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An MOHAP medical license is compulsory for a healthcare facility to operate legally in the UAE if the facility is located in one of the MOHAP-governed emirates, namely Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah, or Fujairah. Clinics in Dubai or Abu Dhabi require licensing from DHA or DOH, respectively, instead of MOHAP.
All healthcare facilities, such as general clinics, hospitals, pharmacies, or diagnostic centres, operating under the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP), must hold an MOHAP medical facility license. The licensing process involves several steps, including meeting eligibility criteria, complying with health and safety standards, completing technical documentation, and adhering to MOHAP’s digital health systems.
The key requirements include legal ownership, a detailed service proposal, pre-approval of engineering drawings, integration of Electronic Medical Records (EMR) with the Riayati system, and successful completion of both initial and final MOHAP inspections. Additional approvals may be needed from authorities such as Civil Defence and the Department of Economic Development.
MOHAP issues different types of medical facility licenses, including those for hospitals, outpatient clinics, diagnostic centres, pharmacies, mobile medical units, and Traditional, Complementary & Alternative Medicine (TCAM) centres. The entire licensing process typically takes 3 to 6 months for basic clinics and up to 12 months for more complex facilities such as hospitals. Timelines depend on factors such as facility readiness and staff licensing.
The total cost ranges between AED 7,200 and AED 43,100, depending on the facility type, size, and services offered. The process is complex, and working with expert consultants is highly recommended to increase approval success and simplify each stage.
Finally, every practicing medical professional – whether doctor, dentist, nurse, or allied health worker – must hold an individual MOHAP professional license in order to legally work in MOHAP-regulated facilities.
What are the eligibility criteria for facilities to obtain a MOHAP medical license in the UAE?
The eligibility criteria for facilities to obtain an MOHAP medical license include legal ownership of the facility, a complete proposal of the facility, engineering drawings and layout of the facility, approval from the local municipality, and Electronic Medical Record (EMR) systems.
Here are the eligibility criteria for facilities to obtain an MOHAP medical license in the UAE:
- Legal Ownership & Trade License
A legal owner or investor is required to apply for the MOHAP medical license for the facility. The owner or investor must be registered in the Department of Economy and Development (DED) of the respective Emirate. They need to submit their valid Emirates ID, passport copies, and an initial trade name certificate or a valid trade license to show the legal ownership of the facility.
- Facility Proposal & Scope of Services
A facility proposal includes the type of medical services to be offered, staffing plan with qualified professionals, facility layout and room dimensions, proof of compliance with MOHAP’s Health Facility Guidelines, and a fire safety certificate from Civil Defense.
- Facility Layout & Engineering Drawings
The facility requires pre-approval of the facility layout and engineering drawings from the MOHAP. The MOHAP approves the layout only when they follow the MOHAP’s design specifications, include DM Plot number or equivalent land ID, obtain necessary permits from the local municipality, and meet infrastructure standards like accessibility and ventilation.
- Clearance from the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR)
The facilities that have radiation-emitting devices, such as X-ray or CT scan machines, need clearance from the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR). The FANR permits the facilities when they have proper radiation protection measures and licensed radiology professionals trained in radiation safety.
- EMR Integration & Riayati Compliance
The healthcare facilities need to follow the Riayati Health Information Exchange Program, in which they integrate the EMR system. The MOHAP facilities have to use international medical coding systems like ICD-10, CPT, and SNOMED CT. This EMR system will connect the patient records in all the MOHAP facilities for data privacy and cybersecurity according to the UAE standards.
- Waste Management Contract
The medical facilities must contract with an MOHAP-approved medical waste disposal company for safe waste handling and disposal.
- Liability Insurance
The MOHAP facilities require professional indemnity insurance for the facility and staff.
- Licensing and Prequalification (for Large Facilities)
The prequalification of a medical facility is required for the MOHAP license, which considers the financial viability and investment proof, engineering suitability, staffing capacity, and types of services.
- On-site Inspection & Final Approval by MOHAP
The MOHAP conducts an onsite inspection before final approval to check infection control, safety, staffing, and equipment standards.
What are the types of MOHAP medical licenses for facilities?
The types of MOHAP medical licenses for facilities are a hospital license, an outpatient healthcare facilities license, a diagnostic centers license, a pharmacies and medical supply license, a specialized units license, and Traditional, Complementary & Alternative Medicine (TCAM) centers license.
