DHA Facility Licensing Guide for 2025

Setting up a medical facility in Dubai under the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) requires strict compliance with the updated 2025 regulations. DHA licensing ensures that healthcare operations meet the authority’s quality and safety benchmarks. Whether launching a clinic, hospital, day surgery center, or specialized health center, owners must follow a structured application path defined by DHA’s Health Regulation Sector.

In 2025, DHA reinforced digital submission and pre-approval protocols to streamline facility licensing. The DHA Sheryan Portal is now the central platform for document uploads, approval tracking, and correspondence. From project proposal to final inspection, every step must align with DHA’s operational standards, design codes, and service-specific guidelines. Failing to meet any criteria may lead to rejection or delays.

I’ve worked on multiple DHA facility licensing projects in the past year. Timely document preparation, architectural compliance, and coordination with DHA inspectors remain key. Many applicants underestimate timelines and skip crucial submittals. That’s where proactive planning saves time and cost.

This article gives a complete roadmap for 2025 DHA facility licensing—from eligibility and documentation to inspection and final approval. Each section is structured for clarity, helping you avoid rejections or project stoppages.

By the end of this guide, you’ll understand how to prepare, what DHA expects, and how to ensure your license gets approved on the first attempt. Whether you’re a healthcare investor, consultant, or operations manager, this information will directly apply to your facility setup process.

What is a DHA Facility License?

A DHA Facility License is the official permit issued by the Dubai Health Authority allowing a healthcare center to operate legally in Dubai. This license certifies that the facility meets health, safety, and infrastructure standards required by DHA for patient care delivery. It covers all types of medical facilities—clinics, hospitals, day surgery centers, diagnostic labs, home care offices, and specialty services. Without this license, a healthcare center cannot advertise, accept patients, or employ DHA-licensed professionals.

The license also links the facility to the professionals working under its name through the DHA Sheryan system. This enables proper monitoring and accountability for treatments and services offered. In 2025, DHA uses automated systems to verify license validity, compliance, and renewal deadlines.

Types of DHA Facility Licenses Available

DHA offers several types of facility licenses, each aligned with the scope of services you intend to offer. These include General Clinics, Specialized Clinics, Dental Clinics, Day Surgery Centers, Polyclinics, Diagnostic Centers, Physiotherapy Centers, Home Healthcare, and Alternative Medicine Centers. In 2025, DHA has streamlined license types under standardized service categories to improve regulation and service quality.

Each facility type comes with its own infrastructure, space, and staffing requirements. For example, a Dental Clinic requires at least one licensed dentist and must include a sterilization room. A Day Surgery Center needs a licensed anesthesiologist, two nurses, and full surgical infrastructure. DHA has also added Telehealth and Remote Monitoring centers to reflect the rise in digital care. 7 main types are provided below:
**1. Polyclinic

1. Specialty Clinic
2. Dental Clinic
3. Diagnostic Center
4. Day Surgical Center
5. Physiotherapy Center
6. Home Healthcare Facility**

Eligibility Criteria for Facility Licensing

To obtain a DHA facility license in 2025, applicants must meet specific eligibility benchmarks tied to ownership structure, facility type, and professional oversight. DHA classifies facilities based on service type—general, specialty, or diagnostic—and evaluates eligibility accordingly. Foreign investors are permitted, but facilities must appoint a Medical Director licensed by DHA to ensure clinical accountability.

DHA does not allow facility ownership by non-health professionals unless qualified medical leadership is part of the operational team. In 2025, DHA tightened eligibility to reduce non-functional setups. Now, every facility must be backed by qualified stakeholders, professional credentials, and compliant infrastructure before even the provisional approval is granted.

Meeting eligibility criteria is the first and most important milestone. If any part of the eligibility is missing or misaligned, DHA will reject the application immediately without review. So, your priority should be checking ownership type, site zoning, and team qualifications before starting the application process.

DHA Facility Licensing Requirements

To obtain a DHA facility license in 2025, healthcare investors must meet clearly defined operational, regulatory, and structural requirements. These include valid documents, a compliant physical location, eligible medical professionals, and necessary approvals from both DHA and Dubai Economy and Tourism (DET). Each step is interlinked—missing one can halt your application.

