Approvals UAE specialists guide healthcare founders end to end.

5. FANR licence for radiation equipment

Finally, if your facility uses radiation-based medical equipment such as X-rays, CT scanners, or radiotherapy, you need a FANR licence. The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation verifies radiation safety measures and confirms that qualified staff operate the equipment.

Timelines, costs, and ownership rules in 2026

As of 2026, timelines vary by emirate and facility type. While Dubai timelines depend on engineering and EMR readiness, Abu Dhabi publishes clearer service targets.

• Abu Dhabi preliminary approval: within 20 working days, after the economic department issues its approvals.
• Abu Dhabi permanent licence: within 25 working days, with engineering drawings uploaded at that stage.

For DOH queries, the health-facilities licensing department can be reached at HFLD@doh.gov.ae or on 03-7165089 / 03-7165091.

Ownership rules for pharmacies and pharmaceutical facilities

Ownership conditions are stricter for pharmacy and pharmaceutical activities. For example, for pharmacies, warehouses, and scientific offices, the owner must be a UAE national as per the Companies Law, and the client must not own more than two pharmacies in the UAE.

However, a non-citizen may own a pharmaceutical establishment provided the local authority issues an approval letter regarding the percentage of foreign ownership. In most cases, the pharmacy application follows Ministerial Circular No. 932 on the health and technical conditions for private pharmacies.

Moreover, pharmaceutical-facility initial approval is issued by the Pharmaceutical Licensing Committee after security clearances and document submission. This approval is valid for 6 months, with extension available upon request. Because these rules carry real consequences, founders often pair them with legal consultation before committing capital.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which UAE authority licenses my healthcare facility, and how do I know if it’s DHA, DHCR, DOH, or MOHAP?

Your regulator depends on your location: the DHA for mainland Dubai, the DHCR for facilities inside Dubai Healthcare City, the DOH for the Abu Dhabi emirate, and MOHAP for the Northern Emirates of Sharjah, Ajman, RAK, Fujairah, and Umm Al Quwain. Federal Law No. 4 of 2015 provides the national framework, while DHCC operates its own system.

What is the difference between a healthcare facility licence and a professional licence in the UAE?

A facility licence is issued to the company that operates the healthcare premises, while a professional licence is issued to each individual practitioner who works there. You need both, and in Dubai professional licences require DataFlow PSV, the Prometric exam, and a Good Standing Certificate.

Do I need DHA location pre-approval before signing a clinic lease in Dubai?

Yes, you must obtain DHA location pre-approval before signing any lease, and you should not pay rent before this step. This prevents you from committing to premises the DHA may not approve for your facility type.

How long does Abu Dhabi DOH take to issue preliminary and permanent healthcare facility licences?

The DOH targets preliminary approval within 20 working days and a permanent licence within 25 working days. Before either step, the new facility must first contact the Department of Economic Development to issue the needed approvals, irrespective of facility type.

Can a foreign national own 100% of a healthcare business or pharmacy in the UAE?

For pharmacies, warehouses, and scientific offices, the owner must be a UAE national under the Companies Law, and no person may own more than two pharmacies in the UAE. However, a non-citizen may own a pharmaceutical establishment if the local authority issues an approval letter confirming the permitted percentage of foreign ownership.

When do I need a FANR licence for my clinic in the UAE?

You need a FANR licence if your facility uses radiation-based medical equipment such as X-rays, CT scanners, or radiotherapy. FANR verifies your radiation safety measures and confirms that qualified staff operate the equipment.

What EMR integration is mandatory for healthcare facilities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi?

Dubai requires NABIDH integration through a NABIDH-approved vendor, while Abu Dhabi requires Malaffi EMR integration. In Dubai, you must obtain connectivity approval and upload proof through the Sheryan portal with your facility licence application.

Disclaimer: This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or regulatory advice. Rules and fees in the UAE change frequently. Before acting on anything you read here, speak to a qualified advisor — we are happy to help.