DOH License Renewal, Changes and Closure in Abu Dhabi
Short answer: In Abu Dhabi you can submit the renewal application two months before the license expires and renew for one or two years. If you are more than 30 days late, a fine of 25 percent of the license fee applies each month for up to six months, and the license is cancelled by law six months after expiry. Every other change runs through a dedicated TAMM service.
Last verified: October 2026 against the DOH Standard for Healthcare Facility Licensure (version 6, published June 2025, effective September 2025).
Key Takeaways
- Renew from two months before expiry. A two year renewal needs DOH approval and a successful Health Quality inspection.
- After 30 days late you pay 25 percent of the license fee monthly, up to six months.
- Facilities in health insurance also pay a fixed monthly insurance renewal fine in the AED 10,000 range, up to six months.
- Temporary closure up to six months is auto approved for most facility types, but not for hospitals and home care.
- Cancel a license while it is still valid, to avoid cumulative penalties.
Renewal and Late Penalties
- Submit the renewal on TAMM two months before expiry.
- Renew for one or two years. A two year renewal needs DOH approval and a successful Health Quality inspection.
- More than 30 days after expiry: a delay fine of 25 percent of the license fee each month, for a maximum of 6 months.
- Facilities participating in health insurance: an additional fixed monthly fine in the AED 10,000 range, for a maximum of 6 months.
- Six months after expiry the license is marked cancelled by law.
Closure, Suspension and Cancellation
- Temporary closure of the whole facility or suspension of a specialty or service is available on TAMM. It is auto approved for the first six months, excluding hospitals and home care providers.
- Maximum temporary closure is six months, with evidence needed to support any extension, and closure does not prevent renewal.
- Failure to extend a suspension leads the system to delete the inactive specialty or service automatically.
- Cancelling a facility license: keep the license valid while cancelling to avoid cumulative penalties, and cancel the registered professional licenses.
Changes You Can Request on TAMM
| Change | Notes |
|---|---|
| Facility name | Must reflect the trade name in Arabic and English and the services provided |
| Location | Needs DOH approval and a signed change of location undertaking form |
| Internal plans | A separate service for changing the facility internal plan |
| Owner | Secondary owners can be added or deleted without fees. Changing primary owners that existed at preliminary approval is charged as a new facility license |
| Specialties, services or beds | Add, cancel or activate, with an undertaking form signed by the owner. Registered professionals must be cancelled with a cancelled specialty |
| Facility type and bed type | DOH approval for main or sub-type changes, and re-allocation of bed types without changing capacity |
| Staff rotation | Between facilities of the same owners, provided all specialties are available in each facility |
| Facility profile | Keep PRO, medical director, facility director and pharmacist in charge details current |
Other Services Worth Knowing
- Narcotic and controlled medicine registers are now handled through the national platform, with paper registers only in exceptional cases.
- Ambulance and medicine transportation units can be registered, renewed, transferred and cancelled through TAMM.
- Companies providing healthcare through mobile applications register with the facility licensing department by email with their license, scope of service, declaration and technical registration form.
- Home care providers who need more medical staff request a quota increase with supporting patient authorizations.
Frequently Asked Questions.
How early can I renew a DOH license?
Two months before the expiry date, through TAMM.
What is the penalty for renewing late?
After 30 days past expiry a fine of 25 percent of the license fee applies monthly, up to six months, plus a fixed monthly insurance renewal fine where the facility participates in health insurance.
What happens after six months without renewal?
The license status is marked cancelled by law.
Can I close my clinic for a few months?
Yes. Temporary closure is available for up to six months and is auto approved for the first six months for most facility types. It does not stop renewal duties.
Do I need DOH approval to change the owner?
Yes. Secondary owners can be added or removed without fees, but changing primary owners is charged as a new facility license.
How OzaniX Partners Can Help.
We prepare the application, coordinate the drawings and approvals, and run the renewal calendar so nothing lapses, then set up empanelment, bookkeeping and cash planning. See licensing and regulatory advisory or book a discovery call.
Book a Discovery Call