Table of Contents
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ISIC activity code 8690 and what services does it cover in Dubai
ISIC code 8690 — Other Human Health Activities covers allied health, paramedical, and complementary health services that operate outside hospitals, general practice clinics, and licensed medical doctors. It is broader than most founders initially expect.
Services that fall under this classification include physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, nutrition and dietetics consulting, home health aide services, midwifery, chiropractic, osteopathy, and acupuncture, among others. The exact scope depends on the specific service configuration applied for.
The key distinction from licensed medical practice is prescription authority — practitioners operating under 8690 do not prescribe pharmaceutical medicines. However, this is a regulated, legitimate classification, not an unregulated loophole category.
Who regulates human health activities businesses in Dubai
The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) maintains primary oversight of any health-related activity operating within Dubai. This applies regardless of whether the business is structured through a free zone or on the mainland.
At the federal level, the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) also governs certain allied health categories. Both bodies work in parallel, and compliance with their respective frameworks is mandatory.
The DHA's regulatory framework is widely regarded as a quality signal rather than a barrier — it supports commercial credibility with clients and insurers alike, which is a practical commercial advantage for new entrants.
Is DHA registration required even if operating from a free zone
Yes. DHA facility licensing and professional registration are mandatory for any health activity operating in Dubai, including businesses established through a free zone such as Meydan Free Zone.
The DHA maintains a register of approved health professionals and facility categories, and your activity scope must align with what the DHA classifies as permissible under your specific licence type. Free zone incorporation does not exempt a business from this requirement.
Each practitioner working within the business must also hold individual professional registration with the DHA, in addition to the facility licence held by the company itself.
Why is now a good time to start a human health activities business in Dubai
The UAE healthcare market is on a sustained growth trajectory, projected to exceed USD 40 billion by 2028 at a compound annual growth rate of approximately 7%, according to IMARC Group. Population growth, rising chronic disease prevalence, and increased private sector participation are the primary drivers.
Government commitment is structural rather than cyclical. UAE Vision 2031 places health and wellbeing at the centre of national development priorities, with direct investment in infrastructure, digital health systems, and preventive care frameworks.
Demand is also diversified across multiple segments: Dubai's ageing expatriate population, growing wellness tourism, corporate wellness programmes, and chronic disease management — particularly for diabetes and musculoskeletal conditions — all create consistent, repeat-visit demand for services covered under activity code 8690.
Can practitioners under activity code 8690 prescribe medicines
No. Prescription authority for pharmaceutical medicines is not permitted under ISIC activity code 8690. This is the defining regulatory distinction between services in this category and those provided by licensed medical doctors.
This does not diminish the clinical or commercial scope of the activity. Services such as physiotherapy, nutrition consulting, occupational therapy, and complementary medicine disciplines operate effectively — and are widely reimbursed by insurers — without prescription rights.
Founders should ensure that their service offering is designed within this boundary from the outset, as operating outside the permitted scope of a DHA facility licence carries regulatory consequences.
What role does wellness tourism play in the Dubai human health activities market
Wellness tourism is a significant and growing contributor to Dubai's health economy. The emirate is actively positioned as a regional hub for both medical and wellness travel, as highlighted by Visit Dubai.
This creates a commercially relevant inbound client base for businesses operating under activity code 8690, particularly those offering services such as complementary therapies, nutrition consulting, and rehabilitation services that appeal to health-conscious travellers.
For new entrants, wellness tourism diversifies the potential client mix beyond the resident population, reducing reliance on any single demand segment and supporting more resilient revenue planning.
How many licensed health facilities does Dubai currently have
Dubai hosts over 3,500 licensed health facilities under the oversight of the Dubai Health Authority, according to DHA data. This reflects the scale and maturity of the emirate's private healthcare infrastructure.
Allied and complementary health services represent one of the fastest-growing sub-sectors within UAE private healthcare, indicating that the market for activity code 8690 businesses is both established and actively expanding.
This existing infrastructure also means that new entrants benefit from a population already accustomed to accessing private health services, which reduces the market education burden compared with less developed healthcare markets.
What is Meydan Free Zone and why is it relevant for setting up a human health activities business
Meydan Free Zone is one of the free zone jurisdictions in Dubai through which a human health activities business under ISIC code 8690 can be incorporated. The guide specifically identifies it as an efficient setup route for this activity category.
Free zones in Dubai generally offer advantages including full foreign ownership, streamlined incorporation processes, and defined commercial activity frameworks. These features make them a practical starting point for international founders entering the UAE healthcare market.
It is important to note that regardless of the free zone chosen, DHA facility licensing and practitioner registration remain mandatory. The free zone handles the commercial licence; the DHA governs the health activity permissions separately.
