Dubai Healthcare City: the UAE's healthcare-specialist free zone, regulated by DHCA
Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) is the only Emirati free zone dedicated 100% to healthcare, medical education, life sciences and wellness. Licenses start from AED 14,999, the cluster hosts 120+ medical establishments and 4,000+ licensed practitioners, and every entity is supervised by the Dubai Healthcare City Authority (DHCA), DHCC's own clinical regulator, distinct from the mainland DHA.
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Why Dubai Healthcare City stands apart from every other UAE free zone
Inaugurated on 6 November 2002 by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Healthcare City was created to make Dubai a regional hub for healthcare and medical tourism. Phase 1 opened in Oud Metha (Bur Dubai) in late 2004 across 4.1 million sq ft; Phase 2 is under development in Al Jaddaf on a further 19 million sq ft.
DHCC is the only UAE free zone whose entire jurisdiction is healthcare and life sciences. It is the largest such cluster in the region: 120+ medical establishments, from Mediclinic City Hospital and Al Jalila Children's to Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai and MBRU, share the same campus, the same regulator and the same digital licensing platform (Masaar).
What separates DHCC from IFZA, DMCC or Meydan is its clinical regulator. The Dubai Healthcare City Authority (DHCA), through its DHCA-Regulatory arm (DHCR), issues facility licenses, conducts Primary Source Verification on every practitioner, oversees Prometric examinations and enforces a framework aligned with Joint Commission International accreditation. This makes DHCC the natural choice for any founder building a hospital, clinic, lab, medical-device distributor or healthcare-tech company in Dubai.
What you can run under a DHCC license
Healthcare is broader than direct patient care. DHCC accommodates five activity clusters, each one mapped to a specific license family and, where required, a DHCR clinical accreditation.
Clinics & medical practice
Solo practices, day-care clinics, dental surgeries, polyclinics and specialty centres (ophthalmology, dermatology, fertility). Requires a Healthcare Facility License plus a DHCR Professional License per practitioner.
Hospitals & specialty centres
Multi-specialty hospitals, day-surgery centres, oncology and cardiology units, paediatric and women's health hospitals. Subject to Healthcare Facility License, Health Facility Guidelines compliance and JCI-aligned audit.
Pharma & medical devices
Import and distribution of medical devices, diagnostics, consumables and pharmaceuticals (OTC and prescription). Operates under a Commercial License with DHCA category approval; serves the cluster and the wider GCC market.
Medical education & research
Universities (MBRU, BU Dental), simulation centres, continuing medical education providers, clinical research organisations and phase II–III trial operators. Translational research benefits from on-campus hospital partnerships.
Wellness & aesthetics
Medical spas, sports medicine, nutrition, anti-ageing, mental health, physiotherapy and aesthetic clinics. Increasingly anchored in Phase 2 (Al Jaddaf), DHCC's 19 million sq ft wellness expansion overlooking Ras Al Khor.
What you actually get with a DHCC license
The combination of the standard free-zone framework with DHCC's clinical specialisation gives founders entitlements no generalist zone offers.
100% foreign ownership, no local sponsor required.
100% repatriation of capital and profits.
No personal income tax; 0% corporate tax on qualifying free-zone income.
DHCA-regulated clinical standards aligned with Joint Commission International.
Access to a 120+ establishment cluster and 4,000+ licensed practitioners.
Central Dubai location, 10 minutes from DXB International Airport.
Two metro stations on the Green Line (Dubai Healthcare City & Al Jaddaf).
Masaar e-services platform for digital licensing and renewals.
MBRU pipeline for sourcing local medical and paramedical talent.
NABIDH integration enables instant interoperability with Dubai's unified patient record.
Pick the DHCC license that matches your model
DHCA groups its licenses into three practical families. Pricing scales with activity scope, office tier and the number of DHCR-licensed practitioners on the establishment.
Most picked
Service / Professional
For consultants, advisors and individual medical practitioners.
- Healthcare consulting and accreditation services
- Hospital management and clinical advisory
- Individual Professional License (PSV + Prometric) for physicians, dentists, allied health
- Eligible for Zawel (no-lease) and SME formats
- Visa quota 2 to 3 with Executive Desk or Executive Office
Commercial
For trading, distribution and non-clinical operators.
- Medical devices & equipment distribution
- Pharmaceutical wholesale (OTC and prescription)
- Healthcare IT, software and SaaS resale
- Insurance, third-party administration and ancillary services
- Operates without DHCR clinical accreditation
Medical / Healthcare Facility
For establishments delivering direct patient care.
- Day-care clinic, polyclinic, multi-specialty hospital
- Diagnostic laboratory, radiology centre, pharmacy
- Health Facility Guidelines fit-out (HVAC, medical waste, JCI-ready)
- Full DHCR establishment accreditation
- NABIDH EMR integration required from day one
Notable establishments operating at Dubai Healthcare City
DHCC concentrates the region's most recognised hospital brands, paediatric and ophthalmology centres of reference, and the UAE's flagship medical university. Eight representative names from the 120+ active establishments:
Hospital
Mediclinic City Hospital
A 280-bed JCI-accredited multi-specialty hospital that opened in 2008, the anchor tenant of DHCC Phase 1.
