A clinic in Dubai is licensed twice over: the business needs a trade licence, and the facility needs a health facility licence from the health regulator. Between the two sits a fit-out that must meet healthcare design standards, Civil Defence and the building authority. Most clinic projects that run late do so because the design was started before the healthcare requirements were understood.
This guide explains how to get clinic approval in Dubai: the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) facility licensing process through Sheryan, the design and fit-out approvals, inspections before activation, and how the process differs in Dubai Healthcare City. It applies to general and specialist clinics, dental clinics, polyclinics and day surgery centres.
For help with the building approvals, see our Dubai Municipality approval services and Civil Defence approval services.
The short answer
Health facilities in Dubai, outside Dubai Healthcare City, are licensed by the DHA through its Sheryan system in two main steps: a new facility licence application, which gives initial approval for the facility type, services and location, and then activation of the facility licence after the fit-out is complete, the inspection is passed and licensed professionals are in place. Alongside this, the fit-out needs approval from the building authority, Civil Defence and DEWA where loads increase. Facilities in Dubai Healthcare City are licensed by its own regulator, not by the DHA.
The approvals involved
- Trade licence for the healthcare activity.
- DHA new facility licence application (initial approval) through Sheryan.
- Landlord NOC and fit-out design.
- Fit-out approval from Dubai Municipality or the relevant building authority.
- Civil Defence approval of fire and life safety.
- DEWA approval for any load increase.
- Construction and equipment installation.
- DHA inspection, professional licences and activation of the facility licence.
Step 1: Define the facility
Before choosing a unit, decide the facility type and services: general clinic, specialist clinic, dental, polyclinic, day surgery or diagnostic centre. The type determines the minimum rooms, sizes, equipment and staffing. A dental clinic needs sterilisation and X-ray rooms; a day surgery centre needs operating theatres, recovery and medical gases. Choosing a unit before this step is the most expensive mistake in clinic projects.
Step 2: DHA new facility licence
The owner applies through Sheryan with the facility details, services, location and supporting documents. The DHA reviews the application and, if accepted, gives initial approval with the conditions the facility must meet. This approval lets the project move to detailed design and fit-out.
Step 3: Design to healthcare standards
Space and rooms
- Reception and waiting areas sized for the expected patients.
- Consultation and examination rooms of the required size, with hand wash basins.
- Treatment and procedure rooms suited to the services.
- Clean and dirty utility rooms.
- Sterilisation room where reusable instruments are used.
- Medication storage, medical records and staff areas.
- Accessible toilets for patients.
Infection control
- Cleanable, impervious finishes in clinical areas.
- Hand hygiene facilities in every clinical room.
- One-way flow for instruments from dirty to clean.
- Clinical waste storage, separate from general waste.
Services
- Ventilation with air change rates suited to each room type.
- Medical gases where required, designed and installed by specialists.
- Radiation shielding for X-ray and imaging rooms, with the relevant radiation approvals.
- Back-up power for critical equipment where required.
Accessibility
Clinics must be accessible: step-free access, door widths for wheelchairs and stretchers, accessible toilets and reception counters.
Lighting matters too. Examination and treatment rooms need good, even lighting with accurate colour rendering, and procedure rooms often need dedicated examination lights. Plan ceiling layouts so lights, ventilation grilles, sprinklers and detectors don't clash, especially in small rooms where every ceiling tile is already in use. Coordinated ceiling plans are a sign of a well-prepared submission and reduce comments from every reviewer.
Step 4: Building and fire approvals
The fit-out drawings go to the building authority, which on the mainland is Dubai Municipality. Civil Defence reviews the fire strategy, which for healthcare may include more detection, compartmentation and evacuation planning than an office. See our DCD approval process guide. Clinics often increase electrical load because of equipment and cooling; see our DEWA approval guide.
Step 5: Construction and equipment
Build to the approved drawings and install equipment to the manufacturers' requirements. Keep testing and commissioning records for ventilation, medical gases, electrical systems and any imaging equipment. These records support the DHA and Civil Defence inspections.
Step 6: Inspection and activation
When the facility is ready, the DHA inspects against its standards and the approved scope. Inspectors check room sizes and finishes, infection control, equipment, waste management, policies and staffing readiness. Healthcare professionals need their own DHA licences. Once the inspection is passed and the professionals are licensed, the facility licence is activated and the clinic can open.
