Buying a Clinic in Dubai: Does the DHA Licence Transfer?

If you are looking at a clinic for sale in Dubai, one question comes up before almost anything else: “If I buy this clinic, does the DHA licence come with it?”

It’s a fair question. A clinic without an active DHA licence can’t see patients, so the licence is a big part of what you are paying for.

The short answer is yes. When you buy a running clinic, the business licences move to you. But a clinic holds more than one licence, and each one is handled differently. Some licences don’t move at all, because they belong to people, not to the business.

Here is how it works.

 The Two Licences Every Dubai Clinic Holds

A mainland clinic in Dubai runs on two separate licences:

• The trade licence, issued by the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). This is the legal business. It holds the company, its activities and its ownership.
• The health facility licence, issued by the Dubai Health Authority (DHA). This is the permission to operate as a medical facility and treat patients.

On top of these, every doctor, nurse and therapist working in the clinic holds their own professional licence from DHA.

When you buy a clinic, you need to understand what happens to each of these three.

 The Trade Licence: Ownership Moves to You

When you buy a running clinic through BFS, the trade licence is transferred into your name. The licence is the business. It carries the activities, the trade name and the company’s history, so transferring it means you take over the clinic as it is.

The ownership change is done at DET. Once it’s complete, you are the legal owner of the business.

 The DHA Facility Licence: Updated to the New Owner

The DHA facility licence belongs to the facility, not to the person who owns it. So when the clinic changes hands, the licence doesn’t need to be started from zero. Instead, DHA records the change of ownership through its online licensing system, Sheryan.

There are a few points every buyer should know:

• The expiry date doesn’t reset. A change of ownership doesn’t extend the licence, so check how long is left before you sign. If it expires soon, plan for the renewal.
• The clinic must stay compliant. DHA will expect the facility to keep meeting its standards under the new owner, including having a medical director in place.
• The licence category matters. A general clinic, a polyclinic, a dental clinic and an aesthetic clinic are licensed as different facility types. Make sure the licence covers the services you plan to offer. Adding new services can mean new approvals.

DHA updates its requirements and fees from time to time, so always confirm the current change-of-ownership steps in Sheryan or directly with DHA before the transfer.

 What Does NOT Transfer: Staff Licences

This is the part many buyers miss.

A doctor’s or nurse’s DHA licence is personal. It belongs to them, not to the clinic. It is linked to the facility where they work, but you can’t buy it.

This means:

• If the doctors and nurses stay after the sale, they keep practising under the clinic as before.
• If someone leaves, you need to replace them with a DHA-licensed professional. Hiring and licensing a new clinician can take time.
• The medical director is the most important one. A clinic needs a licensed medical director to operate. If the current one is leaving, have a replacement ready before the handover.

Before you agree a price, ask which key staff are staying, and get this confirmed as part of the deal.

Clinics in Dubai Healthcare City Are Different

If the clinic is inside Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC), it isn’t licensed by DHA. DHCC has its own regulator, the Dubai Healthcare City Authority – Regulation (DHCR). The idea is the same, but the transfer goes through DHCR instead.

Always check which authority licenses the clinic before you start.

 What to Check Before You Pay a Deposit

Before committing, go through these points:

• Trade licence: activities, expiry date and any fines
• DHA facility licence: category, expiry date and that it is active
• Inspection history: any open violations or warnings from DHA
• Medical director: is he or she staying, and if not, who replaces them
• Key clinicians: who is staying after the sale
• Lease: remaining term and whether the landlord accepts the transfer
• Equipment: list, condition and whether any of it is leased
• Insurance networks: which insurers the clinic works with today

At BFS, deeper checks like bank statements and direct contact with the landlord happen after the deposit is paid. That way the seller’s confidential information is protected and you know the deal is serious on both sides.

 How a Clinic Sale Works With BFS

1. Browse and enquire. Look through our clinic and polyclinic listings and send us an enquiry.
2. Sign the NDA. Full details, including the name and location, are shared after you sign.
3. Review and negotiate. We share the figures and help you agree terms with the seller.
4. Pay the deposit. The deposit is held by BFS, not by the seller. Deeper due diligence starts here.
5. Transfer day. You pay the balance directly to the seller, and the trade licence is transferred into your name. The seller covers all liabilities, like rent and salaries, up to the day of transfer.
6. DHA update. The facility licence is updated to the new owner through DHA.

Buying a clinic in Dubai is a good way to enter the healthcare market without waiting months for a new facility licence. The business licences come with it. What you need to plan for is the people: the medical director and the clinicians who keep the clinic running.

If you are looking for a clinic for sale in Dubai, browse our polyclinic listings and medical & healthcare businesses, or contact our team to discuss what you are looking for.

FAQ

1. Is the DHA licence transferred when I buy a clinic in Dubai?
Yes. The DHA facility licence belongs to the facility, and DHA updates it to the new owner through Sheryan after the ownership change.

2. Does the DHA licence expiry date reset after the sale?
No. A change of ownership doesn’t extend the licence. Check the expiry date before you buy.

3. Do the doctors’ licences transfer to me?
No. Professional licences are personal. Staff who stay keep working under the clinic. Anyone who leaves must be replaced with a DHA-licensed professional.

4. Do I need to be a doctor to own a clinic in Dubai?
Ownership rules depend on the facility type, but the clinic must have a licensed medical director. Check the current DHA ownership guidelines for the clinic category you are buying.

5. What if the clinic is in Dubai Healthcare City?
Clinics in DHCC are licensed by DHCR, not DHA, so the transfer goes through DHCR.

6. Who holds the deposit when I buy a clinic through BFS?
BFS holds the deposit. The balance is paid directly to the seller on the day of transfer.

Looking for a running clinic in Dubai? Browse our verified clinic listings or speak to the BFS team today. We’ll guide you from the first enquiry to the transfer.