The types of MOHAP medical licenses for facilities are outlined below.
Hospitals
The license for hospitals allows the general hospitals and specialized hospitals like Maternity, Cardiology, Orthopedics, Oncology to provide inpatient services, emergency care, surgical procedures, and ICU services, specialized treatments such as cardiology or maternity care.
Outpatient Healthcare Facilities
The outpatient healthcare facilities license permits the facilities to provide minor surgical procedures, chronic disease management, preventive healthcare, vaccinations, home healthcare coordination, fertility treatments, and school or occupational health services.
The outpatient healthcare facilities license covers the following types of medical facilities in the UAE:
- General Medical Clinics
- Specialized Medical Clinics like ENT, Dermatology, Pediatrics
- Dental Clinics
- Day Surgery Centers
- Fertility and IVF Centers
- Home Healthcare Centers
- School Clinics
- Telemedicine Facilities
- Occupational Health Clinics
- Pain Management Centers
- Dialysis Centers
- Mental Health Clinics
Diagnostic Centers
The MOHAP license for diagnostic centers allows these facilities to practice medical imaging procedures such as X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, and ultrasounds. The facilities that are included in the diagnostic centers’ license are outlined below:
- Medical Laboratories like Clinical Chemistry, Hematology, Microbiology
- Radiology and Imaging Centers, like X-ray, MRI, CT, and Ultrasound
- Comprehensive Diagnostic Centers
Pharmacies and Medical Supplies
The pharmacy and medical supply license authorizes the medical facilities to store, dispense, and distribute prescription and over-the-counter medications in the UAE. The healthcare facilities that are covered by this license are mentioned below:
- Community / Retail Pharmacies
- Hospital Pharmacies
- Chain Pharmacies
- Drug Warehouses
- Medical Equipment & Supply Store
Specialized Units
The specialized units license permits the facilities to manage mobile medical units, blood banks, isolation units for infectious diseases, cord blood banks, and first aid stations in the UAE. The facilities that can provide healthcare services in the UAE through this license are given below:
- Ambulance Services
- Mobile Clinics
- Blood Banks
- Cord Blood Storage Units
- Isolation Units
- First Aid Units
- Patient Transport Services
Traditional, Complementary & Alternative Medicine (TCAM) Centers
The TCAM centers’ license allows the medical facilities to provide acupuncture, Ayurveda, homeopathy, osteopathy, chiropractic care, traditional Chinese medicine, and herbal treatments. This license allows the following types of facilities to provide medical services in the UAE.
- Acupuncture
- Ayurveda treatments
- Homeopathy
- Chiropractic care
- Osteopathy
- Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
- Herbal and natural medicine therapy
Clinical Support Facilities
The license for clinical support facilities allows the healthcare facilities to provide physiotherapy and rehabilitation services, speech and audiology therapy, occupational therapy, psychological counseling, nutritional and dietary consultation, podiatry care, optometry services, and dental lab fabrication. The facilities that need a clinical support facilities license to provide their services in the UAE are outlined below.
- Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Centers
- Occupational Therapy Clinics
- Audiology and Speech Therapy Centers
- Psychology Clinics
- Dietetics & Nutrition Counseling Clinics
- Orthotics & Prosthetics Centers
- Optical Centers
- Dental Laboratories
- Podiatry Clinics
Long-Term and Residential Care Facilities
The MOHAP medical license for long-term and residential care facilities allows them to provide healthcare services like elderly care, long-term rehabilitation for chronic conditions or disabilities, palliative and hospice care, and addiction treatment and recovery services with 24/7 residential support.
- Nursing Homes
- Elderly Care Centers
- Long-Term Rehabilitation Facilities
- Hospice and Palliative Care Centers
- Addiction Recovery and Treatment Centers
What are the MOHAP license requirements for facilities in the UAE?
The MOHAP license requirements for facilities in the UAE include the UAE national or registered investor, a valid trade license, approved facility layout, qualified medical staff, compliance with MOHAP facility standards, and integration with MOHAP’s digital health system, as per the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) regulations.
Here are the MOHAP license requirements for facilities in the UAE:
- Authorized Owner or UAE-Registered Investor
- Valid Trade License
- Detailed Facility Proposal
- Approved Facility Layout
- Zoning & Location Approval
- Qualified and MOHAP-Licensed Medical Professionals
- Valid Civil Defense Certificate
- Biomedical Waste Management Contract
- IT Infrastructure & EMR System Integration (Riayati)
What is the process for obtaining a MOHAP medical license as a facility in the UAE?
