Opening a clinic in Dubai involves more than choosing a location and applying for a licence. Before you begin the setup, you need to understand the healthcare facility licensing process, confirm your clinic’s scope, prepare the required premises and engineering layout, and complete the relevant approvals in the right order.
In this guide, we explain the first steps for opening a clinic in Dubai, from defining your healthcare activity and securing the right premises to applying for the DHA New Facility License, completing the fit-out and preparing for activation and inspection. The exact requirements can vary depending on the type and scope of your healthcare facility, so planning each stage correctly can help you avoid costly changes later.
1. Reserve your trade name with DET
DET is the Department of Economy and Tourism, formerly DED. DHA doesn’t need the final trade licence yet; at this stage it is optional.
2. Secure your premises and get the layout designed
DHA’s application asks for the location details (Makani number, DM plot number certificate and Ejari), plus a layout drawn by a DHA-prequalified health-facility design consultant to DHA’s Health Facility Guidelines. Check the layout works before you commit to a long lease.
3. Apply for DHA’s New Facility License on Sheryan
Submit the owners’ passport copies (with Emirates ID where applicable), the facility proposal on DHA’s template, the layout and the location details. DHA’s published average processing time is 5 working days. If approved, you receive an inactive facility licence valid for one year.
4. Issue the trade licence and build
Get the DET trade licence. Then complete the fit-out with Dubai Municipality (or Trakhees/DDA, where your site falls under them) and Dubai Civil Defence approvals. If you will install X-ray or other radiology equipment, register with FANR as well.
5. Get activation-ready
Appoint a Medical Director, license your clinical staff under the facility, install a NABIDH-compliant EMR and test its connection, and prepare the Civil Defence certificate, your policies and procedures, a third-party insurance contract and a medical waste management contract.
6. Activate and pass inspection
Apply for Activate Facility License on Sheryan. DHA’s published processing time is 1 working day, after which DHA schedules the inspection. Once you pass, the licence becomes active and you can open. If you don’t pass, you fix the issues, book a new inspection and pay the re-inspection fee.
Finish every step within the inactive licence’s one-year validity. DHA cancels the licence if the requirements aren’t completed in that time.
Also Read – Why Choose Healthcare Consultancies in Dubai for Clinic Setup?
Why choose OnTime Healthcare?
Opening a healthcare facility involves several connected requirements, so getting advice at the planning stage can be useful. OnTime Healthcare can support clinic owners in organising the setup process around the requirements that apply to their proposed facility.
Our approach focuses on helping you understand:
- Which healthcare facility and service scope applies to your proposed clinic
- Wwhat needs to be considered when planning the premises and engineering layout
- How the DHA New Facility License process fits into the overall setup
- What needs to be prepared before facility activation and inspection
- Wwhich licensing and operational requirements need to be addressed before the facility starts providing healthcare services
DHA’s official facility licensing process separates New Facility License, facility activation and inspection into distinct stages. We use this structure as the basis for planning the setup process rather than treating clinic licensing as a single application.
The exact requirements depend on the facility type and services you intend to provide. For that reason, the setup plan should be prepared around your specific clinic rather than relying on a generic checklist.
Conclusion
Opening a clinic in Dubai requires more than obtaining a healthcare facility licence. The process involves defining the facility and its services, planning the premises and engineering layout, completing the required licensing stages, preparing the facility for inspection and ensuring that the required healthcare professionals and operational requirements are in place before the clinic begins providing services.
The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) requires a new healthcare facility to go through its New Facility License process, followed by facility activation and inspection before the facility can operate. DHA’s Health Facility Guidelines also provide requirements covering healthcare facility planning and design, accessibility and safety, infection control and engineering services.
For this reason, the most practical way to approach a new clinic project is to establish the facility scope first and then plan the licensing, design, fit-out and activation requirements around that scope. This can help reduce the risk of making changes to the premises or layout later in the process.
If you are planning to open a clinic in Dubai, use the current DHA requirements as the starting point for your project and verify the applicable requirements for your specific facility category before submitting an application.
FAQs
1. How to open a clinic in Dubai ?
For opening a clinic in Dubai, you need to reserve a trade name, get DET approval, and apply for DHA licensing for the clinic from the Dubai Health Authority. After that, complete inspections and get your final license.Â
2. What are the documents required for opening a clinic in Dubai?
You need passport copies, visa and emirates ID, trade name certificate, doctor qualifications, Good Standing Certificate, and clinic layout plan. Extra documents may be required by the Dubai Health Authority.
3. How long does it take to open a physiotherapy clinic in Dubai?
How long setup takes depends on the project: the facility type, how quickly the layout is finalised, the fit-out, and how fast your staff are licensed. DHA’s own steps are short. The New Facility License averages 5 working days, and activation takes 1 working day before the inspection visit. Just remember that the inactive licence is valid for one year, so every remaining step has to fit inside that window.
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