Short-term and long-term hospital activities, the licensed operation of general and specialised hospitals providing medical, diagnostic, and treatment services, represent the broadest scope of inpatient healthcare in Dubai.¹
This activity encompasses the full spectrum of hospital operations, from acute emergency admissions and elective surgery through to extended rehabilitation and chronic-care stays. Dubai's 40-plus licensed hospitals¹ serve a population approaching 3.6 million residents, with mandatory health insurance and medical tourism adding significant patient volume.
For operators, a general or specialised hospital in Dubai benefits from diversified payer mix, DHA accreditation credibility, and alignment with the national healthcare expansion strategy.²
That sustained demand for quality healthcare, specialist capacity, and population growth is exactly where the opportunity lies.
The UAE has positioned healthcare as a strategic priority under We the UAE 2031, with explicit targets for capacity expansion, quality, Emiratisation, and medical tourism.
Who is this for?
Audience Segment
Healthcare investors
Profile
Groups deploying capital into Dubai's hospital and clinical infrastructure, targeting medical tourism, insurance-funded, and government-referred patient flows.
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.
8610.01 - Short Or Long-Term Hospital Activities
Under this activity, you are in the business of operating a licensed general or specialised hospital providing short-term and long-term inpatient medical, diagnostic, and treatment services.
That covers emergency, surgical, medical, obstetric, paediatric, psychiatric, and rehabilitative inpatient care across all recognised specialties, delivered under DHA licensing, accreditation, and quality standards.¹
| Category | Scope |
|---|---|
| Emergency and Acute | Short-term inpatient. Emergency admissions, acute medical, and short-stay surgical care. |
| Elective Surgery | Planned procedures. Scheduled surgical procedures with pre-operative assessment and post-operative recovery. |
| Extended Care | Long-term inpatient. Chronic disease management, extended rehabilitation, and long-stay medical care. |
| Diagnostic Services | In-hospital diagnostics. Radiology, pathology, and advanced imaging services within the hospital facility. |
| Specialist Departments | Focused care. Dedicated departments for cardiology, oncology, neurology, and other recognised specialties. |
There are some things this activity does not cover. Standalone outpatient clinics, day-surgical centres operating without inpatient beds, and diagnostic laboratories are classified under separate activity codes.
Ambulance services, blood banks, and residential nursing facilities are also outside this scope.
In short: if you are operating a licensed general or specialised hospital with inpatient beds, you are in. If you are running an outpatient clinic, a day-surgery centre, or a standalone lab, you are not.
Third-Party Approval
This business activity requires third-party approval before the trade licence is issued. In practice, your facility, 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.
References
- 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
