DHA clinic and healthcare facility licences
Choose the service that matches your question. These answers explain administrative processes and link to the official source for your case. They do not assess a patient's health or decide an individual application.
14 answers, each with the official source it rests on · Last checked 13 October 2026
New healthcare facility approval is initially inactive
New Facility License is the initial DHA application for a healthcare facility. Approval produces an inactive licence; the facility must subsequently complete Activate Facility License before operating. Investors or delegated representatives apply with the partners' valid passports and Emirates IDs where applicable, engineering layout and facility proposal; a trade licence is included if available and is optional at this initial step. The service also requires a medical-record system that meets NABIDH standards. Submit through Sheryan with the partners' consent. Initial approval is not permission to begin treating patients.
Source: Dubai Health Authority — New Facility License · Correct as of 13 October 2026 · Applies: Dubai
Activate a healthcare facility and pass final inspection
Activate Facility License turns an existing inactive DHA facility licence into an active operating licence. The facility's representative submits a valid trade licence, selects a medical director and completes the required professional-licensing steps. DHA coordinates the inspection. Only facilities that pass the final inspection receive an active facility licence. If inspection fails, the applicant must reschedule inspection and pay the required fees again. An inactive approval alone does not allow the facility to start operating.
Source: Dubai Health Authority — Activate Facility License · Correct as of 13 October 2026 · Applies: Dubai
Renew active or inactive DHA facility licences
Renew Facility License covers active or inactive DHA facility licences, with renewal available during the 90 days before expiry. For an active facility, the listed documents are a valid trade licence and an accreditation certificate where applicable. Submit through Sheryan and settle required fees plus outstanding professional and facility fines. The service limitations exclude licences expired beyond six months, cancelled or revoked. Fees and validity options vary by facility category and active or inactive status; there is no single universal clinic renewal tariff in this guidance.
Source: Dubai Health Authority — Renew Facility License · Correct as of 13 October 2026 · Applies: Dubai
Add healthcare specialties, telehealth or clinical training
Use Amend Facility License in Sheryan for permitted changes. Active facilities may request eligible add-ons such as telehealth, home healthcare or clinical training; the allowed add-ons depend on facility category. Specialty, layout, expansion and category changes have their own requirements. Depending on the change, supply floor or mobile-unit plans, an updated trade licence and required add-on forms. Active-licence amendments generally need initial and final approval and inspection; inactive-licence changes require design review. The service specifically exempts accreditation and FANR-licence record updates from payment and inspection. A cancelled, expired, suspended, revoked or on-hold licence cannot use the service.
Source: Dubai Health Authority — Amend Facility License · Correct as of 13 October 2026 · Applies: Dubai
Change a DHA healthcare facility name
Submit Change Facility Name through Sheryan. After DHA's initial approval, update the trade licence with the commercial licensing authority, then upload that licence showing the new name. DHA issues an updated facility licence. The new name must meet DHA's naming requirements. The service lists expired, cancelled, suspended, revoked and on-hold licences as limitations. Editing a trade name alone does not complete the DHA facility-licence change.
Source: Dubai Health Authority — Change Facility Name · Correct as of 13 October 2026 · Applies: Dubai
Change healthcare facility ownership
Use Change Facility Ownership for changes to the partners or local service agent. DHA first reviews the Sheryan application and, if approved, issues initial approval. Update the trade licence with the commercial authority and upload it showing the new ownership shares, then receive the updated DHA facility licence. Expired, cancelled, suspended, revoked and on-hold licences are listed as service limitations. This procedure does not decide the commercial terms of a clinic sale.
Source: Dubai Health Authority — Change Facility Ownership · Correct as of 13 October 2026 · Applies: Dubai
Change a DHA facility medical director
Change Medical Director requires selecting a professional from the facility and sending an online request for their acceptance through Sheryan. Both the facility and the selected professional need active licences, and the professional must meet the medical-director requirements. The selected professional cannot already be medical director of another facility outside the current facility group. After the required steps and approval, DHA updates the facility licence. Shared ownership or a job offer alone does not establish that someone meets the criteria.
Source: Dubai Health Authority — Change Medical Director · Correct as of 13 October 2026 · Applies: Dubai
Request temporary closure of a clinic or specialty
Temporary Facility Closure can cover the entire facility or selected specialties. The listed request period is at least one day and at most six months. A delegated representative selects the facility or specialty in Sheryan, submits supporting documents where needed and waits for DHA's approval. A request should not be treated as an automatic approval or as cancellation of the facility licence.
Source: Dubai Health Authority — Temporary Facility Closure · Correct as of 13 October 2026 · Applies: Dubai
Group healthcare facilities and approve staff rotation
Add Facility to Group lets active or inactive DHA facilities with shared ownership request a group in Sheryan. Provide evidence of common ownership. Rotation also requires the relevant service at the receiving branch, adequate staffing and malpractice cover for the rotating professional. Group registration is followed by granting rotation approval; for a new professional, the activation service lets the applicant choose the group facilities. Simply sharing a brand name does not complete the group and rotation process.
Source: Dubai Health Authority — Add Facility to Group · Correct as of 13 October 2026 · Applies: Dubai
Cancel a DHA facility licence
Before requesting Cancel Facility License, clear professional and facility fines, withdraw open appeals and cancel professional licences other than the medical director's. An undertaking may be requested, and DHA requires compliance with health-information management requirements. Submit the cancellation request in Sheryan. Active investigations and open inspections are service limitations. Once the facility licence is cancelled, the facility may no longer provide patient services. This process is separate from temporary closure.
Source: Dubai Health Authority — Cancel Facility License · Correct as of 13 October 2026 · Applies: Dubai
Move a DHA clinic to another location
Change Facility Location is available to an active healthcare facility with a valid licence. Submit the new floor plan or layout, updated trade licence and any additionally requested documents. DHA requires initial approval, then a site inspection before final approval and issue of the updated electronic licence. Inactive or closed facilities and those with expired licences cannot use this service. Moving the premises does not remove the inspection requirement.
Source: Dubai Health Authority — Change Facility Location · Correct as of 13 October 2026 · Applies: Dubai
Facility purchase of sick-leave certificate credits
Purchase Sick Leave Certificates credits an eligible, active healthcare facility's Sheryan account with the quantity purchased. A facility with multiple branches must purchase certificates for each branch. The facility must have an active licensed physician or dentist. Buying the credits is an administrative facility step; the treating professional separately issues an eligible patient's certificate through the sick-leave service.
Source: Dubai Health Authority — Purchase Sick Leave Certificates · Correct as of 13 October 2026 · Applies: Dubai
Temporary healthcare campaigns and health advertisements
An active healthcare facility can request a temporary campaign permit for activities such as health awareness, dental screening, school awareness or a sports event. The listed documents include a landlord or concerned-authority NOC and additional supporting documents. Submit the Sheryan application for DHA review. The service expressly directs health-advertisement matters to MOHAP; a campaign permit should not be presented as health-advertising approval.
Source: Dubai Health Authority — Request for Temporary Permit for Campaign · Correct as of 13 October 2026 · Applies: Dubai
DHA facility mandatory records
Facility Mandatory Records handles the facility's internal policies and procedures, FANR certificates, medical-device licence and registration documents, equipment maintenance contracts, medical-waste disposal contracts and pest-control contracts. A delegated representative submits the records through Sheryan. DHA reviews and verifies the information, and an inspection may be necessary. Uploading documents does not by itself confirm approval.
Source: Dubai Health Authority — Facility Mandatory Records · Correct as of 13 October 2026 · Applies: Dubai
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