A general hospital, the licensed multi-specialty inpatient facility providing emergency, medical, surgical, and diagnostic care across disciplines, is the most broadly scoped hospital category in Dubai's healthcare system.¹
General hospitals serve the widest patient base, from emergency admissions and elective surgery through to medical management, obstetrics, and diagnostic services. With mandatory health insurance and a population projected to reach 5.8 million by 2040,³ general hospital capacity remains under sustained demand.
For investors and operators, a general hospital offers the most diversified revenue model in healthcare, drawing from insurance, self-pay, medical tourism, and government-referred patients.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.
8610.93 - General Hospital
Under this activity, you are in the business of operating a licensed general hospital providing multi-specialty inpatient medical, surgical, diagnostic, and emergency care.
That covers emergency, internal medicine, general surgery, obstetrics, paediatrics, and diagnostic services, delivered across inpatient beds with supporting outpatient departments under DHA licensing.¹
| Category | Scope |
|---|---|
| Emergency Department | 24/7 acute care. Emergency triage, resuscitation, and acute-care admissions. |
| Inpatient Medical | Medical wards. Internal medicine, cardiology, respiratory, and general medical inpatient care. |
| Inpatient Surgical | Surgical wards. General surgery, orthopaedics, and multi-specialty elective and emergency surgical care. |
| Obstetrics and Maternity | Delivery and neonatal. Prenatal, delivery, postnatal, and neonatal care. |
| Diagnostics | Imaging and pathology. Radiology, laboratory, and advanced diagnostic services within the hospital. |
There are some things this activity does not cover. Single-specialty hospitals focused on one discipline sit under separate activity codes. Outpatient-only clinics, day-surgical centres, and standalone diagnostic labs are classified separately.
Long-term residential nursing and social care facilities are also outside this scope.
In short: if you are operating a licensed general hospital with multi-specialty inpatient care, you are in. If you are running a specialist hospital, an outpatient clinic, or a nursing home, 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
