DHA Medical License for facilities: Requirements, Eligibility, Types, Process, Exam, and Renewal

Establishing a healthcare facility in Dubai requires obtaining a medical license from the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), which ensures that all operations meet the city’s healthcare standards. The licensing process involves several steps, including providing proof of ownership, submitting a detailed proposal for the facility, complying with NABIDH regulations (Dubai’s unified electronic medical record system), and successfully passing DHA inspections. DHA offers different license categories based on the type of facility – such as hospitals, outpatient clinics, diagnostic centres, pharmacies, clinical support services, traditional medicine centres, and specialized units. Each license is designed to ensure that the facility operates in line with DHA regulations, which vary depending on the services offered, the scope of care, and the size of the facility.

The requirements of the DHA facility licensing process include documents like trade licenses, facility layouts, staffing plans, and proof of NABIDH connectivity, inspection of the facility, and approval through the DHA Sheryan portal. The total time to get a DHA healthcare facility license ranges from one to six months, which vary depending on the complexity of the facility and documentation. The DHA facility license fees vary from AED 5,000 for smaller clinics to AED 40,000 for large hospitals.

The DHA healthcare facility licenses are valid only within Dubai, and separate licenses are needed for other emirates. The application for the DHA facility license is rejected because of the incomplete documents, non-compliance with facility guidelines, unapproved services, or insufficient staff licensing. The applicants should go for the expert consultancy services as they can increase the chances of the application’s success by fulfilling all legal and technical requirements efficiently.

What are the eligibility criteria for facilities to obtain a DHA medical license in Dubai?

The eligibility criteria for facilities to obtain a DHA medical license in Dubai include ownership of the facility, a facility proposal, an engineering layout, documentation, compliance with NABIDH standards, and DHA inspections as mentioned on the official website of the Dubai Health Authority (DHA).

Here are the eligibility criteria for facilities to obtain a DHA medical license in Dubai:

Ownership of Facility

The facility must have an owner or investor who represents it during the licensing process. The owners need to submit the passport copies, Trade License or Expected Trade Name, and the Emirate ID during this process.

Proposal of Facility

The proposal of the facility should have details about the services it will provide, design of the facility that includes a number of rooms and the size of the building, compliance with the DHA regulations, and a staffing plan. This proposal also need a Civil Defense Certificate issued from the Civil Defence for fire safety and emergency situations.

Approval from the Dubai Municipality

The Dubai municipality verifies the Makani Number and DM plot number certificate of the facility to approve its location. They also make sure that the design, layout, and construction follow all the regulations outlined by the Dubai Municipality to provide them with building permits. The healthcare facilities need a waste management contract with the Dubai Municipality to get a license from the Dubai Health Authority (DHA).

Clearance of Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR)

Clearance of Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) is required in case the facility deals with radiation-based medical equipment like X-rays, CT scanners, and radiotherapy equipment. The facility requires a FANR license, which verifies that the facility has proper radiation safety measures and qualified staff.

Verification of Prequalification

The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) verify the financial stability, engineering feasibility, and project scope of large healthcare facilities like hospitals and specialty centers.

Compliance with NABIDH Standards

The facility must comply with all the NABIDH (National Backbone for Integrated Dubai Health) standards, especially in its Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system. The NABIDH standards secure the storage and transfer of patients’ information through internationally recognized coding systems like ICD-10-CM for diagnoses and CPT for clinical procedures.

What are the types of DHA medical licenses for facilities?

The types of DHA medical licenses for facilities are hospitals, outpatient health facilities, diagnostic centers, pharmacies, specialized units, and clinical support facilities, as mentioned in the official Manual for Licensing Health Facilities (2024) of DHA. These different types of health facilities’ licenses make sure that all these facilities follow the rules and regulations set by the Dubai Health Authority.

Here are the types of DHA medical licenses for facilities:

Hospitals

The license for hospital allows the general and speciality hospitals. The general hospitals can provide general medical and surgical services under this license. The speciality hospitals can provide specialized medical treatments like Cardiology, Oncology, Orthopedics, and Maternity.

Outpatient Health Facilities

The license of outpatient health facilities allows a variety of healthcare facilities that include the following:

• Fertility Center which offers assisted reproductive techniques and services.
• Day Surgical Center that provides surgical procedures without overnight stay.
• General Clinic that provides outpatient care led by general practitioners.
• School/Nursery Clinic have basic care within schools/nurseries.
• Express Clinic which provide quick services usually within pharmacies.
• Polyclinic offers multiple specialties including diagnostics and dental.
• Specialty Clinic provides services in a single specialty (e.g. cardiology).
• Dental General Clinic focuses on general dental care.
• Sleep Medicine Centre diagnoses and treats sleep disorders.
• Renal Dialysis Center offers dialysis for patients without hospital stay.
• Oncology Center specializes in cancer diagnosis and treatment.
• GI Endoscopy Center provides diagnostic and therapeutic GI endoscopy.
• Psychiatric Centre treats mental health conditions, may offer ECT.
• Tele-health Center remote consultations using digital platforms.
• Thalassemia Center manages and treats thalassemia patients.
• Medical Fitness Center conducts tests for occupational or residency fitness.

