Cost to Open a Clinic in the UAE: Regulator Fees and Budget
Short answer: The regulator fees to open a clinic in the UAE are the smallest part of the budget. They are published and fairly modest for a single clinic, in the thousands of dirhams. The real cost sits in fit-out, equipment, systems, staffing before revenue starts and the working capital you need while insurers pay you. This guide shows the published regulator fees, lists every cost line to budget for and explains how to size working capital.
Last verified: October 2026 against DHA’s Sheryan fee page, MOHAP’s facility license page, DOH Standard V6 and SHA service pages. We do not publish fit-out or equipment price figures because they vary too much by project. Always confirm regulator fees on the portal before you file.
Key Takeaways
- Regulator fees for a single general or specialty clinic are roughly AED 7,000 to 8,000 in license and inspection fees in Dubai, and a similar amount with MOHAP.
- DOH, SHA and DHCC do not publish facility fee amounts on the pages we reviewed. Ask them directly.
- Fit-out, equipment, EMR and connectivity, insurance and staffing usually cost many times the regulator fees.
- Clinics wait weeks to months to be paid by insurers, so working capital is the number that most often decides survival.
- Budget for the time between signing the lease and the license being active. You pay rent and salaries before you can earn.
Regulator Fees: What Is Published
| Regulator | What Is Published | Typical Range for a Single Clinic (AED) |
|---|---|---|
| DHA (Dubai) | License fee by facility type and term, inspection and re-inspection | License 5,000 to 6,000 a year, inspection about 2,000 |
| MOHAP (Northern Emirates) | Application, inspection, site plan and final license fees by type | Final license 5,000 to 6,000, inspection and site plan 1,000 each, application 100 |
| DOH (Abu Dhabi) | Fees are shown on TAMM at application, not in the standard | Not published |
| SHA (Sharjah) | Fees depend on facility type, paid electronically | Not published on service pages |
| DHCC authority (commercial license) | Facility fees are not published on its FAQ page; the health facility license is issued by DHA (see the DHA row) | Ask DHCC for the commercial license cost |
Higher complexity increases the fee. In Dubai a polyclinic is around AED 10,000 to 15,000 a year, a day surgery center around AED 20,000 and hospitals AED 20,000 to 40,000 by bed count. MOHAP lists multi-specialty clinics at AED 12,000 to 18,000 and hospitals at AED 20,000 to 40,000 for the final license.
Professional Licenses for Your Team
Every doctor, nurse and technician needs a professional license under the facility. Fees depend on the regulator and category. For example, SHA lists full-time licenses in the AED 1,000 range for nurses and allied health and the AED 3,000 range for physicians and dentists, with an assessment fee on top. Primary source verification and exams add further cost per clinician. See our SHA professional license guide and GCC licensing guide.
The Cost Lines to Budget
| Cost Line | Notes | When You Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Trade license and company setup | Depends on mainland, free zone or healthcare city | Before regulator filing |
| Premises: deposit, rent, Ejari or equivalent | Often the largest recurring cost; must be licensable in your category | From lease signing |
| Design consultant and engineering drawings | Prequalified consultants are required for many facility types | Before initial approval |
| Regulator fees | Application, inspection, site plan, final license | At each stage |
| Fit-out and interior | Built to regulator standards and the approved layout | After initial approval |
| Medical equipment and consumables | Equipment list is a licensing document | Before inspection |
| EMR and health information exchange connectivity | NABIDH in Dubai, Malaffi in Abu Dhabi, Riayati and Tatmeen with MOHAP | Before inspection |
| Professional licenses and recruitment | Per clinician, plus visas and onboarding | Before activation |
| Insurance | Malpractice, third party and property | Before activation |
| Civil Defence, waste management and pest control contracts | Required as licensing documents | Before inspection |
| Marketing and signage | No advertising before the license is active | Around opening |
| Working capital | Covers costs until cash receipts catch up | First 6 to 12 months |
How to Size Working Capital
A new clinic spends before it earns, and then it waits for insurers. A simple way to size your cash need:
- Monthly running cost: rent, salaries, supplies, utilities, insurance and software.
- Months before breakeven: your realistic ramp, not your best case. Patient volume builds gradually and credentialing with payers takes time.
- Insurance receivable lag: the months between treating a patient and being paid. Multiply monthly insured revenue by this lag to see the cash tied up.
- Buffer: keep a reserve for rejected claims and delayed empanelment.
Working capital need is roughly: monthly running cost multiplied by months to breakeven, plus the cash tied up in receivables, plus the buffer. Our free 13 week cash flow forecast template and the guide to 13 week cash flow for clinics show how to model it week by week.
Where Budgets Go Wrong
- Leasing before confirming the premises can be licensed in your category.
- Starting fit-out before the regulator approves the drawings, then redoing it.
- Hiring clinicians early with no revenue and no active license.
- Forgetting that insurance empanelment takes time, so revenue starts later than the license.
- Not budgeting for re-inspection, amendments and renewal fees.
Frequently Asked Questions.
How much does it cost to get a clinic license in the UAE?
The regulator fees for a single general or specialty clinic are in the thousands of dirhams: for example AED 5,000 to 6,000 for the license plus inspection in Dubai, and a similar range with MOHAP. DOH, SHA and DHCC fees should be confirmed with the authority. The total project cost is far higher because of fit-out, equipment and working capital.
Is the license fee paid every year?
Licenses are issued for a term and renewed. DHA lists one, two and three year terms, where longer terms cost roughly 1.75 and 2.5 times the one year fee. SHA licenses are valid for one year and renewable.
What is the biggest hidden cost?
Time. The months between signing the lease and earning revenue, and then waiting for insurers to pay, create a working capital need that is often larger than all the regulator fees combined.
Can I reduce cost by choosing a free zone?
Possibly on premises or trade license, depending on the zone. Facility license fees are set by the facility type and regulator. Compare full cost, not only the trade license. See mainland vs free zone vs DHCC.
How OzaniX Partners Can Help.
We build the opening budget and cash plan with you, run the licensing in parallel, and then manage bookkeeping, insurance receivables and monthly reporting, with live performance tracking in OzaniX Pulse. See bookkeeping, insurance empanelment or book a discovery call.
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