Medical Tourism Licence in Dubai:
Company Setup, Approvals and Visas
A medical tourism company in Dubai runs on a commercial trade licence from the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) or a free zone, with an activity that matches what it really does. Coordinating patients, appointments and travel is generally a commercial service. Providing or advertising treatment also needs healthcare approval from the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) or Dubai Healthcare City. Maven& confirms the right route before you pay, then handles your licence, visas and bank account.
- Right activity and authority checked first
- Transparent, itemised pricing
- Licence, visa and bank support in one place
- Get your free setup quote
- Medical tourism business setup partner in Dubai
Licence tracks to check
A commercial licence from DET or a free zone, plus healthcare approval only if you provide or advertise treatment.
Business models we set up
Facilitation and patient coordination, medical travel and tourism, and wellness tourism.
Team for licence, visas and bank
One consultant handles your trade licence, residence visas, PRO work and bank account introductions.
- Business models
Types of medical tourism business you can set up in Dubai
Medical tourism facilitation company
Coordinates the patient journey with licensed providers: enquiries, appointments, communication, travel and accommodation. This is the most common model and is generally treated as a commercial, administrative activity rather than healthcare practice.
Medical travel agency
Plans and sells travel for patients and their companions: flights, hotels, transfers and itineraries built around treatment dates. Tourism-related activities can need DET approval, depending on the exact licence.
International patient coordination
Supports overseas patients with medical records, second opinions, appointment booking and aftercare follow-up, working with hospitals and clinics that hold their own DHA or Dubai Healthcare City licences.
Wellness tourism company
Packages wellness, recovery and rehabilitation stays with approved facilities. If you operate a facility or deliver treatment yourself, healthcare licensing applies in addition to your commercial licence.
Healthcare travel consultancy
Advises individuals, employers and insurers on treatment options and travel to Dubai. A consultancy licence suits advice and coordination, not treatment.
Destination management for medical travellers
Handles accommodation, ground transport, interpreters and itinerary support for patients and their families, usually under contract with hospitals, clinics or international agents.
Which approvals does a medical tourism business need in Dubai?
It depends on what the company does, not on its name. Maven& maps your services to the right licence and authority before you apply, so you do not pay for approvals you do not need or miss one you do.
- Coordination and administrative services: a commercial licence from DET or a free zone, with an activity that matches the service.
- Travel and tourism services: DET tourism-related approvals can apply, depending on the activity.
- Clinical services or a facility: a DHA facility licence on the mainland, or Dubai Healthcare City licensing inside the free zone, plus licensed medical professionals.
- Patient data: handled in line with UAE data-protection and health-data rules.
- Insurance and visas: professional or corporate insurance where required, and the correct visa type for owners and staff.
- Mainland vs free zone
Mainland vs free zone for a medical tourism company in Dubai
Choose a free zone if your patients and agents are mostly overseas, and the mainland if you will contract directly with UAE hospitals, clinics and customers.
| Feature | Dubai mainland (DET) | Free zone |
|---|---|---|
| Licensing authority | Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) | The free zone authority, for example DMCC, IFZA, Meydan or SHAMS |
| Foreign ownership | 100% for most activities | Generally 100% |
| Serving UAE patients and customers | Directly, anywhere in the UAE | Within the zone or through a distributor or local partner, depending on the licence |
| Overseas patients and agents | Yes | Yes, the usual choice for overseas-focused businesses |
| Office | Physical office with Ejari | Flexi-desk to full office, by package |
| Healthcare approval | Only if you provide clinical services: DHA | Only if you provide clinical services: DHA, or DHCR inside Dubai Healthcare City |
| Tourism approvals | May apply to travel and tourism activities | May apply, depending on the zone and activity |
| Corporate tax | 9% above AED 375,000 | 9% above AED 375,000 for most income. 0% applies only to qualifying income of a Qualifying Free Zone Person, so check your activity first |
| Best for | UAE-facing medical travel companies and agencies contracting with local hospitals | Overseas-focused facilitators, consultants and patient coordinators |
Read the free zone vs mainland guide or browse UAE free zones.
- Setup routes
Three ways to set up a medical tourism company in Dubai
Setup
For overseas-focused businesses
- Faster licensing inside a designated zone
- 100% foreign ownership
- Flexi-desk or office, by package
- Residence visas linked to your package
Final cost depends on your activity, visas and office, and is confirmed in your itemised quote.
(DET) Setup
For UAE-facing businesses
- Trade directly with UAE patients and partners
- 100% foreign ownership for most activities
- Physical office with Ejari
- Suits contracts with hospitals and clinics
Final cost depends on your activity, visas and office, and is confirmed in your itemised quote.
Activity
For clinical or facility-based services
- DHA or Dubai Healthcare City licensing
- Qualified medical director and licensed staff
- Facility design and inspection
- Commercial entity and PRO liaison handled by Maven&
Final cost depends on your activity, visas and office, and is confirmed in your itemised quote.
How much does it cost to set up a medical tourism company in Dubai?
