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DubaiHealthcareEducation✓ Checked 2026-10-24

Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC)

مدينة دبي الطبية

DHCC publishes 4 current packages, the lowest without stated conditions at AED 16,550 for year 1 and requires at least a flexi-desk (checked 2026-10-24).

Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) is a healthcare and education free zone in Dubai, licensed by Dubai Healthcare City Authority (DHCA): registers and licenses all DHCC entities through its Registry of Companies (commercial licences). Dubai Health Authority (DHA): licenses and regulates healthcare facilities, healthcare professionals and healthcare activity inside DHCC., established in 2002.

Official sources onlyOfficial site ↗Online portal ↗

Key facts

Solo, no visa · year 1
AED 16,550
Commercial License Bundle - Essentials (1 segment, 3 activities): visa quota not stated
Founder + 1 visa · year 1
Not published
No published package for 1 visa with this office type. One founder with one residence visa, flexi-desk or virtual office.
Team, 3 visas · year 1
Not published
No published package for 3 visas with this office type. Three residence visas, flexi-desk or small office.
Lowest package, any size
AED 16,550
Commercial License Bundle - Essentials (1 segment, 3 activities) · packages with stated conditions excluded
Licence fee from
AED 15,000
Largest visa quota
Not published
No package states a quota
Minimum office
Flexi-desk
Incorporation
—
Min. share capital
AED 10,000
General trading
Yes
VAT Designated Zone
No
FTA list
Annual audit
Yes

Verified on 2026-10-24 from dhcc.ae, tax.gov.ae.

Figures as published by the zone. “Not published” means no official source states it. Scenario prices are the published package closest to each set-up: solo, no visa = one founder, no residence visa, no office beyond a desk or virtual address, one activity; founder + 1 visa = one founder with one residence visa, flexi-desk or virtual office; team, 3 visas = three residence visas, flexi-desk or small office.

Published packages

Conditions apply

Zawel Commercial License (subsidised, limited time)

AED 16,550year 1

2 visas · No office

  • Commercial licence for year 1 without office lease or Ejari
  • Visa quota eligibility of 2
  • Not included: Visa and immigration government charges
  • Not included: Office lease (mandatory from renewal)
Renewal not publishedSource ↗
Lowest priceFits: Solo, no visa

Commercial License Bundle - Essentials (1 segment, 3 activities)

AED 16,550year 1

3 activities

  • 1 segment with 3 activities
  • Registration fee and initial application fee (per standard-fee table)
Renewal not publishedSource ↗

Commercial License Bundle - Accelerate (2 segments, 6 activities)

AED 26,550year 1

6 activities

  • 2 segments with 6 activities
Renewal not publishedSource ↗

Commercial License Bundle - Ultimate (3 segments, 9 activities)

AED 36,550year 1

9 activities

  • 3 segments with 9 activities
Renewal not publishedSource ↗

Verified on 2026-10-24 from dhcc.ae.

Packages differ in what they include; compare visas, office and fees before choosing.

Identity and legal basis

Official name (Arabic)
مدينة دبي الطبية ↗
Former, merged or alternative names
Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) ↗
Licensing / regulating authority
Dubai Healthcare City Authority (DHCA): registers and licenses all DHCC entities through its Registry of Companies (commercial licences). Dubai Health Authority (DHA): licenses and regulates healthcare facilities, healthcare professionals and healthcare activity inside DHCC. ↗
Parent group / government body
Government of Dubai (DHCA is a Dubai public authority with legal personality and financial and administrative autonomy) ↗
Zone type
Healthcare, Education ↗
Year established
2002 ↗
Official website
dhcc.ae ↗
Online application portal
dhcr.gov.ae/en/Login?ReturnUrl=/en ↗
Listed on the Ministry of Economy and Tourism register of free-zone company registrars
Yes ↗
  • Physical locations / campuses: Phase 1: Oud Metha Road, Bur Dubai (healthcare and medical education); Phase 2: Al Jaddaf (wellness). [1]
  • Public contact email: info@dhca.gov.ae. [2]
  • Public contact phone: 800-HEALTH (432584); +971 4 383 8383. [2]
  1. [1] dhcc.ae · opened 2026-10-24
  2. [2] dhcc.ae · opened 2026-10-24

Verified on 2026-10-24 from dhcc.ae, dlp.dubai.gov.ae, moet.gov.ae.