Dubai Healthcare City
Dubai Healthcare City is a separate jurisdiction for health facilities. Facilities there are licensed by its own regulator under its own rules, rather than by the DHA through Sheryan. If you're considering a DHCC location, follow its process from the start.
Common reasons clinic approvals are delayed
- Unit chosen before the facility type and services were defined.
- Rooms below the minimum size for the service.
- Hand wash basins missing in clinical rooms.
- No clean and dirty utility separation.
- Ventilation not designed for clinical spaces.
- Radiation shielding or approvals missing for X-ray rooms.
- Professionals not licensed in time for activation.
Choosing the right unit
The unit decides how easy the rest of the project will be. Before signing a lease, check:
- Permitted use. The building and unit must allow healthcare use. Some buildings exclude it, or allow it only on certain floors.
- Access. Step-free access from the street or parking, lifts large enough for wheelchairs and stretchers, and convenient drop-off.
- Ceiling void and shafts. Clinical ventilation, medical gases and extra drainage need space and routes to the outside.
- Floor loading. Imaging equipment and dental chairs can need structural checks.
- Power. Enough capacity for equipment and cooling, or a realistic route to increase it.
- Neighbours. X-ray rooms next to other tenants need shielding that also protects them.
A short pre-lease feasibility study by a healthcare designer, checking these points against the planned services, often saves months.
Specialist facility types
- Dental clinics: sterilisation room with a one-way flow, compressed air and suction plant, and X-ray rooms or shielded areas for imaging.
- Day surgery centres: operating theatres with specialist ventilation, recovery bays, medical gases, back-up power and more demanding fire strategies.
- Diagnostic centres: imaging rooms with shielding, heavy equipment and cooling, plus radiation approvals.
- Physiotherapy and rehabilitation: larger open treatment areas, accessible changing rooms and equipment that may need floor checks.
Documents to keep ready for inspection
- Approved drawings and the fit-out completion certificate.
- Civil Defence completion and maintenance contracts for fire systems.
- Commissioning records for ventilation, medical gases and electrical systems.
- Equipment lists, certificates and maintenance contracts.
- Clinical waste contract with an approved carrier.
- Infection control, emergency and other policies required by the regulator.
Realistic timeline
Every clinic is different, but the overall sequence usually runs like this:
- Feasibility and unit selection: a few weeks, including checking the lease terms and the building's rules for healthcare use.
- DHA initial approval: runs in parallel with concept design.
- Detailed design and authority approvals: several weeks, depending on the facility type and how many approvals are needed.
- Fit-out and equipment: typically the longest stage, longer for surgical or imaging facilities.
- Testing, commissioning and inspections: Civil Defence, building authority and DHA inspections.
- Activation: once the inspection is passed and staff are licensed.
Start professional licensing early. Doctors, nurses and allied health staff each need DHA licences, and waiting for them at the end of the project is a common cause of delayed openings.
Changes after opening
Adding services, rooms or equipment after opening usually needs DHA approval and may need fit-out and Civil Defence approvals too. Adding an X-ray unit, for example, brings shielding and radiation approvals. Moving to a larger unit is treated as a new facility setup in most respects. Plan expansion space at the start if growth is likely, so later changes stay within the approved layout where possible.
Who does what
- Owner or operator: licensing, staffing, policies and the DHA application.
- Healthcare designer or consultant: layout, healthcare standards and authority drawings.
- Fit-out contractor: construction, MEP installation and commissioning records.
- Specialist suppliers: medical gases, imaging, sterilisation and clinical equipment.
Frequently asked questions
Who licenses clinics in Dubai?
The DHA through Sheryan, except in Dubai Healthcare City, which has its own regulator.
What are the main DHA licensing steps?
A new facility licence application for initial approval, then activation of the facility licence after inspection.
Do clinics need Dubai Municipality approval?
On the mainland, the fit-out needs Dubai Municipality approval, along with Civil Defence.
Do doctors need separate licences?
Yes. Healthcare professionals need their own DHA licences.
Can I design the clinic before DHA initial approval?
You can start concept design, but finalise it against the approved facility type and services.
Does a dental clinic need extra approvals?
X-ray equipment needs radiation shielding and the relevant radiation approvals.
Planning a clinic in Dubai?
Send us the facility type, services and unit details. We will check the unit, design the fit-out and manage the building approvals alongside your DHA licensing. You can contact our team here.
