Healthcare business setup in the UAE

Healthcare businesses can set up in Dubai Healthcare City, Sharjah Healthcare City, Dubai Science Park or Masdar City. Dubai Healthcare City starts at AED 16,550 with a 2 visa quota.

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The free zones side by side

Starting prices are the free zone's own published package or fees, with what they include. Where a free zone publishes none, the row says so and shows what setup agents publish instead. Checked . Packages change often: confirm before you pay.

Free zoneEmiratePublished starting priceVisasOffice options
DHCCDubai Healthcare City (DHCC)DubaiAED 16,550: Zawel licence, 2 visa quota, no office in year 1 (limited-time offer)Zawel includes a 2 visa quota; a 2-year employment visa costs AED 3,226.73 to AED 4,947.63Desk space, Office, Clinical facility, Land
SHCCSharjah Healthcare CitySharjahPriced by quote: no fee published by SHCC or by setup agentsNot publishedLand, Offices and business centres, Warehouse, Clinical space
DSPDubai Science Park (DSP)DubaiAED 3,500 registration plus AED 15,000 licence a year; desk or lab lease extra1 visa per 80 sq ft of leased space (DSP FAQ); D/Quarters Open Quarters desk carries 1 work permitCo-working (D/Quarters), in5 Science, Office, Light industrial unit, Warehouse
Masdar CityMasdar City Free ZoneAbu DhabiAED 7,000 a year plus VAT: licence, up to 2 activities, no officeInnovation 2 visas, Business One 1, Enterprise 3; employment visa package AED 3,050 plus AED 2,500 refundable depositFlexi desk lite, Flexi desk, Flexi desk plus, Smart desk

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Healthcare business setup in the UAE runs through a small group of free zones. Dubai Healthcare City starts at AED 16,550 for its Zawel licence with a 2 visa quota, and its standard licence is AED 15,000 a year. Sharjah Healthcare City quotes on request. Dubai Science Park suits life science firms at AED 15,000 a year, and Masdar City lists healthcare services among its industries.

Clinics and medical providers

Two zones are built for clinical work.

Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) is regulated by the Dubai Healthcare City Authority. It offers a clinical licence covering inpatient, outpatient, pharmacy and lab activity, and a non-clinical one for wellness, education, retail, hospitality and business support. The licence runs for 1 year, with one primary activity per licence. Minimum share capital is AED 10,000 for most activities. Initial approval takes 3 to 10 working days. The full cost breakdown is on our Dubai Healthcare City page.

Sharjah Healthcare City (SHCC) is in Al Rahmaniya near Sharjah International Airport and is regulated by the Sharjah Health Authority. It states that commercial, facility and professional licences are handled under one roof. A business plan is needed for clinical activity. It offers land, offices, a business centre, warehouse and clinical space. No fee is published. See Sharjah Healthcare City.

Life science and health supply

Dubai Science Park is a TECOM district in Barsha South. Its segments include therapeutics, food, environment, devices, diagnostics and life science services at AED 15,000 a year, with AED 3,500 registration. Manufacturing and production segments are AED 25,000. A visa follows leased space, at 1 per 80 sq ft. Ministry of Health scientific office approval is possible for premises there. Read Dubai Science Park.

Masdar City Free Zone lists Healthcare Services among its industries, and its startup package is AED 7,000 a year plus VAT with up to 2 activities and no office. Its page does not describe what healthcare licences need, so ask before you plan. See Masdar City.

Published figures side by side

Zone Starting figure Visas Best fit
Dubai Healthcare City AED 16,550 Zawel, limited time 2 visa quota Clinics, labs, wellness
Sharjah Healthcare City By quote Not published Clinics and healthcare land
Dubai Science Park AED 3,500 registration plus AED 15,000 a year 1 per 80 sq ft leased Life science, devices
Masdar City AED 7,000 a year plus VAT None on that package Healthcare services in a wider hub

Source: zone profiles in our directory from the DHCA price list, SHCC setup pages, DDA licensing categories and Masdar's licence page, checked . SHCC's setup page was re-read on .

What a free zone licence does not cover

A free zone licence lets your company exist and employ people. It does not replace the health regulator's approval for a facility or a professional. Inside the healthcare zones the zone authority does that job. Outside them, the rules for clinics come from the emirate's health authority, which we have not checked. If you are unsure, read free zone vs mainland.

How to set up

  1. Say whether you run a clinic, a medical supplier, a lab or a wellness business.
  2. Ask the zone whether your activity is licensed and under which licence type.
  3. Prepare a business plan if the activity is clinical.
  4. Submit passports and company documents with the application.
  5. Wait for initial approval, then pay registration and licence.
  6. Apply for staff visas and the establishment card.

Ask the zones through us

The form on this page sends your activity and space needs to the right zone or a licensed setup partner. UAEFreeZoneDirectory.com is an independent directory and not a health regulator or one of these zones. We do not name setup firms for healthcare work: only a few firms in our verified list mention healthcare among the clients or services they handle, and we cannot judge their clinical licensing record.

Sources

Get free quotes from several free zones

Tell us about healthcare business setup in the UAE: your activity, the visas and the office you need. We pass it to the free zones that fit or to a licensed setup partner, and reply with options you can compare side by side.

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Good to know

Questions people ask

Which free zone can license a clinic in Dubai?

Dubai Healthcare City licenses clinical facilities, including outpatient, inpatient, pharmacy and lab activities, under the Dubai Healthcare City Authority. Its clinical licence sits next to a non-clinical one for wellness, education and business support.

How much does a Dubai Healthcare City licence cost?

The Zawel commercial licence is listed at AED 16,550 with a 2 visa quota and no office in year 1, as a limited-time offer. The standard licence is AED 15,000 a year for most activities. The one time application is AED 1,550 and registration AED 3,500.

Can I open a dental clinic in a free zone?

A dental clinic is a clinical facility, so look at Dubai Healthcare City or Sharjah Healthcare City, which license clinical activity. Neither page we read lists dental by name, so ask the zone to confirm your exact activity before you apply.

Does Sharjah Healthcare City publish its fees?

No. Neither the zone nor setup agents publish a fee, so it is priced by quote. The zone says commercial, facility and professional licences are handled together, and a business plan is needed for clinical activity.

Is Dubai Science Park only for laboratories?

It covers science and life science segments such as therapeutics, devices, diagnostics and food. Standard segments cost AED 15,000 a year plus AED 3,500 registration. Manufacturing and production segments cost AED 25,000.

Do doctors need a separate licence from the company licence?

Check this per zone. Sharjah Healthcare City lists commercial, facility and professional licences as separate types, and Dubai Healthcare City licenses facilities and professionals through its authority. Ask which of them your plan needs.

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