A general clinic, the licensed outpatient facility providing primary medical consultation, diagnosis, and treatment across general medicine, is the most broadly scoped clinic category in Dubai.¹
General clinics serve as the first point of contact for the majority of patient encounters, handling acute illness, chronic disease management, health screening, and specialist referral. With mandatory health insurance and a population approaching 3.6 million, patient volume is structurally robust.³
For operators, a general clinic offers the broadest patient catchment, insurance-funded throughput, and a platform for building multi-specialty or polyclinic models over time.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
Specialist physicians
Profile
Consultants and specialists establishing a licensed private practice or specialist clinic in Dubai.
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.
8620.07 - General Clinic
Under this activity, you are in the business of operating a licensed general medicine clinic providing outpatient consultation, diagnosis, and treatment services.
That covers specialist consultation, diagnostic assessment, treatment planning, and outpatient procedures within the general medicine discipline, delivered under DHA licensing and quality standards.¹
| Category | Scope |
|---|---|
| Acute Consultation | Walk-in and appointment. Diagnosis and treatment of acute illness, infections, and minor injuries. |
| Chronic Disease Management | Ongoing care. Diabetes, hypertension, asthma, and cardiovascular risk management. |
| Health Screening | Preventive care. Occupational health, pre-employment, and wellness screening services. |
| Minor Procedures | Outpatient procedures. Wound care, excisions, injections, and other minor outpatient procedures. |
| Referral Coordination | Specialist pathway. Assessment and referral to specialist clinics and hospitals. |
There are some things this activity does not cover. Hospitals with inpatient beds fall under hospital activity codes. Standalone diagnostic laboratories and imaging centres are classified separately.
General practice without specialist general medicine focus falls under general clinic codes.
In short: if you are operating a licensed outpatient general medicine clinic, you are in. If you are running a hospital, a general practice, or a diagnostic 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
