New facilities

Clinic & Hospital Setup Consulting in Dubai

We help you decide between a mainland DHA licence and a Dubai Healthcare City licence based on specialty, patient catchment, ownership structure and cost. Then we manage feasibility, space planning against DHA design standards, staffing and the sequence from trade licence to initial approval, fit-out, inspection and activation.

The rules of the ground

Who regulates and pays in Dubai

Health insurance is mandatory for Dubai residents under ISAHD, with employers and sponsors responsible for cover and an Essential Benefits Plan setting the floor for lower-income members. This creates a deep insured market but also a demanding one: every prior authorisation, eligibility check and claim runs electronically through eClaimLink and DHPO, and pricing follows DHA rules. Networks are tiered by insurer and administrator, so a new clinic must decide early which plans its patients actually hold and pursue those networks deliberately.

DHA (Dubai Health Authority)

Licenses mainland facilities and professionals through Sheryan, inspects before activation and sets the rules for health insurance and pricing in Dubai.

DHCR (Dubai Healthcare City Authority, Regulation)

Licenses clinical and commercial activity inside the Dubai Healthcare City free zone under its own regulations, running parallel to the DHA route.

NABIDH

Dubai's health information exchange. A facility EMR must meet NABIDH standards before DHA will activate a new facility licence.

ISAHD and eClaimLink / DHPO

ISAHD is the Dubai mandatory insurance system; eClaimLink and the Dubai Health Post Office carry eligibility, authorisation and claim transactions between providers and payers.

Scope

What we deliver in Dubai

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 does a healthcare consultancy in Dubai actually do for a new clinic?
A healthcare consultancy in Dubai turns a concept into a licensed, insured and billing-ready facility. That covers choosing between DHA and DHCC, preparing the Sheryan file, meeting design and staffing standards, ensuring NABIDH and eClaimLink readiness, and securing insurer networks so the clinic can see insured patients from the start.
Should I license with DHA or in Dubai Healthcare City?
It depends on your specialty, ownership plans, target patients and budget. DHCC offers free zone ownership and a dedicated regulator, while a mainland DHA facility can sit closer to residential catchments. We compare both routes on cost, timeline and patient access before you commit to a location.
Why does DHA require NABIDH before activation?
NABIDH is Dubai's health information exchange, and DHA expects every licensed facility to share clinical data through it. Activation therefore depends on an EMR that meets NABIDH standards. Choosing a compliant system early avoids a finished clinic waiting on software integration.
How long does insurance empanelment take in Dubai?
It varies by insurer, administrator and specialty, and some payers only review new providers at certain times. The practical answer is to start conversations once licensing is on track, with a complete credentialing pack ready, rather than after the facility opens.
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.

Complimentary 30-minute call

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.