Business activities

Official approved activity list
dhcc.ae/gallery/Rule_No_1.pdf ↗
Licence types offered
Healthcare, Education, Trading, General trading, Services / consultancy, Holding, Other ↗
General trading licence available
Yes ↗
  • Activity categories offered: Healthcare; Education; Research; Wellness; Hospitality; Retail; Business Support; Service Provider; Regional Head Quarters; Property Services. [1]
  • Activities included in base licence: 1. [2]
  • Fee per additional activity: AED 1,000. [2]
  • Trading and services on one licence: yes. [1]
  • Activities needing another authority's approval: Healthcare cluster facilities and activities: DHA (some CDA, DCAS, DCAA, DM); Education cluster: KHDA / MOE / MOHESR academic authorisation; Research cluster: DHA (Research Permit); Property Services: RERA NOC; Hotels and hotel apartments: DET; Food & beverage retail: DM (some DMCA, SIRA); Aviation consultancy, drone services and aerial photography: DCAA; Financial services segments: CB-UAE where indicated; Business Support activities restricted to already-licensed persons (healthcare, architectural & engineering consultancy, events/exhibitions/festivals). [1]
  • Restricted activities: Warehousing, storage or physical handling of goods (not supported in DHCC); Retail activity outside premises in the designated Retail Cluster; Conducting business outside DHCC under a DHCA licence; Combining the Investment Company segment with any other segment; Public joint stock companies; Regional HQ licensees trading on their own behalf. [1]
  • Conditions for general trading: Retail-cluster activity: AED 30,000 annual licence fee and AED 50,000 minimum share capital (FZ-LLC). Covers importing, trading and re-exporting allowed goods; goods needing special approval require an NOC. Retail-cluster rules apply: no warehousing or stock handling in DHCC, retail only from Retail Cluster premises, and local sales of imported goods are subject to Dubai/UAE customs law. [1]
  1. [1] dhcc.ae · opened 2026-10-24
  2. [2] dhcc.ae · opened 2026-10-24

Verified on 2026-10-24 from dhcc.ae.

Cost - year one

Lowest licence fee (zero-visa)
AED 15,000 ↗
  • Establishment / immigration card fee: AED 1,935. [1]
  • Cost per visa: AED 3,226.73. [1]
  • Visa fees: DHCA GSO packages (normal fee): 2-yr employment residence visa new outside UAE 3,226.73; new inside UAE (status change) 4,947.63; 2-yr renewal 2,678.76. Establishment card new 1,935. Bank guarantee deposit 2,500 per employee. Medical test (4 working hours) 1,100 as a separate express-type item. Cancellation inside UAE 515.85. [1]
  • Mandatory deposit or bank guarantee: AED 2,500. [1]
  • MoA / notary / attestation fees: AED 250. [1]
  1. [1] dhcc.ae · opened 2026-10-24

Verified on 2026-10-24 from dhcc.ae.

Cost - ongoing

  • Renewal costs more than the first-year price: yes. [1]
  • Visa renewal cost per person: AED 2,678.76. [2]
  • Visa validity: 2 years. [2]
  • Late renewal penalty: AED 500 per month after a 30-day grace period (Commercial License Late Renewal). DHCA may also cancel or revoke a licence not renewed in time (Rule 1 §3.13). [2]
  • Renewal grace period: 30 days. [2]
  • Fee to add activity: AED 1,000. [2]
  • Fee for shareholder change: AED 3,500. [2]
  • Fee for name change: AED 2,400. [2]
  • Deregistration / liquidation fee: AED 1,500. [2]
  • Current promotions and expiry: Zawel Commercial License subsidised package AED 16,550 (year 1, no lease; 'limited time only', no end date published); Commercial License Bundles subsidised year-1 fees: Essentials 16,550, Accelerate 26,550, Ultimate 36,550 (limited time, no end date published). [1]
  1. [1] dhcc.ae · opened 2026-10-24
  2. [2] dhcc.ae · opened 2026-10-24

Verified on 2026-10-24 from dhcc.ae.

