New facilities

Clinic & Hospital Setup Consulting in United Arab Emirates

We start by choosing the right emirate and zone, because that choice fixes the regulator, the approval route and the payer mix. From there we build the feasibility case, the space programme and the staffing plan, then sequence commercial licensing, health authority approvals and fit-out so the facility is ready for inspection rather than waiting on it.

Book a discovery call Healthcare in United Arab Emirates

The rules of the ground

Who regulates and pays in United Arab Emirates

Health insurance is mandatory across the UAE, but it arrived emirate by emirate. Abu Dhabi introduced compulsory cover first, Dubai followed with its ISAHD system, and from January 2025 employers in the northern emirates must insure private-sector employees and domestic workers. Claims move through separate channels: eClaimLink and DHPO in Dubai, Shafafiya in Abu Dhabi, and the Riayati e-Claims Post Office in the northern emirates. Payers, third-party administrators and price lists differ by emirate, so each contract and each claims workflow needs local configuration.

DHA (Dubai Health Authority)

Licenses healthcare facilities and professionals in mainland Dubai through the Sheryan platform and oversees the emirate's mandatory health insurance system.

DoH (Department of Health, Abu Dhabi)

Regulates facilities, professionals and health insurance across Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra, including the Shafafiya e-claims and Malaffi exchange requirements.

MOHAP (Ministry of Health and Prevention)

Federal regulator that licenses private facilities and professionals in Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, and operates the Riayati platform.

SHA (Sharjah Health Authority)

Emirate-level authority in Sharjah that has been taking over facility and professional licensing from MOHAP and oversees the Sharjah Healthcare City free zone.

DHCR (Dubai Healthcare City Authority, Regulation)

Licenses facilities and professionals inside the Dubai Healthcare City free zone under its own regulations, separate from the DHA process.

Scope

What we deliver in United Arab Emirates

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

Why do I need a healthcare consultancy in the UAE if the process is online?

The portals capture applications, but they do not tell you which emirate, zone or facility category suits your plan, or how to read an inspector's comments. A healthcare consultancy in the UAE shortens the path by preparing a complete file the first time, sequencing approvals correctly and aligning licensing with insurance and billing readiness.

Which health authority will license my facility?

It depends on location. Mainland Dubai falls under DHA, Dubai Healthcare City under DHCR, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain under DoH, Sharjah under the Sharjah Health Authority, and Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah under MOHAP. Some free zones add their own layer, so we confirm the route before any lease is signed.

Can one licence cover facilities in several emirates?

No. Each facility is licensed by the authority of the emirate where it operates, and practitioners generally need a licence from that same authority. Groups expanding across emirates should plan for parallel licensing files, separate insurer contracts and different e-claims connections for each site.

Does Tulazai Health guarantee licences or insurer approvals?

No. Licences are issued by the health authorities and network decisions are made by insurers. Our role is to advise, prepare and manage the process so your application is complete, compliant and well argued, which removes the avoidable delays that most often slow new facilities down.

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 United Arab Emirates

Facility Licensing & Approvals · United Arab Emirates Insurance Empanelment & Networking · United Arab Emirates Revenue Cycle Management · United Arab Emirates Clinic & Hospital Setup Consulting: across the GCC

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.

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