Are you a medical professional aiming to establish your own clinic in the UAE? Or perhaps an investor exploring opportunities in healthcare? To initiate a medical facility in the UAE, obtaining a health facility licence from the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) is mandatory. This process involves inspections and document submissions, which can be facilitated through the MOHAP website, application, or official email. Here are the detailed steps, key considerations, and associated fees for licensing various medical facilities in the UAE.
To secure a healthcare facility licence in the UAE, follow these steps:
Documents Required:
- A copy of the owner's passport
- A copy of the owner's family book
- A copy of Emirates ID
- Recent passport-size photos with a white background
- Character reference through Customer Happiness Centres
After the relevant authority's approval, the licensing process continues with:
- Initial inspection approval
- Application letter for the medical facility licence
- Facility plan
- Site photos
- For school and nursery clinics, details on student numbers and facility capacity
- Initial licence approval from MOHAP engineers
- Department of Economic Development licence application
- Security clearance and qualifications proof of the owner
- Final inspection approval with MOHAP engineers' approval
- Final licence approval, including external billboard, medical waste agreement, list of medical equipment, service prices, and radiation protection licence from the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation
- Trade licence from the Department of Economic Development
Depending on the location (free zone or mainland), additional steps include:
- Certificate of preventive safety from Civil Defence
- List of partners' names
- Internal rules and regulations
- Final approval of the facility plan by MOHAP engineers
- Registration in Tatmeen and Riayati
Fees:
- Licence application: Dh100
- Initial inspection fees vary by facility type, ranging from Dh1,000 to Dh2,000
- Site plan verification fees also vary, from Dh1,000 to Dh2,000
- Geometric site plan re-verification fees range from Dh500 to Dh1,000
- Final licence fees depend on the facility type, ranging from Dh5,000 to Dh40,000
Service Time:
- Application approval: 1 working day
- Final licensing: 2 working days
- Engineering team approvals for various services range from 2 to 10 working days
Key Points:
- Foreign ownership requires local authority approval
- Elevators are mandatory for high-rise facilities
- Compliance with engineering conditions and standards is essential
- Initial approval validity is six months
- Additional approvals may be needed from local emirate authorities
