Licensing and approvals
Facility Licensing & Approvals in Abu Dhabi
DoH facility licensing involves category-specific standards, document checks and inspection, with many transactions handled through TAMM. We prepare the application, coordinate professional licensing and primary source verification for your clinicians, and resolve inspection comments through to licence issue. Timelines are planned so clinicians are licensed before opening.
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.
Regulator for the whole emirate: licenses facilities and professionals, sets insurance and pricing rules, and audits quality and claims.
The Abu Dhabi government services platform through which many DoH licensing transactions for facilities and healthcare professionals are carried out.
Abu Dhabi's health information exchange. DoH expects licensed facilities to connect and share patient records through it.
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
Licensing pathway assessment
Confirmation of the correct authority, facility category and service list for your project, with every approval, document and dependency mapped into a single sequenced plan before any fees are paid.
Initial approval and design review
Preparation and submission of initial approval applications and design drawings, checked against the applicable facility guidelines for room sizes, clinical zoning, infection control, services and accessibility.
Practitioner licensing support
Document preparation, primary source verification tracking and exam scheduling for doctors, nurses and allied staff through DHA, DoH, MOHAP, SCFHS or DHP, aligned with your opening date.
Inspection preparation
A mock inspection against the regulator's checklist covering policies, equipment, emergency readiness, waste management and records, with a close-out list completed before the official visit.
Related permits and radiation licensing
Coordination of civil defence, municipality and waste permits, and FANR licensing for X-ray and other radiation-emitting equipment, so the health licence is not held back by an external approval.
Amendments, renewals and compliance calendar
New specialties, added services, relocations, ownership or medical director changes and annual renewals handled through the right channel, supported by a compliance calendar that flags expiries in advance.
Process
How the work runs
Scope the licence
We confirm the facility type, services and licensing authority, and list every approval, document and practitioner licence the project will need.
Prepare the file
Documents, drawings, policies and practitioner files are assembled, cross-checked and reviewed against the regulator's current requirements before anything is submitted.
Submit and track
Applications are filed through the correct portal and tracked daily, with every regulator comment answered quickly, completely and in the format requested.
Inspect and activate
After a mock inspection and close-out, we coordinate the official inspection and the steps that activate the licence for patient care.
Stay compliant
Renewals, amendments and licence expiries for the facility and every practitioner are managed from one shared calendar, so nothing lapses unnoticed.
Frequently asked questions
What should I expect from a healthcare consultancy in Abu Dhabi?
Do I need to connect to Malaffi?
How important is Thiqa for a private clinic?
Does the same setup apply in Al Ain?
What is involved in healthcare facility licensing in Dubai?
How is licensing different in Abu Dhabi and the northern emirates?
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.