Ophthalmology
Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai
First international branch of London's Moorfields Eye Hospital, the region's tertiary reference in ophthalmology.
Multispec
Dr Sulaiman Al Habib
Dubai branch of the Saudi HMG group, operational at DHCC since 2015, multi-specialty inpatient and outpatient care.
Specialty
Emirates Specialty Hospital
Multi-specialty hospital located in DHCC Phase 1, with strengths in orthopaedics, cardiology and bariatrics.
Paediatrics
Al Jalila Children's Hospital
The UAE's first dedicated paediatric hospital, opened in 2016, government-owned, sub-specialty paediatric care.
Academic
MBRU
Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, DHCA's medical university and the cluster's research engine.
Aesthetics
AACSH Dubai
American Academy of Cosmetic Surgery Hospital, aesthetic and reconstructive surgery centre operating in Phase 1.
Dental Research
BU Dental
Boston University's post-graduate dental institute in Dubai, clinical training and applied dental research.
Two campuses: Oud Metha for clinical, Al Jaddaf for wellness
DHCC operates across two campuses. Phase 1 in Oud Metha (Bur Dubai) houses hospitals, clinics, labs and MBRU. Phase 2 in Al Jaddaf, on the Dubai Creek waterfront, is the 19 million sq ft wellness expansion.
- 10 min to DXB International Airport
- 500 m from Wafi Mall & Wafi City
- Dubai Healthcare City Metro Station on the Green Line (Phase 1)
- Al Jaddaf Metro Station on the Green Line (Phase 2)
Executive offices
Up to 3 visas, fitted offices in Phase 1 towers
Executive desks
Up to 2 visas, ideal for solo practitioners
Clinical fit-out
Health Facility Guidelines-ready medical premises
Retail & F&B
On-campus pharmacies, cafés and the Wafi precinct
How we incorporate your DHCC entity in 2 to 4 weeks
Six steps from first call to issued license. Clinical premises and Professional Licenses add a parallel DHCR track that we manage end-to-end.
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Scope activity & phase
Map your business model to a license family (Service, Commercial, Healthcare Facility) and pick the right campus: Phase 1 for clinical, Phase 2 for wellness.
Pick the legal form & office tier
FZ-LLC (one or several shareholders) or branch. We size the office tier (Executive Desk, Executive Office or clinical premises) against your visa quota and DHCA category.
Reserve trade name & submit on Masaar
We file the name reservation and initial application on the Masaar e-services platform, including the medical business plan when required.
Lease, fit-out & pre-operational audit
Premises lease signed inside the DHCC perimeter. For clinical entities, fit-out to Health Facility Guidelines (HVAC, medical waste, JCI-ready) and DHCR pre-operational inspection.
License issuance
DHCA issues the Commercial or Healthcare Facility License, the Establishment Card and the Corporate Tax registration. The entity is legally operational.
Professional Licenses, visas & banking
For each practitioner: Primary Source Verification (AED 5,700), Prometric exam, DHCR Professional License. Residence visas and UAE bank account opened in parallel.
Four realities first-time DHCC founders miss
DHCA professional licensing is mandatory
Every clinician operating inside DHCC needs a DHCR Professional License: Primary Source Verification of credentials, a Prometric exam, and good-standing certificates. PSV alone costs AED 5,700 and takes 4 to 8 weeks. Budget this into your launch plan.
Physical premises are required
Healthcare Facility Licenses are not compatible with flexi-desks. You must lease compliant premises inside the DHCC perimeter (Phase 1 or Phase 2), and a Health Facility Guidelines fit-out for a clinic typically runs AED 200 to 400 per sq ft.
Realistic lead time
Commercial license: 2 to 4 weeks. Clinic with fit-out: 6 to 12 weeks. Hospital: 6 to 12 months including DHCR establishment accreditation. Plan staff PSV cycles in parallel. They are the critical path.
DHCA audit & NABIDH integration
Annual DHCR audits cover clinical governance, infection control and patient records. Every clinic must integrate its EMR with NABIDH, Dubai's unified patient-record backbone. This is a fit-for-purpose requirement, not optional.
What's inside our DHCC all-in-one package
One transparent fee covers company formation, residence visa and UAE banking. Commercial entry-level from AED 24,900: 1 year, 1 visa, Executive Desk address inside DHCC.