Your facility must meet DHA’s space and layout requirements. For instance, general clinics require a minimum of 30 square meters per consultation room, separate waiting areas, a reception zone, and sanitation facilities. These physical standards must be validated through architectural drawings approved by DHA before inspection.

Additionally, your proposed healthcare professionals—doctors, nurses, technicians—must hold active DHA licenses or be in the process of transfer from MOHAP or DOH.

All professionals should have DataFlow verification and recent Good Standing Certificates. Some of the main requirements are mentioned below:

Trade License & Name

Must align with the selected medical activity as per DET.
The trade name should clearly reflect the healthcare service (e.g., “ABC Medical Center”).
Vague or non-medical names are likely to be rejected.

Facility Layout & Space Standards

Minimum of 30 square meters per consultation room in clinics.
Separate waiting area, reception desk, and sanitation facilities required.
Must comply with DHA’s approved facility design guidelines.
Floor plans must be submitted and approved before inspection.

Architectural Drawings & Civil Defense Approval

Submit detailed internal layout drawings.
Approval required from Dubai Civil Defense for safety compliance.
Must include clear zones for medical services.

Medical Director Appointment

Mandatory appointment of a DHA-licensed medical director.
Must have a minimum of two years’ UAE experience.
Must be registered with the Dubai Medical Registry.

Healthcare Professional Licensing

All clinical staff must hold active DHA licenses.
Alternatively, initiate transfer from MOHAP or DOH.
DataFlow verification and recent Good Standing Certificates required.

NABIDH System Compliance

The facility must be integrated with DHA’s NABIDH platform.
The EMR system must support real-time data exchange.
Onboarding must include successful test submissions and certification.

Technology & EMR Readiness

Approved electronic medical record (EMR) software is required.
Must be integrated with eClaimLink for billing and records.
Assign a data compliance officer for system oversight.

General Document Requirements

Valid Emirates ID and passport copies of owners/investors.
Tenancy contract or proof of facility ownership.
Receipt of DHA licensing fee payments.

DHA Facility Licensing Application Process

Applying for a DHA facility license involves a series of well-defined steps designed to ensure your healthcare business meets Dubai’s regulatory standards. In 2025, the process has become more streamlined yet demands strict compliance at each stage to avoid delays or rejections.

First, you must complete and submit the online application through the DHA Licensing Portal. This step requires you to upload all mandatory documents, including your valid trade license, facility layout plans, medical professional licenses, and NABIDH integration proof.

Once your application is submitted, DHA conducts a detailed review to verify document authenticity and compliance with facility standards. This stage can take between 10 to 15 business days, depending on the facility type and completeness of your submission.

After initial approval, DHA schedules a physical inspection of your premises. Inspectors check facility infrastructure, equipment, sanitation, and staff credentials on-site. Any deficiencies found will be flagged for correction, and a follow-up inspection will be scheduled.

Upon passing inspection, you receive conditional approval to operate. The final license is issued only after you complete all fee payments and sign the licensing agreement.

This systematic approach reduces risks, saves time, and secures your DHA facility license efficiently, helping you start operations without unnecessary hold-ups. Below is the step-by-step process explained:

Prepare Required Documents

Gather all mandatory papers, including:
A valid DET trade license.
DHA-approved layout plans.
Staff DHA licenses.
NABIDH system readiness proof.
Check that documents are current, consistent, and complete before submission.

Submit Online Application

Access the DHA Licensing Portal and fill out the facility license application. Upload all prepared documents in the correct formats. Incomplete uploads cause immediate delays.

DHA Document Review

DHA reviews your application, cross-verifies uploaded files, and checks alignment with its guidelines. This stage typically takes 10 to 15 working days, depending on your facility type and document quality.

Facility Inspection

After document approval, DHA arranges a site visit. Inspectors review:

Space compliance
Equipment installation
Sanitation standards
Staff credentials on-site

Issues found during inspection trigger a correction notice and a second visit.

Receive Conditional Approval

If the inspection is passed, DHA issues conditional clearance. However, this does not yet permit full operations.

Final License Issuance

Pay all DHA fees, sign the license agreement, and confirm alignment with your DET trade activity. Then, DHA issues your facility license, authorizing legal operations.