There is no single fee, because the cost depends on your activity, jurisdiction, office and visas. Maven& gives you an itemised quote that lists every government and service fee before you commit.
- Trade licence and activity fees
- Free zone package or DET fees
- Office or flexi-desk and Ejari, if required
- Establishment card and residence visas
- Approvals, if your activity needs them
- PRO, bank account and accounting support
- How it works
How to set up a medical tourism company in Dubai in 5 steps
Define your service model
We confirm what the business will actually do: coordination, travel, wellness or clinical services, so we pick the right licence track.
Choose activity and jurisdiction
We select the activity code, then compare DET mainland and free zone options against your customers, visa needs and budget.
Trade name, approvals and documents
We reserve your trade name, prepare your application and Memorandum of Association, and manage any DET, DHA or Dubai Healthcare City approvals your activity needs.
Trade licence issued
Your trade licence and establishment card are issued, with Ejari registration for mainland companies.
Visas, bank account and launch
We process residence visas and introduce you to UAE banks, then set up PRO, accounting and tax registration support.
Documents required to set up a medical tourism company in Dubai
Most setups need only a few documents to start. Send us what you have and we will tell you what is missing for your jurisdiction and activity.
- Passport copy of every shareholder and manager
- Passport-size photograph on a white background
- UAE visa or entry stamp copy, if you are in the UAE
- Three proposed trade names, in order of preference
- A short description of your services, such as coordination, travel or wellness
- Corporate shareholders: certificate of incorporation, MoA/AoA and board resolution, attested
- Mainland companies: Ejari-registered tenancy contract
- Clinical activities only: facility and professional licensing documents
- Why Maven&
Why choose Maven& as your medical tourism business setup partner in Dubai
One dedicated consultant
One consultant handles your trade licence, visas, Ejari and bank account introductions, so you never repeat yourself to a new team.
Transparent, itemised pricing
Every quote lists government fees, office, visa and service costs line by line, with no hidden extras after you sign.
Right activity code and authority
A wrong activity code is a common cause of later bank and compliance problems. For medical tourism we also check whether DET tourism or DHA healthcare rules apply before you pay a fee, so the licence matches what you do.
Licence, visas and bank in one process
Company formation, residence visas, corporate tax registration and bank introductions are handled as one coordinated plan.
- Medical tourism FAQs
Medical tourism company setup in Dubai: frequently asked questions
In practice, a medical tourism company operates under a commercial trade licence from DET or a free zone, with an activity such as medical tourism or medical treatment facilitation services. The exact activity name differs by authority, and clinical services need separate DHA or Dubai Healthcare City licensing. Maven& confirms the right activity before you apply.
Not for coordination and administrative services such as arranging appointments, travel and accommodation, which are generally treated as commercial activities. You do need a DHA facility licence, or Dubai Healthcare City licensing, if you provide, operate or advertise clinical treatment. We confirm this for your exact activity first.
Two tracks apply. DET, or the free zone authority, issues your commercial licence and any tourism-related approvals. The Dubai Health Authority regulates healthcare facilities and professionals on the mainland, and Dubai Healthcare City has its own regulator. Which track applies depends on your services.
The cost depends on your activity, jurisdiction, office and number of visas, so there is no single price. It combines the trade licence, free zone package or DET fees, office, establishment card, visas and any approval costs. Maven& gives you an itemised quote before you commit. Try the cost calculator.
Yes, for most commercial activities. Free zone companies are generally 100% foreign-owned, and most mainland activities allow full foreign ownership. Regulated healthcare activities carry extra licensing and staffing requirements, so we check your exact activity before you choose a structure.
Choose a free zone if your patients and agents are mostly overseas, and the mainland if you will contract directly with UAE hospitals and customers. Free zones can limit trading inside the UAE, so confirm your licence allows your customers. See mainland company formation or free zone company formation.
Only with the right healthcare licence. A company that coordinates travel and appointments cannot provide or advertise medical treatment itself. Treatment must come from facilities and professionals licensed by DHA or Dubai Healthcare City, either your own or your partners.
Timelines depend on the jurisdiction, activity and approvals. A free zone commercial licence is usually the faster route once your documents are complete, while a mainland licence and any tourism or healthcare approvals take longer. Visas and the bank account follow the licence. We give you a timeline for your case before you start. See the 5-step process.
It depends on the licence. Mainland licences need a physical office with an Ejari-registered tenancy, while many free zones offer a flexi-desk or serviced office. Clinical facilities have stricter premises rules set by the health authority. We advise on the lowest-cost option your activity allows.
A free zone or mainland company can sponsor residence visas for owners and employees, with quotas tied to the office package or office size. Patient visas follow UAE immigration rules and are usually arranged through the treating hospital. See our investor visa service.
Reviewed by the Maven& corporate setup team. Last reviewed: October 2026. Rules and fees change, so we confirm current requirements with the relevant authority before you commit.
Ready to start your medical tourism business in Dubai?
Get a clear, itemised quote and a setup plan built around your services. Talk to a Maven& consultant today.
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