Company formation
- Trade name reservation on Masaar
- License issuance (Commercial or Service)
- Memorandum of Association drafting + e-signature
- Executive Desk address inside DHCC
- Establishment Card
- Corporate Tax registration & initial compliance filing
- DHCA activity selection & category approval
Residence visa
- Entry permit issuance
- Medical fitness test coordination
- Emirates ID application & biometrics
- Visa stamping inside passport
- Status change inside the UAE
- Valid 2 years, renewable
Banking
- Business and personal account introductions
- Document pack prepared to bank-ready standard
- Follow-up support until account is opened
- Backup option with a UAE digital bank
DIY vs working with us
On your own
Compare 45+ providers
Rules, prices and procedures all over the place
Check trade-name availability
Submit the request and wait for approval
Fill admin forms & files
Errors = delays or fines
Gather supporting documents
Missing or incorrect = rejection or fines
Chase extra approvals
Miss one and you trigger penalties or delays
Shop prices and locations
Hidden costs likely
Handle the payments
Procedural errors = fines or delays
Run the visa process
Strict steps and timelines, fine risk
Shop UAE banks cold
High rejection risk
Track compliance yourself
VAT & renewals → penalties if missed
Time sink
Stress, errors, financial risk
Recommended
With us
An optimal structure
Tailored to your goals
Trade name reserved
Fast and approved
Dedicated personal support
By your side at every step
Compliant, validated file
Optimised to pass first time
Easier networking
Targeted introductions
Optimised investment
No unnecessary costs
End-to-end support
Fast and stress-free
Single point of contact
Clear, personalised follow-up
Bank account opening
Fast and simplified
Zero stress, total peace of mind
We look after everything
100% business focus
We handle the rest
Teams we've set up at Dubai Healthcare City
"Very professional team, attentive and reactive. Thank you to Franck and Benjamin for their efficiency, and to the boss Mr Malik — thank you for your seriousness and your availability."
"I'd like to thank the entire team for their professionalism, and especially Joïcia and Akhil, who have been taking great care of me since day one. Joïcia clearly explained all the steps throughout the process and was always reactive and available, and Akhil was also very supportive and professional. Their guidance made everything smooth and reassuring."
"Everything went perfectly with Créer Société Dubai. The team is very efficient, professional, and provides clear support at every stage. Responses to every question are quick and precise. A serious and very well-organized service."
Dubai Healthcare City: frequently asked questions
Pricing depends on the license family and office tier:
- Commercial license: from AED 14,999 (entry-level activities, Executive Desk)
- Service / Professional: from AED 20,000 typically
- Healthcare Facility (clinic): total launch budget AED 30,000 to 100,000 including fit-out, DHCR accreditation and Primary Source Verification of practitioners
- Multi-specialty hospital: frequently above AED 500,000 all-in
Minimum paid-up capital is AED 100,000 for standard structures and AED 300,000 for clinical FZ-LLCs.
The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) regulates healthcare on the mainland: every clinic, pharmacy or hospital outside DHCC. The Dubai Healthcare City Authority (DHCA) is the dedicated regulator inside the DHCC free zone, with its own facility and professional licensing framework operated through DHCA-Regulatory (DHCR).
A DHA license does not work in DHCC, and a DHCR license does not work outside DHCC. Practitioners who want to operate in both jurisdictions need two separate licenses.
Phase 1 is the established campus in Oud Metha (4.1 million sq ft): the home of hospitals, specialty clinics, diagnostic labs, MBRU and the majority of DHCC's clinical activity.
Phase 2 is the wellness expansion in Al Jaddaf (19 million sq ft), positioned on the Dubai Creek waterfront overlooking the Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary. It is dedicated to wellness tourism, long-term care, medical spas, sports medicine and preventive health. DHCA has committed an AED 1.3 billion programme that includes flagship buildings such as PIXEL DHCC and IBN SINA+, due for completion by November 2027.
No. DHCR Professional Licensing (PSV + Prometric) only applies to clinicians: physicians, dentists, nurses, pharmacists and allied health professionals. Non-clinical operators (medical device distributors, healthcare IT vendors, hospital consultants, insurance and TPA businesses) operate under a standard Commercial or Service license without any individual practitioner licensing.
Yes for non-clinical Commercial and Service licenses: the company-formation track on Masaar can be completed remotely, with e-signed MoA. You only need to travel for the residence visa (medical, Emirates ID, stamping).
For Healthcare Facility Licenses, on-site visits are unavoidable: site selection, lease signature, fit-out supervision and pre-operational DHCR inspection require physical presence.
Visa quotas are linked to the office tier rather than the license itself:
- Executive Desk: 2 visas
- Executive Office: 3 visas
- Larger fitted offices & clinical premises: 4 to 10 visas, scaling with sq ft
Healthcare Facility Licenses receive additional clinical-staff allocations on top of the office quota, sized against bed count or clinic capacity.
Other free zones worth considering
Each free zone serves a different model. If Dubai Healthcare City isn't quite the right fit, these are the closest alternatives.
Book your free 30-minute DHCC consultation
We'll tell you within 30 minutes whether Dubai Healthcare City is the right free zone for your healthcare project, and if it isn't, which one is.
