How to Open a Clinic in Dubai: Cost, Steps and Timeline

Quick answer: To open a clinic in Dubai you register your company, apply to the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) via the Sheryan portal, obtain fit-out and layout approval, install equipment to spec, license your clinicians, and pass a final inspection before the license is issued. The process typically takes 3-6 months and first-year investment commonly runs AED 2.5M+ depending on specialty.

In short

• Regulator: DHA (Sheryan portal); NABIDH EMR integration is mandatory.
• 5 stages: application -> fit-out approval -> construction -> staff licensing -> final inspection.
• Timeline: ~3-6 months for a standard clinic.
• Cost: AED 2.5-3.6M single-specialty dental to AED 9.3-12.1M multispecialty.
• DHCC operators license under DHCR instead, not DHA.

Why opening a clinic in Dubai is its own process

Dubai is regulated by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), separate from Abu Dhabi (DOH) and the Northern Emirates (MOHAP). DHA uses the Sheryan licensing portal and mandates NABIDH EMR integration. One critical fork: clinics inside Dubai Healthcare City license under DHCR, not DHA mainland. Choosing the wrong jurisdiction early is the most expensive mistake we see, because it determines ownership, catchment, and the entire approval path.

How to open a clinic in Dubai (step by step)

1. Structure the company. Choose mainland (100% foreign ownership available for most healthcare activities since 2021) or a free zone, and register the trade license.
2. Submit the initial DHA application. Lodge ownership documents and scope of services on Sheryan; clear security clearance (typically weeks 1-4).
3. Get fit-out and layout approval. Submit the clinical layout against DHA Health Facility Guidelines for room sizes, infection control, and civil defence (weeks 4-12). Pass before a wall goes up.
4. Build and install equipment. Construct to spec; obtain FANR authorization if you operate imaging or radiation.
5. License your clinicians (parallel track). Complete DataFlow primary-source verification, Prometric exams, eligibility, and activation so staff are ready at opening.
6. Pass final inspection and receive the license. The license is valid one year with annual renewal.

Indicative cost to open a clinic in Dubai

Fit-out and equipment, not authority fees, dominate the budget. See the full cost to open a clinic in the UAE.

Indicative timeline

Common mistakes to avoid

• Picking the wrong jurisdiction (DHA mainland vs DHCC).
• Signing a lease before layout approval, then failing DHA room-size or infection-control standards.
• Starting clinician licensing late, leaving the clinic licensed but unstaffed.
• Ignoring NABIDH EMR integration, which DHA requires.
• Underbudgeting fit-out at ~AED 600-1,200/sqft.

How MedGrowth helps

We run the entire Dubai setup as one accountable partner: healthcare business setup, DHA facility licensing, fit-out and layout approvals, and professional licensing — from idea to opening day.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to open a clinic in Dubai? Typically 3-6 months for a standard clinic, with staff licensing running in parallel to construction.

How much does it cost to open a clinic in Dubai? Indicatively AED 2.5-3.6M for single-specialty dental and AED 9.3-12.1M for a multispecialty center, driven by fit-out and equipment.

Do I license under DHA or DHCC? Mainland Dubai clinics license under DHA; clinics inside Dubai Healthcare City license under DHCR.

Sources

DHA Sheryan; DHA Manual for Licensing Health Facility; DHA Health Facility Guidelines; FANR; Kayrouz & Associates UAE Healthcare Facility Licence Guide 2026; UAE Government Corporate Tax. Figures indicative.