Opening a healthcare facility in the UAE - clinic, hospital, laboratory, or pharmacy - requires licensing from the relevant health authority (DHA, DOH, or
Medical & Healthcare Facility Licensing covers legal assessment, documentation and practical support in the UAE. It is typically relevant to businesses, investors and founders establishing or operating under federal, emirate-level or free-zone rules. The applicable requirements and competent authority depend on the activity, place of establishment and where the service or transaction is performed.
The applicable framework depends on the activity, place of establishment and place of performance. UAE federal law, the relevant emirate’s law and free-zone rules are distinguished as the matter requires.
Last reviewed: 22 September 2026
Opening a healthcare facility in the UAE - clinic, hospital, laboratory, or pharmacy - requires licensing from the relevant health authority (DHA, DOH, or MOH) and compliance with clinical-governance, facility-design, and professional-staffing standards. We manage the licensing process and ongoing regulatory compliance.
We handle the full licensing cycle: regulatory-strategy selection, facility-design compliance review, professional-licence coordination for medical staff, and the inspections and approvals needed to commence operations.
Post-licensing, we advise on regulatory-change management, licence-renewal procedures, and defence in regulatory-investigation or complaint proceedings.