Diagnostic Centers

The diagnostic centers’ license allows different diagnostic centers and laboratories to offer their services in the DHA.

• Medical Laboratory license allows laboratories to conduct various lab tests including pathology, microbiology, hematology, etc.
• Radio-Diagnostic Center license permit them Provides radiology services (MRI, CT, Ultrasound, etc.)
• Diagnostic Center (Multiple Specialties) license gives them legal permission to offer a combination of laboratory and imaging services.

Pharmacies

The pharmacies license covers the following healthcare facilities:

• Community/Retail Pharmacy which dispenses medication in public settings.
• Hospital Pharmacy that operates within hospitals for inpatients and outpatients.
• Ambulatory Pharmacy that have outpatient settings or day surgery centers.
• Drug Store that store and distribute medicinal products.

Specialized Units

The license of specialised units allows the following medical facilities to provide their services in Dubai:

• Mobile facility that provides mobile healthcare services like dental van, lab testing.
• First Aid Unit which offers basic emergency care in commercial or health settings.
• Blood bank service center manages blood collection, storage, and transfusion.
• Cord Blood and Stem Cell Center handles cord blood and stem cell procedures.
• Patient Transfer Services Center offers patient transport like ambulance, air, water.
• Home Healthcare Agency provides healthcare at the patient’s home.

Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (TCAM) Centers

The license of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicine (TCAM) centers allows to provide the treatments like mentioned below:

• Acupuncture, Ayurveda, Chiropractic, Osteopathy, Naturopathy
• Homeopathy, Chinese Medicine, Korean Medicine
• Herbal Medicine, Hijama, Unani

Clinical Support Facilities

The license of clinical support facilities is for the following type of medical facilities:

• Physiotherapy Center provides physical rehabilitation and mobility treatment.
• Occupational Therapy Center helps patients regain daily life skills.
• Speech & Hearing Center treats speech, language, and hearing issues.
• Prosthetics & Orthotics Center offers artificial limbs and orthopedic aids.
• Dental Laboratory fabricates dental prosthetics and appliances.
• Optical Center provides vision exams, glasses, and contact lenses.
• Psychology Centre practice non-drug psychological assessments and treatments.
• Dietitian & Weight Control Center provides nutritional counseling.
• Podiatry Center treats feet and lower limb conditions.

Long-Term Residential Healthcare Facilities

The license of long-term residential healthcare facilities is for the following type of facilities:

• Convalescence facility is for stable patients needing extended care.
• Nursing home offers long-term care and daily living assistance.
• Hospice facility provides end-of-life care for terminally ill patients.
• Addiction Treatment and Rehabilitation Center provides substance abuse recovery services.

What are the DHA license requirements for facilities in Dubai?

The DHA license requirements for facilities in Dubai are authorized owner or investor, facility proposal, trade license, location details, installed EMR system, and Proof of NABIDH Connectivity as mentioned in the DHA official website.

Here are the DHA license requirements for facilities in Dubai:

• An owner or investor who has authorization to apply for medical facility license.
• A Trade license or an Expected Trade Name issued by Dubai Economy and Tourism (DET).
• A facility proposal that has details about type of facility, medical services, specialties, list of medical professionals, and clinical programs.
• The location details which include Makani number, DM plot number certificate, and Ejari (tenancy contract).
• The layout of facility which is approved from DHA Health Facility Guidelines (HFG).
• The license activation requirements include the following:

1. Valid Trade License
2. Appointed Medical Director
3. EMR System Installed and integrated with NABIDH
4. DHA Final Inspection
5. Civil Defense Certificate
6. Third-party Liability Insurance Contract
7. Waste Management Contract
8. List of Medical Equipment
9. Approved Facility Layout Copy
10. Proof of NABIDH Connectivity
11. Staffing

What is the process for obtaining a DHA medical license as a facility in Dubai?

The process for obtaining a DHA medical license as a facility in Dubai include selecting the facility type, registering on the DHA’s Sheryan portal, applying for the new facility license, preparing the facility, activating the license, and passing the DHA inspection of facility as mentioned in the DHA official website.

Here is the process for obtaining a DHA medical license as a facility in Dubai:

• Select a facility type according to the medical services you will provide.
• Register on the DHA Sheryan Portal as an investor or authorized representative of the facility.
• Apply for the new facility license by filling the online application form and submitting the required documents.
• Prepare the facility, install the medical equipment, hire the staff, and set up the IT system.
• Activate the license by fulfilling the requirements like valid trade license, appointed medical director, NABIDH-integrated EMR system, civil defense certificate, waste management contract, third-party insurance, equipment list, DHA final inspection, and NABIDH connectivity approval.
• Pass the inspection of your medical facility which is conducted by the DHA, and start providing your medical services.

