Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) — Complete Business Guide 2026
Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) is the UAE’s premier healthcare free zone, hosting hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, medical education, and health technology companies. Here is the complete 2026 guide.
In this guide:
DHCC at a Glance
- Location: Oud Metha, Dubai (Phase 1) and Mohammed Bin Rashid City (Phase 2)
- Established: 2002
- Focus: Healthcare services; medical education; health technology; wellness
- Regulator: Dubai Healthcare City Authority (DHCA); healthcare-specific licensing and regulation
DHCC Company Types
- Healthcare provider: Hospitals; clinics; medical centres; specialized treatment centres
- Allied health: Pharmacy; dental; physiotherapy; diagnostic labs
- Medical education: Universities; training institutes; professional development
- Health technology: Digital health; telemedicine; health IT
- Non-healthcare businesses: Administrative, consulting, and support businesses based in DHCC
DHCC Regulatory Licensing
- Healthcare provider licence: Required for all clinical operations; DHCA approval
- Professional licence: Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals need DHCA clinical credentials
- Facility accreditation: Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation preferred; some required
DHCC Costs (2026)
- Non-healthcare company licence: AED 15,000-25,000/year
- Healthcare provider: Licensing fees vary significantly by size and type; typically AED 25,000-80,000+ for clinical setup
- Office space: DHCC is premium location; AED 180-350/sq.ft/year commercial rent