Healthcare professionals in UAE need both a DHA/DOH clinical licence and a visa sponsorship. Here is the complete 2026 guide.
In this guide:
Healthcare Professional Visa — Two Components
- Clinical licence: Issued by DHA (Dubai), DOH (Abu Dhabi), or MOHAP (other emirates); required to practice
- Residency visa: Standard UAE visa for living in the country; separate from clinical licence
UAE Free Zone Company for Doctors
- Medical consulting company: A doctor can set up a free zone consulting company for healthcare consulting, medical advisory, training
- Clinical practice: Cannot be done through a free zone company alone; requires clinical licence and approved medical facility
- Healthcare City: DHCC (Dubai Healthcare City) is specifically for clinical healthcare businesses
DHCC (Dubai Healthcare City)
- Purpose: Dedicated free zone for clinical healthcare businesses
- Companies: 4,000+ companies including hospitals, clinics, pharmacies, medical device companies
- DHCA licence: Healthcare facility licence from DHCA (Dubai Healthcare City Authority) required for clinical operations
- DHA licence: Doctors still need DHA licence alongside DHCA facility licence