How much time is required for a facility to obtain a DHA medical license?

The total estimated time for a facility to obtain a DHA medical license is between 1 and 6 months. This time depends upon several factors, like the complexity of the facility, documentation, and the completion of technical and legal requirements.

Here is the breakdown of the total time which is required for a facility to obtain a DHA medical license:

• The issuance of a new facility license will take an estimated 10 days.
• The facility setup takes 1 to 6 months.
• The activation of the facility license takes up to 1 day.

How much does it cost for a facility to obtain a DHA medical license?

The cost for a facility to obtain a DHA medical license ranges between AED 5,000 to AED 40,000 which vary depending upon the type and size of medical facilities. Here are the details about the cost of obtaining a DHA medical license for a facility:

Hospitals

• The fees of inspection before final approval is AED 4,000.
• The license fees vary between AED 20,000 and AED 40,000 depending upon the number of beds in hospital.

Day Surgical Centres

• The fees of inspection for final approval is AED 3,000.
• The license fees is AED 20,000.

Clinics and Other Facilities

• The fees of inspection for final approval is AED 2,000.
• The license fees for Polyclinic with 3 specialties is AED 18,000.
• The license fees for Polyclinic with 2 specialties is AED 12,000.
• The license fees for a specialty clinic is AED 6,000.
• The license fees for a pharmacy is AED 7,500.
• The license fees for a school clinic / general practitioner (GP) / others is AED 5,000.

What is the validity period for a facility’s DHA medical license?

The validity period for a facility’s DHA medical license is one year for an inactive facility and vary from one to three years for active facility as mentioned in the official website of Dubai Health Authority. The renewal of the license should be started 90 days before expiry of the license.

What are the limitations for a facility to obtain a DHA medical license?

The limitations for a facility to obtain a DHA medical license are mentioned below:

• The medical facility and the staff working in it must have active DHA medical licenses.
• All the specialities and services offered by the medical facility must align with the DHA regulations and any deviation in the speciality must be approved from the DHA.
• The design and layout of facility must meet the guidelines outlined by DHA.
• The medical equipment and machineries used in the facility must meet the standards of the UAE and maintained regularly. 

Can a facility with a DHA license operate in other emirates?

No, a facility with a DHA license cannot operate in other emirates like Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. The DOH (Department of Health) license is required in Abu Dhabi and a Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) license is required in Sharjah.

What are the reasons for the rejection of a facility’s DHA license in Dubai?

The reasons for the rejection of a facility’s DHA license in Dubai are incomplete documentation, Non-Compliance with DHA Health Facility Guidelines (HFG), Unapproved Scope of Services, and Unlicensed or Insufficient Staff. The DHA rejects the license application if the applicant does not meet the requirements mentioned in the Manual for Licensing Health Facility (2024).

Here are some common reasons for the rejection of a facility’s DHA license in Dubai:

• Incomplete or incorrect documentation
• Non-compliance with DHA Health Facility Guidelines
• Unapproved scope of services
• Unlicensed or insufficient staff
• No appointed medical/clinical director
• Lack of NABIDH-integrated EMR system
• Failure to pass DHA inspection
• Invalid or inappropriate trade license
• Non-compliance with civil defense or municipality standards
• Facility located outside DHA jurisdiction
• Delayed activation after inactive license issuance

What is the process for a facility disqualified from obtaining a DHA medical license?

The process for a facility disqualified from obtaining a DHA medical license include log in to the Sheryan portal, open the dashboard, select the violations section, click on the appeal button, submit the supporting documents, and wait for the review of the documents.

Here is the process for a facility disqualified from obtaining a DHA medical license:

• Log in the DHA Sheryan portal by using the details about facility.
• Open the dashboard and find out the violations section.
• Select the specific violation according to the facility and click on the appeal button.
• Submit all the supporting documents and wait for the application review by the DHA.

The DHA will give the results on the Sheryan portal and applicants can see and download it.

Expert consultation for a facility to obtain a DHA medical license

Expert consultation for a facility to obtain a DHA medical license is very important as experts are experienced in application process of getting a DHA license and they make sure that facility fulfills all the requirements related to documents, staffing, equipment, and infrastructure. The experts increase the chances of approval of license application and saves a lot of time by organizing the application process.

Here are some of the best expert consultation companies for a facility to obtain a DHA medical license:

• Felix Happich Consultancy
• OnTime Healthcare
• Citadel Healthcare Consultants
• Healthserve Health Consultancy
• Prisma Healthcare Solutions
• Amber Health Consultancy
• Dubai Healthcare Consultancy