New facilities

Clinic & Hospital Setup Consulting in Abu Dhabi

We test feasibility against the Abu Dhabi market, including the weight of government providers and the Thiqa population, then plan space, services and staffing to DoH facility standards. We sequence commercial licensing with DoH approvals and inspection so fit-out and recruitment line up with the licensing timeline.

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The rules of the ground

Who regulates and pays in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi was the first emirate to make health insurance compulsory. UAE nationals are generally covered by Thiqa, a government programme administered by Daman, while expatriates are covered through employer-sponsored plans, with a Basic product for lower-income workers and enhanced plans above it. Daman is the largest payer, alongside private insurers and administrators. Claims flow through Shafafiya under DoH rules, so coding accuracy, clinical documentation and pricing compliance directly decide how much a provider is actually paid.

DoH (Department of Health, Abu Dhabi)

Regulator for the whole emirate: licenses facilities and professionals, sets insurance and pricing rules, and audits quality and claims.

TAMM

The Abu Dhabi government services platform through which many DoH licensing transactions for facilities and healthcare professionals are carried out.

Malaffi

Abu Dhabi's health information exchange. DoH expects licensed facilities to connect and share patient records through it.

Shafafiya

The DoH e-claims and data exchange platform used for eligibility, prior authorisation, claims and remittance between providers and payers in Abu Dhabi.

Scope

What we deliver in Abu Dhabi

01

Feasibility and business case

Market and catchment review, specialty mix, competitor mapping, payer landscape, capital and operating cost estimates and a phased revenue model, so you decide on evidence before signing a lease.

02

Site selection and space planning

Assessment of candidate premises for zoning, access, parking and services, and a functional brief for your designer aligned with the regulator's facility design guidelines, such as the DHA Health Facility Guidelines.

03

Licensing roadmap and submissions

A step-by-step licensing plan covering initial approval, design review, inspection and activation with the relevant authority, plus coordination of trade licence, civil defence and municipality requirements.

04

Staffing plan and practitioner licensing

An opening organisation chart, job descriptions and recruitment timeline, with support for practitioner licensing through DHA Sheryan, DoH, MOHAP, SCFHS or the relevant authority for each hire.

05

Systems and equipment readiness

EMR and practice management selection that meets NABIDH, Malaffi or Riayati integration requirements where they apply, plus an equipment list and procurement plan tied to your services and budget.

06

Launch and first 90 days

SOPs, policies, front-office scripts, insurance readiness and a soft-opening plan, followed by a 90-day review of volumes, claims and patient feedback to correct course early.

Process

How the work runs

  1. Concept and feasibility

    We test the idea against the market, the regulator's requirements and your budget, and agree the service scope and facility type to license.

  2. Design and approvals

    The functional brief guides your designer; we review drawings against facility guidelines and coordinate initial approval and design review submissions.

  3. Build, hire and equip

    Fit-out, recruitment, practitioner licensing, equipment delivery and systems setup run in parallel on one integrated timeline, with weekly tracking of every dependency.

  4. Inspection and activation

    A mock inspection, final document checks and coordination of the regulator's inspection lead to licence activation and permission to receive patients.

  5. Open and stabilise

    We support the soft opening, insurance go-live and the first 90 days of operations, adjusting workflows until daily routines are stable.

Frequently asked questions

What should I expect from a healthcare consultancy in Abu Dhabi?
A healthcare consultancy in Abu Dhabi should know DoH standards in detail, not just the application form. Expect support on feasibility, facility licensing, professional licensing, Malaffi connectivity, Thiqa and Daman network access, and Shafafiya billing, sequenced so your facility is compliant and billing-ready at opening.
Do I need to connect to Malaffi?
DoH expects licensed facilities to participate in Malaffi, the emirate's health information exchange. That means choosing an EMR that can integrate and planning the connection as part of setup. We factor Malaffi into system selection and go-live planning.
How important is Thiqa for a private clinic?
For many specialties it is important, because Thiqa covers UAE nationals, a patient group with strong demand for private care. Whether it matters for your clinic depends on location and services. We assess the patient mix before you invest time in any network application.
Does the same setup apply in Al Ain?
Al Ain is regulated by the same Department of Health, so the licensing framework and Shafafiya rules are the same. The market is different, however, with a larger national population and distinct referral patterns, so feasibility and network priorities should be assessed separately.
How long does clinic setup take in Dubai?
Much depends on premises, fit-out and recruitment. The DHA facility licensing steps themselves can take from about one month to several months, and practitioner licensing runs in parallel. A typical outpatient clinic project, from signed premises to opening, often spans six to nine months. We build a realistic timeline for your specific project at the feasibility stage.
Which authority licenses my clinic in the UAE?
It depends on location. Facilities in Dubai are licensed by DHA through its Sheryan system, facilities in Dubai Healthcare City by DHCR, those in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra by DoH Abu Dhabi, and those in the northern emirates by MOHAP. Each has its own design guidelines, inspection standards and activation requirements, which is why location decisions should come before design.

More support in Abu Dhabi

Facility Licensing & Approvals · Abu DhabiInsurance Empanelment & Networking · Abu DhabiRevenue Cycle Management · Abu Dhabi Clinic & Hospital Setup Consulting: across the GCC United Arab Emirates

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Talk it through with Dr. Neeraj.

Tell us where your facility is today and where you want it to be. You leave the call with a clear next step.

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