Visas and residency

  • Visa quota rule: Visa eligibility is based on leased area: 1 employment visa per 80 sq. (unit not stated) for Healthcare, Wellness, R&D, Education, Retail, Business Support, Regional HQ, Support Services and Property Services. Hotels: 1 per room. Business centre: desk space 2, executive office 3, kiosk 3. A quota below 2 is rounded up to 2. Education licensees can also get student and faculty visas based on enrolment. [1]
  • Max visas without dedicated office: 2. [2]
  • How to increase quota and cost: Lease more space (eligibility follows leased area). Shift operations or higher business volume can get up to 100% extra eligibility after ROC evaluation. Up to 20% above eligibility (minimum 2 extra visas) needs specific ROC approval; beyond that needs CRO approval. Adding employment quota to the establishment card costs AED 448.50. [1]
  • Investor / partner visa available: yes. [1]
  • Employee visa available: yes. [3]
  • Dependant / family visa sponsorship allowed: yes. [3]
  • Golden Visa support: DHCA GSO offers an 'Employee Golden Visa Package' (normal and express) and Golden Visa dependent spouse/child packages, and issues Golden Visa NOC letters. dhcc.ae says medical, scientific, research and technical specialists can apply for 10-year residency. [3]
  1. [1] dhcc.ae · opened 2026-10-24
  2. [2] dhcc.ae · opened 2026-10-24
  3. [3] dhcc.ae · opened 2026-10-24

Verified on 2026-10-24 from dhcc.ae.

Office and facilities

Minimum facility requirement
Flexi-desk ↗
Office / facility types
Flexi-desk, Serviced office, Private office, Retail unit, Land plot ↗
Warehouse available
No ↗
  • Land plots for build-to-suit: yes. [1]
  • Premises outside the zone allowed: no. [2]
  1. [1] dhcc.ae · opened 2026-10-24
  2. [2] dhcc.ae · opened 2026-10-24

Verified on 2026-10-24 from dhcc.ae.

Market access and customs

Physical operations on the mainland allowed without an extra licence
No ↗
  • Customs duty in the zone: No zone-specific customs regime published. Rule 1 of 2025 §12.0.4 says local sales of imported products are subject to Dubai/UAE customs laws and regulations. Warehousing and stock handling are not permitted in DHCC (§12.0.2). [1]
  1. [1] dhcc.ae · opened 2026-10-24

Verified on 2026-10-24 from dhcc.ae.

Tax status

VAT Designated Zone (per the FTA list)
No ↗

Verified on 2026-10-24 from tax.gov.ae.

Compliance and reporting

Annual audited financial statements required by the zone
Yes ↗
Beneficial-owner register filing required
Yes ↗
  • Substance requirements enforced by zone: Licensees must keep a valid lease and licence at all times. Those carrying out ESR 'relevant activities' must self-assess and show adequate UAE economic presence. [1]
  • Annual return and renewal documents: Valid lease agreement; Ejari; Audited financial statements; NOC from relevant external authority (if applicable); UBO details (corporate shareholders, branches); Good standing certificate of foreign parent / valid trade licence of UAE parent (branches). [2]
  1. [1] dhcc.ae · opened 2026-10-24
  2. [2] dhcc.ae · opened 2026-10-24

Verified on 2026-10-24 from dhcc.ae.

Banking

Zone offers bank-account facilitation
Yes ↗

Verified on 2026-10-24 from dhcc.ae.

Setup process and speed

Direct application without an agent
Yes ↗
  • Documents for an individual shareholder: Proof of premises (lease reservation / lease agreement / purchase agreement / title deed); Business plan (clinical activity only); Resolution for incorporation of FZ-LLC (or resolution establishing branch); Passport copies of shareholders, director, manager and legal representative (with UAE residence/visit visa page if applicable); Emirates ID copies for UAE residents; Manager NOC from current UAE sponsor (if applicable); Proof of share capital deposit (FZ-LLC). [1]
  • Attestation requirements for corporate shareholders: Corporate shareholder must provide its incorporation certificate, MOA/AOA, certificate of good standing (original or notarised copy) and UBO details; UAE corporates also provide their trade licence and commercial register. The board resolution for incorporation must be notarised and attested. [2]
  • Trade name rules: The name must reflect the core business activity and the legal form and needs DHCA approval. Applicants give one preferred name and two alternatives. The reservation certificate is valid 120 days. The name must state that it is a free zone establishment and its legal form in all dealings. [3]
  • Refund policy if rejected: All fees are non-refundable. [1]
  1. [1] dhcc.ae · opened 2026-10-24
  2. [2] dhcc.ae · opened 2026-10-24
  3. [3] dhcc.ae · opened 2026-10-24

Verified on 2026-10-24 from dhcc.ae.

