The UAE healthcare market is witnessing astonishing growth with a high demand for healthcare and rising initiatives by the government. The government is extensively upgrading and expanding the healthcare system to develop a strong world-class healthcare infrastructure.
The Dubai government is always encouraging healthcare professionals and investors to set up healthcare facilities or research centers in Dubai. Many of them prefer to set up a clinic as it is easier to operate when compared to a hospital. To set up a business in Dubai, an investor can consider both the Dubai mainland and free zone license for their company incorporation.
Also read: Professional service license in Dubai
Process
A healthcare professional or an investor who wishes to setup a clinic in Dubai should possess relevant qualifications related to the profession recognized by the UAE. The country allows acupuncture, ayurveda, herbal/oriental medicine, hijama, homeopathy, naturopathy, osteopathy, unani and traditional chinese medicine. According to the process, the business owner should get a professional license in Dubai and approval from DHA(Dubai Healthcare Authority) by following the rules and regulations of the government authorities.
1. Choose a trade name
While naming your medical service entity in Dubai, you should consider the naming rules and regulations of the country. The trade name must not try to copy established healthcare companies operating in the UAE to prevent trademark issues and you must also use the permitted nomenclature. After choosing the trade name, you can file an online application to DED for reserving the trade name.
2. Get initial approval from DED
After the trade name registration is done at the DED(Department of Economic Development), next step is to file an application for a clinic setup approval. Proper documentation along with passport and visa needs to be submitted. The layout design or plan of the clinic must be submitted to the Dubai municipality for approval.
3. Get approval from DHA
After the DED approval application, next step is to get an approval from the DHA which might take up to 10 days. Given below are the documents required to submit to the DHA for getting the initial approvals:
- DED application form
- Initial approval enquiry receipt
- Trade name reservation certificate
- Passport copy of the shareholders
- Visa copies of expat shareholders if residents of the UAE
- Emirates ID copy of shareholders
- Entry stamp of shareholders if non-residents of the UAE
- For expat shareholders – NOC from the current sponsor, if employed
- Sponsor’s passport copy, visa copy, Emirates id card, family Book
- Layout/floor Plan
- Proposal letter from owner/partners/person with power of attorney
- Ejari or Dubai municipality certificate
- DHA undertaking letter
The final step would be applying for the trade license for your healthcare clinic by creating an account in the DHA portal. The DHA team will visit the clinic and do an onsite inspection. After scrutiny, some additional documents may be required. The healthcare license will be issued based on the onsite final inspection report which must include full compliance with the DHA and the details of medical professionals and consultants who will be working in the clinic.
4. Get final approval from DED
To get the final approval from the DED, the owner needs to go back to DED and present the approval from DHA to obtain the clinic license.
Cost
The cost of obtaining a DHA approval for a clinic in Dubai is as follows:
- DHA Initial approval – AED 1,020
- DHA Final approval – AED 2,020
Setting up a clinic with 2 specialties costs approximately AED 20,040 and for 3 or more specialties, it costs approximately AED 26,040.
Check out this cost calculator to get an estimate for a healthcare professional license in Dubai.
Setting up a clinic in Dubai involves working with multiple authorities and documentation. Decisive Zone, the UAE business setup experts are happy to guide you through the process.
Get a free consultation with our business setup consultants on +971 4 581 3618 or email [email protected]
