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