Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC)
Dubai Healthcare City is the only Dubai free zone that can license clinical activity, and the point that matters most is that it has its own regulator. Facilities and practitioners in DHCC are licensed by the Dubai Healthcare City Authority Regulatory arm, not by the DHA, so the application route, the standards and the practitioner licensing are separate from the mainland process. Choose between them deliberately, because moving later means relicensing.
Starting from: AED 25,000 - 80,000 for year one
Why choose Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC)?
- The only Dubai free zone permitted to license clinical healthcare activity
- Independent healthcare regulator, separate from the DHA mainland route
- Established cluster of clinics, hospitals, diagnostics and medical education
- 100% foreign ownership, which the mainland clinical route structures differently
- Two districts: the original medical cluster and a wellness-oriented second phase
- Recognised internationally, which supports medical tourism positioning
How much does a Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) licence cost?
A licence here typically runs AED 25,000 - 80,000 for year one. The licence is normally issued in 6 - 12 months once documents are ready, and entry package tiers carry 1 - 8 visas. The low end is a single-activity licence with no staff visas; the high end reflects extra activities, a dedicated office or a higher visa quota.
Only Dubai free zone that licenses clinical activity, under its own health regulator rather than DHA.
Estimate. Indicative market range for planning, not confirmed with the authority. Check current figures before you apply.
| Item | Indicative cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Trade licence (year one) | AED 25,000 - 80,000 | Varies with activity count and facility |
| Establishment / immigration card | AED 1,200 - 2,000 | One-off per company, required before any visa |
| Investor or partner visa (2 years) | AED 3,500 - 5,500 | Includes medical, Emirates ID and status change |
| Employee visa (2 years) | AED 4,000 - 6,500 | Per employee |
| Annual licence renewal | 85 - 100% of year-one fee | Excludes one-off formation items |
Indicative ranges for planning, not a quote. Zone packages and government fees change — confirm current figures with the authority before you apply.
How many visas do you get?
Quota follows the facility you take, not the licence itself.
| What you lease | Typical visa quota | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Licence only (zero-visa) | 0 | Trade licence with no residency for anyone |
| Flexi desk / smart desk | 1 - 6 | Set by the package tier you buy, not by the activity |
| Dedicated office (15 - 25 sqm) | 4 - 8 | First step up when a flexi desk runs out of quota |
| Larger office or warehouse | about 1 per 9 sqm | Subject to the zone approving the allocation |
Full detail, including how to increase your allocation: free zone visa quota explained.
Licence types available
- Clinical facility licence — clinics, day surgery, hospitals and diagnostic centres
- Individual practitioner licence — required for every doctor, dentist, nurse and allied professional
- Non-clinical healthcare services — medical billing, administration and consultancy
- Medical education and training institutions
- Pharmaceutical, medical device and nutraceutical companies
- Wellness and complementary services in the second phase
How to set up, step by step
- Confirm the clinical scope and that your lead practitioner can be licensed by the regulator
- Obtain initial approval for the facility concept and intended location
- Secure premises within DHCC and submit the layout for regulatory design approval
- Complete the fit-out to approved drawings, including any radiation shielding
- Pass the facility inspection and obtain the clinical licence
- License every practitioner individually, then open the immigration file and operate
Documents you need
- Passport copy and recent photograph for each shareholder
- Lead practitioner qualifications, experience letters and primary source verification
- Facility layout drawings to the regulator specification
- Clinical protocols, scope of service and infection control documentation
- Malpractice insurance for every practitioner
- Business plan, commonly requested for clinical facilities
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Last updated: October 2026
General information, not advice. Fees, packages and visa quotas are set by the free zone authority and change without notice — confirm current terms before applying.