MOHAP Facility License: Northern Emirates Clinic Guide
Short answer: In the Northern Emirates, a clinic is licensed by the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) through its website or smart app, using UAE PASS. The route is: initial inspection approval, site plan approval, initial license approval, government clearances such as Civil Defence, licensing of the medical staff, a final inspection and then the final license, which is issued electronically.
Last verified: October 2026 against MOHAP’s “Issue a Health Facility License” service page and its Initial Approval user guide (July 2025). MOHAP updates its fee table and checklists, so confirm on the MOHAP portal before you apply.
Key Takeaways
- MOHAP is the licensing authority for health facilities outside Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Sharjah, which have their own authorities. Confirm your emirate before you start.
- Initial approval is valid for 6 months and does not allow you to practice or operate. It only lets you complete the license requirements.
- Do not start construction or fit-out until the facility drawing plan has initial approval.
- MOHAP publishes its fees: for example AED 5,000 for a general clinic final license and AED 6,000 for a specialist clinic, plus inspection and site plan fees.
- A non-national can own a health facility if the local authority issues an approval letter stating the foreign ownership percentage.
Which Emirates Does MOHAP License?
MOHAP licenses private health facilities where no separate emirate authority applies. Dubai is licensed by DHA, Abu Dhabi by DOH and Sharjah by the Sharjah Health Authority. Clinics in Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain are licensed through MOHAP. Clinics in Dubai Healthcare City follow the Dubai licensing route instead. Always confirm with MOHAP and your local authority before committing to premises.
MOHAP Facility License: The 11 Steps
- Log in to the MOHAP website or smart app using UAE PASS.
- Submit a request to obtain the health facility license.
- Submit an application for initial inspection.
- Once the initial inspection is approved, submit an application to study the architectural plan and pay the fee.
- Once the site plan is approved, the initial approval for inspection is issued.
- Apply for initial license approval and pay the application fee.
- Obtain the license requirements from relevant government entities, such as Civil Defence.
- Apply for licensing of the medical staff: doctors, technicians and nurses.
- Apply for final inspection.
- Once the final inspection is approved, pay the final licensing fee and submit the remaining documents.
- The license is issued electronically and sent by email. It can also be downloaded from the website.
MOHAP lists these service times: 1 working day for the application, 2 working days for final licensing, 5 to 7 working days for the final inspection and 7 to 10 working days for facility verification. Your build and fit-out time sits on top of these.
MOHAP Facility License Fees
MOHAP publishes a fee table by facility group. These are the amounts shown on its service page, in AED.
| Fee | General, Specialist and Diagnostic Clinics | Hospitals and Larger Centers |
|---|---|---|
| License application | 100 | 100 |
| Initial inspection | 1,000 | 2,000 (hospital, fertility, emergency, home medical center) |
| Site plan verification | 1,000 | 2,000 |
| Re-verifying site plan | 500 | 1,000 |
| Final license | 5,000 to 6,000 (12,000 to 18,000 for a multi-specialty clinic) | 20,000 to 40,000 depending on type and beds |
For final licenses, MOHAP lists AED 5,000 for a general clinic, rehabilitation or home health center, AED 6,000 for a specialist clinic, diagnostic center or emergency center, AED 12,000 to 18,000 for a multi-specialty clinic, AED 20,000 for a fertility center, convalescent home or one-day surgery center, and AED 20,000 to 40,000 for hospitals by bed count.
Documents MOHAP Asks For
Owner Documents
- Copy of the owner’s passport, family book and Emirates ID.
- Recent passport size photos with a white background.
- A character reference form, completed by the owner. Licensing resumes after the relevant authority approves it.
Initial Inspection Approval
- Application letter from the owner requesting the facility license.
- A letter addressed to whom it may concern.
- The facility plan and photos of the site.
Initial License Approval
- The facility plan with initial approval from MOHAP engineers.
- Department of Economic Development license.
- Application letter of the facility, security clearance of the owner and proof of the owner’s qualifications.
Final License Approval
- External billboard of the facility, medical waste agreement, list of medical equipment and services price list.
- Radiation protection license from FANR, where relevant.
- Trade license from the Department of Economic Development and list of partners’ names.
- Preventive safety certificate from Civil Defence.
- Internal regulations and rules of the facility, and the plan with final approval of MOHAP engineers.
- Registration in Tatmeen and Riayati.
Conditions to Plan For
- Site self-assessment: the portal asks you to complete a checklist tailored to your facility category. You cannot proceed if any item is marked “No”.
- Facility site assessment report: required for hospitals, specialized and rehabilitation hospitals, one day surgery centers, fertility and endoscopy centers.
- Lifts: an electric elevator must be installed if the facility has high floors.
- Foreign ownership: a non-national can own a facility if the local authority issues an approval letter stating the foreign ownership percentage.
- Engineering standards: the facility must meet MOHAP’s engineering conditions for health facilities.
Frequently Asked Questions.
How long is MOHAP initial approval valid?
MOHAP’s service page states that initial approval is valid for six months. It does not allow you to practice or operate. It is the period you have to meet the technical requirements and conditions for the license.
Can I start construction before initial approval?
No. Wait until the facility drawing plan has initial approval from MOHAP engineers, then build to the approved plan.
How much does a MOHAP clinic license cost?
The final license fee depends on facility type: AED 5,000 to 6,000 for most single specialty clinics and AED 12,000 to 18,000 for a multi-specialty clinic, plus inspection, site plan and application fees listed above.
Can a foreigner own a clinic in the Northern Emirates?
MOHAP states a non-national can own a health facility if the local authority that the facility belongs to issues an approval letter confirming the percentage of foreign ownership. Confirm the current percentage rules with that authority.
Does this apply to Sharjah?
No. Sharjah has its own Sharjah Health Authority. See our Sharjah Health Authority license guide.
Where This Comes From.
How OzaniX Partners Can Help.
We prepare the MOHAP application pack, coordinate the drawing plan and consultant, line up Civil Defence, waste and trade license approvals, and handle staff licensing. Then we set up empanelment, bookkeeping and cash planning so the clinic is ready to bill from day one. See licensing and regulatory advisory, company formation or book a discovery call.
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