At AED 16,500, Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC)'s business license sits 43% above the UAE freezone average of AED 11,504. This covers your company registration, legal documentation, and regulatory compliance for the first year. Visa sponsorship costs AED 3,800 per person—32% above the UAE average of AED 2,884.
If you're hiring employees immediately, budget accordingly; this scales linearly. Office space runs AED 7,000 annually for a Office, Clinic, Laboratory, which is 199% above comparable facilities across the UAE (AED 2,338). Don't overlook hidden costs: medical examinations (AED 350), Emirates ID (AED 370), and establishment cards (AED 320) add AED 1,040 to your budget.
Altogether, expect AED 28,340 in your first year setup. For solo freelancers, you might skip visa sponsorship and reduce this significantly.
Year 1 Setup Cost
Year 2+ Renewal
Quick Facts
Setup Time
8 Working Days
Bank Approval
Medium
Max Shareholders
1–20
Office Type
Office, Clinic, Laboratory
How to Set Up a Company in DHCC
Setting up in Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) follows a structured process that typically takes 8 working days. Start by choosing your business activity — DHCC supports Healthcare Services, Medical Research, Pharmaceutical, and 1 more categories. Your license fee starts at AED 16,500.
Next, reserve your trade name. Names must comply with UAE naming conventions — no offensive terms, no names identical to existing registered companies. Name reservation typically completes within 1-2 business days.
Submit your application with passport copies, proof of address, business plan, and NOC (if currently employed in UAE). DHCC processes applications through their portal. Select your workspace: office, clinic, laboratory.
Office costs AED 7,000 annually. Pay your license fee (AED 16,500) and office deposit to proceed. Once approved, DHCC issues your trade license within 8 working days.
Your license is valid for one year from the date of issue. With your license in hand, apply for residence visas (AED 3,800 per person) and begin bank account opening. Banking approval takes 4-6 weeks with standard documentation.
Office Options at DHCC
DHCC offers office, clinic, laboratory options. Your choice of office space directly impacts your total setup cost and the number of visas you can sponsor. Office: A private office space with dedicated infrastructure.
Higher visa quota (typically 5-15+ depending on size), professional reception, and full office amenities. Best for teams and client-facing businesses that need a permanent physical presence. Clinic: Workspace option available at DHCC.
Contact the freezone authority for specific pricing and visa allocation details. Laboratory: Workspace option available at DHCC. Contact the freezone authority for specific pricing and visa allocation details.
Base price of AED 7,000/year covers the office option. Upgrades are available at additional cost.
Banking & Account Opening at DHCC
DHCC maintains solid banking relationships. Account opening is feasible with most UAE banks, though documentation requirements are more thorough. Expect 4-6 weeks for account activation.
Having a clear business plan and initial deposit ready accelerates approval. DHCC has medium approval (70%) — banks require full healthcare licensing and professional indemnity insurance before account opening. Processing takes 3–4 weeks.
Islamic banks (ADIB) and healthcare-specialist lenders are more receptive. Bring MOHAP approval letter and professional credentials. You will need: completed bank application form, trade license copy, passport copies of all shareholders and signatories, proof of address, business plan, initial deposit (typically AED 5,000-50,000), and board resolution appointing authorized signatories.
Why Choose DHCC?
DHCC is for doctors, dentists, pharmaceutical companies, and healthcare providers with international qualifications. Choose DHCC if you operate a clinic, pharmacy, or medical research facility that needs UAE-regulated operations.
Specialized healthcare infrastructure with clinic and lab facilities
International health standards and accreditation frameworks
Maximum 20 shareholders — suitable for professional partnerships
Integrated with major hospitals and medical centers
600+ healthcare organizations creating referral ecosystem
Government support for medical research and innovation
Visit the official DHCC website at www.dhcc.ae for the latest fee schedules and application forms.
When DHCC Is Not the Right Choice
No freezone is perfect for every business. Here are situations where DHCC may not be your best option. Medium bank approval (70%) — regulated healthcare requires compliance deep-dive.
High costs: AED 16,500 license + AED 7,000 office + professional indemnity insurance. Longest approval timeline (8 days) due to regulatory requirements. MOHAP (Ministry of Health & Prevention) pre-approval required — adds 3–6 weeks.
Restricted to healthcare activities only — no business diversification. Visa costs at highest tier (AED 3,800). At AED 28,340 total first-year cost, DHCC is not ideal for bootstrapped startups or solo freelancers testing the UAE market.
Consider more affordable alternatives in Sharjah or Ajman if budget is your primary concern. Evaluate your specific needs against these limitations before committing.
Ongoing Compliance & Renewals
Mark your renewal date—typically before your license anniversary—and budget AED 14,850 for license renewal. Starting renewal paperwork 45 days before expiration prevents last-minute complications. Maintain monthly accounting records and file annual audited accounts.
Most freezones mandate dual-language financial statements (Arabic/English). Engage a local accounting firm early; DIY accounting often creates compliance gaps that trigger audit penalties. Banking approval requires solid documentation and may take 6-8 weeks.
Initial deposit requirements vary; confirm minimums with your chosen bank. Common pitfalls: underselling expected revenues (triggers audit escalation), missing visa renewal deadlines (visa cancellation), and failing to update shareholder records. Track shareholder changes immediately—limits are 1–20 shareholders; exceeding triggers reclassification.
Specific to Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC): License approval takes 8 working days, but MOHAP healthcare pre-approval is required first — plan for 3–6 weeks total. All healthcare professionals must have verified degrees, valid licenses from home country, and professional indemnity insurance. Pharmaceutical companies need FDA registration from country of origin.
Annual compliance costs typically run 5-8% of license fees for accounting and audit services.
Documents Required for DHCC Setup
Prepare these documents before starting your DHCC application. Having everything ready upfront avoids delays — incomplete applications are the most common reason for setups exceeding the 8 working days standard timeline. You will need: a valid passport (at least 6 months validity remaining) for all shareholders and managers; two recent passport-size photos per applicant on a white background; proof of address such as a utility bill or bank statement from your home country dated within the last 3 months.
A brief business plan describing your activities, target market, and projected revenue is required. If you are currently employed in the UAE, you will need a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from your current employer — this is not required for new entrants. For companies with multiple shareholders, prepare a board resolution appointing managers and signatories, and a shareholder agreement defining ownership percentages and rights.
A bank reference letter from your existing bank confirming good standing and account history will be needed for the bank account opening process. All documents must be in English or Arabic. Non-English documents require attested translation.
Some documents may need UAE embassy attestation depending on your country of origin.
Frequently Asked Questions
First-year costs include one-time items: business license issuance, office setup, initial visa sponsorship, and administrative registrations. Renewal years skip these and cost approximately AED 14,850 annually. Many startups budget 50-70% less in year two than year one.