How to Start a Human Health Activities Business in Dubai
Dubai has over 3,500 licensed health facilities, and the fastest growth is not in hospitals. It is in the allied and complementary services people use week to week: physiotherapy, nutrition, speech therapy, home care. Activity code 8690 is the license that covers them.
This guide covers what the code lets you do, who regulates you, and how to set up through Meydan Free Zone. The trade license is the quick part. Dubai Health Authority registration runs alongside it and decides what you are actually allowed to treat.
Key Stats at a Glance
What This License Covers
What is in scope
ISIC code 8690 covers allied health, paramedical and complementary services that sit outside hospitals, general practice clinics and licensed doctors. The category is wider than most founders assume.
It takes in physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, nutrition and dietetics consulting, home health aide services and midwifery. Chiropractic, osteopathy and acupuncture also sit here, depending on how you set the services up.
Where the line sits
The line between this and licensed medical practice is prescribing. Practitioners working under 8690 do not prescribe pharmaceutical medicines. Design your services inside that boundary from the start, because working outside the scope of a DHA facility license has consequences.
This is not a loophole. It is a properly defined code covering a large slice of the modern health economy, and it is regulated as such.
Who Your Clients Will Be
Demand comes from four directions:
- Dubai's ageing expatriate population, who need ongoing allied health support
- Wellness travellers, with the emirate positioned as a regional hub for medical and wellness travel
- Employers running corporate wellness programmes, now standard at larger companies
- People managing long-term conditions, particularly diabetes and musculoskeletal problems
The last group is what makes the numbers work. Chronic conditions bring people back week after week, so your diary fills with repeat visits rather than one-off appointments. Wellness travel widens the mix beyond residents, which softens the blow if any one segment goes quiet.
Insurers reimburse a great deal of this work, and that is where DHA registration earns its keep. It reads as a quality signal to clients and insurers rather than as red tape.
Mainland or Free Zone
A free zone license lets you work within the free zone and internationally. To treat clients directly at a mainland Dubai address, you will usually need either a mainland license or a formal commercial arrangement with a mainland entity. Plenty of operators build consulting, telehealth and home-visit practices on the free zone structure instead. Let your clients decide it, not the price.
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Step by Step Setup Guide
- Step 1, confirm your activity scope: Pick activity code 8690 and talk through the exact services you plan to offer with the Meydan Free Zone team, so the license matches the work.
- Step 2, book your trade name: Names must follow UAE naming rules and must not clash with a company that already exists.
- Step 3, send in your application documents: Passport copies for each shareholder and director, a business plan describing your services, and a No Objection Certificate if you currently work in the UAE.
- Step 4, get your free zone license: Once approved, your Meydan Free Zone trade license is issued. That is your commercial permission to trade.
- Step 5, start DHA registration: This is separate from the free zone license, and every practitioner has to go through it. Begin promptly, because it runs on its own clock.
- Step 6, sort visas and workspace: Meydan Free Zone offers visa eligibility and flexi-desk options, and remote setup is available if you are not yet living in the UAE.
Compliance and What You Need in Place
DHA facility license
Any health activity operating in Dubai needs a DHA facility license, free zone or mainland. The DHA keeps a register of approved facility categories, and your scope has to match what it treats as permissible under your license type. A trade license on its own does not let you see patients.
Practitioner registration
Every professional practising in your business must hold valid DHA or MOHAP registration for their own discipline. Putting unregistered practitioners in front of clients, even for a short cover, carries serious regulatory risk.
Credentials from abroad
MOHAP oversees several allied health categories at federal level, particularly where practitioners qualified outside the UAE. Those qualifications must be attested and assessed against UAE standards before anyone can be registered. Start this early, because it sits on the critical path to opening.
Insurance
Professional indemnity cover is strongly advised, and the DHA often asks for it as part of facility registration. It protects the practitioner and the company alike.
Market Opportunity
According to IMARC Group, the UAE healthcare market is expected to pass USD 40 billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of about 7%. Population growth, more chronic disease and heavier private sector involvement are driving it.
Government backing is structural rather than a passing phase. UAE Vision 2031 puts health and wellbeing at the centre of national priorities, with money going into infrastructure, digital health systems and preventive care. MOHAP has widened its framework to make room for private allied health providers.
Within all that, allied and complementary services are one of the fastest-growing parts of UAE private healthcare. Dubai already has over 3,500 licensed health facilities, so the public is used to paying for private care and you do not have to teach the market what you do.
Conclusion
Code 8690 opens up real commercial scope in one of the region's fastest-growing health markets. The license is accessible, the regulatory path is clear, and Meydan Free Zone gives you a low-cost base to work from, whether you are building a physiotherapy practice, a nutrition consultancy or a home health service.
The DHA framework takes attention, but it is well documented and you can work through it. Confirm your scope, get your practitioners registered, and start in the right order.
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