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Dubai Healthcare City free zone (DHCC) charges AED 15,000 a year for most commercial licences, plus AED 1,550 for the initial application and AED 3,500 for registration, paid once. Right now there is also Zawel, a limited-time subsidised package at AED 16,550 with a 2 visa quota and no office needed in year one. Dubai Healthcare City suits clinics, pharmacies, labs and health-related businesses, and it also takes non-clinical firms such as IT, consultancy and wellness.
The zone is run by the Dubai Healthcare City Authority (DHCA), which also licenses the healthcare professionals and facilities inside it. DHCC says it was established in . It has two sites: Phase 1 on Oud Metha Road in Bur Dubai and Phase 2 in Al Jaddaf.
How much does a DHCC license cost?
| Fee or package | Price | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Initial application | AED 1,550 | One time, new commercial licence |
| Registration | AED 3,500 | One time, plus small per-transaction Innovation and Knowledge fees |
| Commercial licence | AED 15,000 a year | Most non-clinical and outpatient clinical activities, one primary activity, 1 year |
| SME licence track | AED 1,000 a year | Years 1 to 3; no application or registration fee |
| Zawel Commercial Licence | AED 16,550 | Limited-time subsidised package, 2 visa quota, no office in year 1 |
| Establishment card | AED 1,935 normal, AED 2,065 express | New card |
Source: DHCA Service Price List (effective ) and the DHCC Zawel and new commercial licence pages, checked .
Hospitals pay a higher annual licence based on bed count. A licence holds one primary activity, and DHCA approves extra activities case by case.
The SME track looks very cheap: AED 1,000 a year for three years, then AED 2,000 a year in years four and five, then the normal fee from year six. DHCA does not define who qualifies as an SME on the pages we read. Ask before you plan around it.
The Zawel package: what you get and the catch
Zawel is the quickest way into DHCC, and DHCA labels it a limited-time offer. For AED 16,550 you get:
- An instant commercial licence for an FZ-LLC
- A quota of 2 visas
- No office or Ejari in the first year
The limits matter. Zawel only covers activities that need no outside approval, such as IT, marketing, consultancy, research and development, gaming and Web3. Visa and immigration charges are not included. From year two you pay standard fees, and on renewal you need an office and an Ejari. Because the offer can end, confirm it is still open on the day you apply.
What agencies quote for DHCC
Setup agencies quote the DHCC annual licence fee at AED 15,000 to AED 45,000, depending on the activity cluster (published prices of 2 setup agencies, checked ). That range is the licence fee alone, not a package. One agency page also states a much higher minimum share capital than DHCC's own rule. Go by Rule No. 1, below, and ask DHCA if in doubt.
What does a DHCC visa cost?
DHCA prices a 2-year employment residence visa package at AED 3,226.73 to AED 4,947.63 with normal service. The lower figure applies when the employee is outside the UAE, the higher when they are already inside. Express service costs more. DHCA also holds a bank guarantee deposit of AED 2,500 per employee.
Zawel gives you a 2 visa quota. For other licences, DHCA does not publish the visa allocation per office size on the pages we read. Compare these fees with other zones on our free zone visa cost page, and see the establishment card guide for what the card is for.
What office options does DHCC offer?
DHCC leases desk space, offices and clinical facilities. Larger healthcare operators can take land on freehold, lease or joint venture terms. A clinic or pharmacy needs premises that pass DHCA facility licensing, so a desk is only an option for non-clinical work.
Which licence types and company forms does DHCC offer?
DHCC issues commercial licences in two broad groups:
- Clinical: inpatient (hospitals), outpatient (clinics), pharmacy and laboratories
- Non-clinical: wellness, education, retail, hospitality, business support and regional headquarters
Company forms are the FZ-LLC (at least 1 shareholder and 1 director), a branch of a UAE company and a branch of a foreign company.
Minimum share capital is AED 10,000 for most activities under DHCC Rule No. 1. Some activities need more. DHCA can waive proof that the capital has been paid in.
How do you set up a company in DHCC?
- Check your activity against the DHCA list and decide if it is clinical or non-clinical.
- For clinical work, plan the DHCA facility and professional licences alongside the company.
- Register on the DHCA Masaar e-services portal and submit the application.
- Pay the AED 1,550 initial application fee.
- Get initial approval, which DHCA says takes 3 to 10 working days.
- Sign the lease (not needed in year one on Zawel), pay registration and the licence fee.
- Send the original legal documents DHCA asks for.
- Apply for the establishment card, then employee visas.
What documents does DHCC ask for?
- Passport copies for shareholders and directors
- Passport photos
- Company documents for a branch or corporate shareholder, as originals where DHCA asks
- Professional licences and facility papers for clinical activities
What does DHCC license renewal cost?
A licence runs for 1 year. Most renew at AED 15,000 a year. If you renew late, DHCA charges AED 500 a month after a 30 day grace period.
Pros and cons of Dubai Healthcare City
Pros:
- One authority handles the company, the facility and the professional licences.
- A full, dated price list is published.
- Low minimum capital for most activities.
- Zawel lets non-clinical start-ups begin without an office.
Cons:
- AED 15,000 a year is higher than many general free zones.
- Zawel is temporary and limited to approval-free activities.
- One primary activity per licence.
- No published visa allocation per office size.
If you run a health business outside Dubai, compare Sharjah Healthcare City. For life sciences and research, Dubai Science Park is the other Dubai option. All zones are on the Dubai free zones hub and costs are compared on free zone licence cost.
Ask DHCC through us
Clinical set-ups raise questions a price list cannot answer. Write your activity and staff numbers in the form on this page. UAEFreeZoneDirectory.com is a private directory, separate from DHCA. Your enquiry goes to DHCA or a licensed setup partner, who answers you directly.
Setup consultants that work with DHCC
Setup consultants that list DHCC among their zones include Elevate Business Solutions DMCC, Al Taresh Businessmen Services and Excellence Auditing, Accounting & Tax Consultants, the three highest ranked by weighted Google score. Elevate Business Solutions DMCC is based in JLT. Ask each for a quote with government fees and service fees on separate lines, then compare it with the price above. More firms are in the directory of Dubai setup consultants.
Sources
- https://www.dhcc.ae/ : founding year, authority
- https://www.dhcc.ae/business : locations
- https://www.dhcc.ae/business/setup : online setup through Masaar
- https://dhcc.ae/business/partner/license/view/apply-for-new-commercial-license : application and registration fees, entity types, approval time
- https://www.dhcc.ae/E-Services/DepartmentService/view/zawel-commercial-license : Zawel package terms
- https://www.dhcc.ae//Documents/AboutDHCR/FeeStructure/DHCA_Service_Price_List.pdf : licence, SME, card, visa, deposit and late renewal fees
- https://www.dhcc.ae/gallery/Rule_No_1.pdf : minimum share capital