Operations, ecosystem and flexibility

  • Adding shareholders: Share transfer or capital increase to a new shareholder: AED 3,500 per instrument, with DHCA initial approval and notarised/attested resolutions. Service time 2-5 working days (2021 handbook). [1]
  • Moving a company in or out (re-domiciliation): yes. [1]
  1. [1] dhcc.ae · opened 2026-10-24

Verified on 2026-10-24 from dhcc.ae.

Freelancer and solo founder

Freelancer permit available
No ↗

Verified on 2026-10-24 from dhcc.ae.

Industry-specific regulation

  • Healthcare and education approvals: Healthcare: the DHCA commercial licence is issued only after DHA approval for the relevant segment/activity (some also need CDA, DCAS, DCAA, DM or MOHAP). DHA licenses healthcare facilities, healthcare professionals and healthcare activity in DHCC (Dubai Law 16/2024 Art. 20(b); Law 14/2021 transferred the health-regulator role from DHCA to DHA). Facilities then need a DHCA fit-out permit and a Clinical Operating Permit before operating. Third-party businesses inside a healthcare facility need their own commercial licence. Education: an academic authorisation from KHDA, MOE or MOHESR (as applicable) is needed before the licence is issued and at each renewal. Nurseries need KHDA and/or MOE approval; branch universities must be bona fide branches of accredited foreign universities authorised by KHDA. Research: DHA approval and a DHA Research Permit. [1]
  1. [1] dhcc.ae · opened 2026-10-24

Verified on 2026-10-24 from dhcc.ae.

Activity fit (our view)

Likely possible

Needs a regulator's approval

Our assessment from the zone's published licence types. Always confirm your exact activity on the zone's official activity list. Official activity list ↗ Licence types the zone publishes: Healthcare, Education, Trading, General trading, Services / consultancy, Holding, Other.

Verified on 2026-10-24 from dhcc.ae.

Notes and history

  1. History · 2021-07-12

    Under Dubai Law No. 14 of 2021 (issued 12 July 2021), the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) took over from the DHCA the regulation of the health sector in the zone. Under Law No. 16 of 2024, any commercial activity needs DHCA licences, and healthcare activity also needs DHA licences or permits. [source 1][source 2]

  2. Legal basis · 2024-09-04

    Dubai Healthcare City is governed as a free zone by Dubai Law No. 16 of 2024, issued on 4 September 2024, which superseded Law No. 9 of 2011 and repealed Decree No. 41 of 2019. The law sets up the Dubai Healthcare City Authority (DHCA) as a Dubai public authority that licenses activities and registers companies in the zone. [source]

  3. History · 2025-05-02

    DHCA Rule No. 1 of 2025 on permitted activities and licensing categories took effect on 2 May 2025, replacing Rule No. 1 of 2018. [source]

  4. Names

    Older zone documents, such as the 2020 visa policy and the 2021 company registration handbook, use the name DHCR (Dubai Healthcare City Authority - Regulatory) for the zone's regulator; current laws and rules use DHCA. [source 1][source 2][source 3]

Verified on 2026-10-24 from dhcc.ae, dlp.dubai.gov.ae.

Questions worth asking

How much does a DHCC licence cost?

The lowest package DHCC advertises is AED 16,550 for the first year (Commercial License Bundle - Essentials (1 segment, 3 activities)). Packages differ in what they include, so check visas, office and fees before comparing.

Does DHCC require a physical office?

The minimum facility DHCC states is: flexi-desk. Facility types offered: flexi-desk, serviced office, private office, retail unit, land plot.

Can I get a general trading licence in DHCC?

Yes, DHCC offers a general trading licence.

Is DHCC a VAT Designated Zone?

DHCC does not appear on the Federal Tax Authority's list of VAT Designated Zones.

What is the minimum share capital in DHCC?

DHCC states a minimum share capital of AED 10,000.

About this data

Every fact comes from DHCC's own channels or a UAE government source, linked next to it. Last checked 2026-10-24. Information collected from free-zone authorities and UAE government sources on the dates shown. Fees and rules change; the zone's current schedule prevails. Not legal, tax or financial advice.

Rules for every zone

Explained in the guides on corporate tax, VAT Designated Zones and mainland access.

How we check

Prices are re-checked every 90 days and other facts on a schedule. How we verify →