The process for obtaining a MOHAP medical license as a facility in the UAE includes choosing the type of facility, creating a MOHAP account on the E-services portal, submitting initial application and documentation, obtaining a preliminary approval from MOHAP authority, appointing a qualified medical staff, integrating with riayati and IT systems, paying the license fees and passing the final inspection.
Here is the step-by-step process for obtaining a MOHAP medical license as a facility in the UAE:
- Choose the specific type of facility, like a clinic, hospital, pharmacy, or diagnostic center, according to the services you will offer in the UAE.
- Create a MOHAP account on the official E-Services portal by using the Emirates ID and personal details like username, contact number, and email ID.
- Complete the online application form for the MOHAP medical facility license and upload all the required documents like ownership information, trade license, proposed services, and facility layout.
- Obtain preliminary approval from the MOHAP authority after reviewing your application and documents.
- Prepare the facility by constructing the facility building and setting the medical equipment according to MOHAP guidelines within the validity period of the preliminary approval.
- Appoint qualified medical professionals and a medical director who are MOHAP medical license holders and fulfill all the requirements for medical staff set by the MOHAP.
- Integrate the EMR system within the facility and connect it with MOHAP’s Riayati Health Information Exchange system.
- Schedule an on-site inspection of the facility and request the inspectors to check whether the facility complies with the technical, operational, and safety standards.
- Pay the licensing fees for the facility, which vary with the type of facility and license duration. For instance, it ranges from AED 5000 to AED 6000 for clinics and AED 20,000 to AED 40,000 for hospitals.
- Receive the final MOHAP facility license from the MOHAP, which they will issue when you have paid the license fees and the inspection team has completed the inspection of the facility.
How much time is required for a facility to obtain an MOHAP medical license?
The total time required for a facility to obtain an MOHAP medical license ranges from 3 to 6 months for simple medical facilities like clinics and pharmacies and 6 to 12 months for complex facilities like hospitals and surgery centers. The time required for a facility to obtain an MOHAP medical license is not mentioned on the official website of the MOHAP. This time is calculated based on the validity period of preliminary approval and the license issuance time periods.
The total estimated time required for a facility to obtain an MOHAP medical facility license is divided into different steps, which are given in the table below.
| Steps of the Medical Facility Licensing Process | Estimated Time |
|---|---|
| Business plan preparation | 1–2 weeks |
| MOHAP E-Services account creation | 1–3 days |
| Initial application submission | 1–2 weeks (document preparation & submission) |
| MOHAP preliminary review | 2–4 weeks (depending on application completeness & facility type) |
| Facility construction & setup | 1–6 months (varies by project size) |
| EMR/Riayati system integration | 2–4 weeks |
| Staff recruitment & licensing | 1–3 months |
| Scheduling final inspection | 1–2 weeks after facility readiness |
| Final MOHAP inspection & report | 1–2 weeks |
| Payment & final license issuance | 3–5 business days |
How much does it cost for a facility to obtain an MOHAP medical license?
The cost for a facility to obtain an MOHAP medical license ranges from AED 7200 to AED 43,100. The total cost of the MOHAP facility license includes license application fees, site inspection fees, plan verification fees, and final license fees. The license application fees are AED 100, which is the same for every type of facility. Inspection fees are AED 2000 for hospitals and medical centers, while AED 1000 for clinics and rehabilitation centers. The facility plan verification fees are AED 2000 for larger facilities and AED 1000 for smaller facilities. The final license fees for every type of MOHAP medical facility are outlined below.
| Facility Type | Final License Fees |
|---|---|
| General Clinic / Rehabilitation / Home Health Center | AED 5,000 |
| Specialist Clinic / Diagnostic / Emergency Center | AED 6,000 |
| Multi‑Specialty Clinic | AED 12,000 – AED 18,000 |
| Fertility / Convalescence / One-Day Surgery Centers | AED 20,000 |
| Hospital (1–50 beds) | AED 20,000 |
| Hospital (51–100 beds) | AED 30,000 |
| Hospital (100+ beds) | AED 40,000 |
The total cost of getting an MOHAP medical facility license for different types of facilities is outlined in the below given table below.
| Facility Type | Estimated Total Cost (AED) |
|---|---|
| Small Facilities like General Clinics, Rehabilitation Centers, Home Healthcare, and Pharmacies. | 7,200 – 8,600 AED |
| Medium Facilities like Specialist Clinics, Diagnostic Centers, Emergency Centers. | 8,200 – 9,600 AED |
| Multi-Specialty Clinics | 14,100 – 21,100 AED |
| Day Surgery, Fertility, Convalescence Centers | 22,100 – 23,100 AED |
| Hospitals (1–50 beds) | 22,100 – 23,100 AED |
| Hospitals (51–100 beds) | 32,100 – 33,100 AED |
| Hospitals (100+ beds) | 42,100 – 43,100 AED |
What is the validity period for a facility’s MOHAP medical license?
