How to Start a Homes for the Elderly with Nursing Care Business in Dubai with Meydan Free Zone

A home for the elderly with nursing care providing 24-hour nursing and personal care for elderly residents requiring clinical supervision, serves a growing and policy-driven market in Dubai.¹

Dubai's population growth, ageing demographics, and government commitment to expanded care infrastructure are driving sustained demand for licensed residential and specialist care services.³

For operators, this segment benefits from stable occupancy, insurance and government-funded placements, and DHA regulatory clarity.²

That structural demand for residential care, driven by population growth, ageing demographics, and policy reform, is exactly where the opportunity lies.

The UAE has positioned elderly care, disability support, and mental health as strategic priorities under We the UAE 2031, with explicit targets for quality, capacity, and Emiratisation.

Who is this for?

Setting up through Meydan Free Zone means 100% foreign ownership, zero corporate tax on qualifying income, full profit repatriation, and a fully digital licensing process, giving you a fast and cost-effective route into the Dubai market.

8710.01 - Homes For The Elderly With Nursing Care

Under this activity, you are in the business of operating a licensed home for the elderly with nursing care providing 24-hour nursing and personal care for elderly residents requiring clinical supervision.

Services are delivered under DHA licensing, with qualified nursing and clinical staff, appropriate facility standards, and ongoing quality oversight.

There are some things this activity does not cover. Hospital inpatient services and acute medical treatment fall under hospital codes.

Non-residential outpatient services and community-based social care are classified under separate codes.

In short: if you are operating a licensed home for the elderly with nursing care, you are in. If you are running a hospital, an outpatient clinic, or a non-medical residential facility, you are not.

Third-Party Approval

This business activity requires third-party approval before the trade licence is issued. In practice, your facility, clinical or operational model, staffing, and regulatory documentation must be reviewed and cleared by the relevant authority before licensing.

Anti-Money Laundering Compliance

This business activity is exempt from AML compliance requirements.

Citations

¹ Dubai Health Authority. Strategic Plan and Healthcare Statistics - https://www.dha.gov.ae/

² UAE Ministry of Health and Prevention. National Health Strategy - https://mohap.gov.ae/en

³ Dubai Media Office. Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan - https://u.ae/en/about-the-uae/strategies-initiatives-and-awards/strategies-plans-and-visions/infrastructure/dubai-2040-urban-master-plan