The validity period for a facility’s MOHAP medical license is 1 year, and investors of the MOHAP medical license need to verify their licenses annually, as mentioned on the official website of MOHAP. The owners must renew their licenses two months before the expiry date, as mentioned in the conditions of facility renewal on the MOHAP official website.
What are the limitations for a facility to obtain an MOHAP medical license?
The limitations for a facility to obtain an MOHAP medical license include ownership restrictions, zoning conditions, facility design and engineering standards, healthcare staff licensing requirements, and legal documentation deficiencies. The investors or owners need to fulfill these limitations, requirements, and standards to become eligible for the MOHAP medical facility license.
Here are the limitations for a facility to obtain an MOHAP medical license.
- The sensitive healthcare facilities, like fertility centers and radiology centers, need 100% UAE national ownership.
- The radiation centers and other similar facilities are not allowed in residential areas and commercial areas.
- The facility design needs to fulfill the requirements, like minimum room space, fire safety, and infection control measures.
- The healthcare facility must hire the medical, technical, and admin staff who are licensed by MOHAP, have the required experience, and educational qualifications.
- The facility owner is required to have a trade license, ownership documents, lease agreements, and legal representation powers.
Can a facility with an MOHAP license operate in other emirates?
No, a healthcare facility with an MOHAP license cannot operate in other emirates. The facility requires a DHA medical license to operate in Dubai and a DOH medical license to operate in Abu Dhabi.
What are the reasons for the rejection of a facility’s MOHAP license in the UAE?
The reasons for the rejection of a facility’s MOHAP license in the UAE are incomplete documentation, non-compliance with MOHAP guidelines, location issues, and unqualified medical staff. Here is the list of reasons for the rejection of a facility’s MOHAP medical license in the UAE.
- Incomplete or Incorrect Documentation
- Non-Compliance with MOHAP Health Facility Guidelines
- Location Issues (Zoning & Municipality Approval)
- Unqualified Medical Director or Healthcare Professionals
- IT & EMR Non-Compliance (Riayati Integration)
- Outstanding Violations or Past Sanctions
- Financial Instability
- Failure During MOHAP Final Inspection
What is the process for a facility disqualified to obtain an MOHAP medical license?
The process for a facility disqualified from obtaining an MOHAP medical license includes receiving the official rejection letter with reasons in detail, submitting the appeal letter within 15 days of rejection, reviewing the appeal by the MOHAP, and obtaining the appeal decision.
Here is the process of appeal for a facility disqualified to obtain an MOHAP medical license.
- Take the official rejection letter and go through all the reasons behind the rejection. The reasons behind rejection include non-compliance with Health Facility Guidelines, unqualified staff, incomplete facility documentation, and violation of UAE health laws.
- Appeal the rejection decision within 15 days with a written letter to the Minister of Health and give a detailed explanation of the facility’s position and justify why the decision should be reconsidered by including the supporting documents or evidence.
- MOHAP forwards the appeal to the Public Health Policy & Licensing Sector to review the appeal with a Grievance Committee having experts from legal, medical, and administration.
- MOHAP will issue the new decision within 30 days, which will include approval or rejection of the MOHAP medical facility license.
Expert consultation for a facility to obtain an MOHAP medical license
Every facility should consider an expert consultation to obtain an MOHAP medical license, as they are experts in MOHAP’s complex laws, regulations, and health facility guidelines, application process, documentation, layout, engineering of the facility, and staff licensing. The expert consultation helps facilities to speed up the process and increase the chances of license approval.
Here are the top expert consultancies for a facility to obtain an MOHAP medical license.
- PRO Partner Group
- Felix Happich
- BIZ Care Consulting
- Breathe Medical Consultants
- Avyanco Healthcare Consultancy
- Arabian Business Centre
