Telehealth and Telemedicine Licence in Dubai (2026): DHA Rules, the Four Licence Categories, Platform Limits, Cost and Tax

A telemedicine licence in Dubai is not one licence. It is one of four. Version 4 of the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) Standards for Telehealth Services took effect on 26 November 2025, and its clause 7.2.1 lists four telehealth licence categories, including a standalone telehealth centre and a telehealth platform [1]. Which of the four you apply for decides what the business may legally do, who it may employ and how it earns revenue.

The demand side is visible in published numbers. Figures released by Dubai Health and reported by Gulf News show virtual consultations across its own services rising from 78,969 in 2022 to 92,930 in 2024, while medicine home deliveries rose from 37,724 to nearly 109,000 [2]. Those are one provider group's figures, not the whole emirate.

The stakes sit in three clauses that are easy to miss. A platform licence does not let a technology company treat patients. Narcotic, controlled and semi-controlled medication cannot be prescribed through telehealth. And platform data has to sit on a certified cloud in the UAE [1].

This guide covers the four DHA categories, platform limits, activity codes, clinician and prescribing rules, data hosting, accreditation, reporting, the rules outside Dubai's mainland, insurance, tax and cost. BusinessDubai.ae has registered UAE companies since 2013, and its part of this job is the company formation layer. The clinical rules below come from published regulator documents, not from case files. This guide is not legal advice, and you should confirm the current text of any rule with DHA before you build a service around it.

Is there a telemedicine licence in Dubai, and who issues it?

Telehealth in Dubai is licensed by the Dubai Health Authority under its Standards for Telehealth Services, Version 4, code DHA/HRS/HPSD/ST-14, effective 26 November 2025. Clause 7.2.1 lists four licence categories: a standalone telehealth centre, telehealth added to an existing DHA facility, an added booth, and a telehealth platform [1].

The standard is a 94-page document issued on 26 September 2025 [1]. Two sentences in it set the frame. Clause 7.1 says: "The provision of telehealth services shall only be offered through a DHA licensed telehealth facility." Clause 7.2 says: "Only DHA licensed health facilities are eligible for telehealth services."

Clause 7.2.1 then names the categories in these words: "Standalone Telehealth Centre", "Added telehealth service to an existing DHA licensed health facility category (including school clinics and booths)", "Added Booth" and "Telehealth Platforms" [1].

The first of those is the one that matters to a virtual-only provider. The definitions section reads: "Standalone Telehealth Centre is a DHA licensed centre that operates independently and is specifically designed to deliver healthcare services remotely using telecommunication technology. Standalone telehealth services are dedicated entirely to virtual care." [1]

An individual cannot hold any of this alone. Clause 9.1 says: "Physicians, nurses and allied health professionals shall only provide telehealth services through one of the available telehealth licensing categories set out in standard 3." [1]

Older sources list three categories because DHA's 2021 Telehealth Policy licensed telehealth under three areas: "Call Centre", "Telebooth" and "Add-on services" [5]. Version 4 of the standard is the later document and lists four.

A telehealth business needs two layers: a company licence, and the DHA permission to provide telehealth. Our guide to DHA and MOHAP clinic licensing covers general DHA facility licensing, so this guide stays on the telehealth rules. The company layer is the cheap part. BusinessDubai.ae's Dubai mainland package is AED 18,200 in year one without a visa and AED 24,400 with one visa, for company formation only [19], and our mainland company setup page itemises what that includes.

Which of the four DHA telehealth categories fits your business?

A provider that treats patients only by video fits the standalone telehealth centre. A licensed clinic or hospital adds telehealth to its existing DHA licence, for which DHA's fee sheet lists AED 2,000 a year. A booth is an add-on to a facility licence. A technology company fits the telehealth platform category [1][3].

The table is built from the standard's own clauses for each category, with the one published fee taken from DHA's Facility Services Fees sheet [1][3].

The category decides the revenue model as much as the paperwork. The first three earn clinical revenue from patients and insurers. The fourth earns technology revenue from facilities, and that difference returns in the tax section.

Three things a founder wants are not in the standard. It gives no DHA fee for a standalone telehealth centre or a platform, no premises rules for a standalone centre, and no processing time. Those answers have to come from DHA's licensing section, in writing.

Pro Tip: Before you incorporate, write one paragraph describing who examines the patient, who employs that person and who holds the patient record, then ask DHA's health facility licensing section which of the four categories in clause 7.2.1 it falls under. The answer decides your activity code, hiring plan and revenue model.

What may a DHA telehealth platform not do?

A DHA telehealth platform licence covers a technology tool only. Clause 7.8 of the DHA standard limits the platform to "a DHA-approved technological tool that connects licensed health facilities to patients", and bars it from delivering direct clinical services, operating as a healthcare provider, or recruiting or contacting healthcare professionals to deliver clinical services [1].

Clause 7.8 is the clause every marketplace business plan has to be tested against. After limiting the platform's role, it continues: "Telehealth platforms are strictly prohibited from engaging in the following activities:" [1] The three sub-clauses read, in full:

• Clause 7.8.1: "Telehealth platforms are not authorized to deliver direct clinical services to patients."
• Clause 7.8.2: "The telehealth platform license does not grant the authority to operate as a healthcare provider."
• Clause 7.8.3: "The telehealth platform is not permitted to recruit or contact healthcare professionals for the purpose of delivering clinical services through the platform."

Read together, the platform is the pipe, never the provider. The licensed facility employs and privileges the clinicians, holds the clinical responsibility and bills for the care. The platform contracts with the facility.

Common Mistake: A technology company that hires doctors and treats patients under a platform licence. Clause 7.8.3 bars a platform from recruiting or contacting healthcare professionals to deliver clinical services through it [1]. If your pitch deck shows doctors on your payroll or contracted to you, you are planning a standalone telehealth centre or a partnership with licensed facilities, not a platform.

Clause 7.6 sets the entry conditions. Its lead-in reads: "All existing telehealth platforms intended for internal or commercial use shall:" and the list includes [1]:

• Clause 7.6.2: "Be assessed and approved by DHA through health facility licensing section prior to in-house implementation or go-to-market implementation."
• Clause 7.6.3: "Have legal representation in Dubai with relevant commercial/trade license issued by the concerned authority."
• Clause 7.6.4: "Have an assigned Business Technical Director."

The same clause asks for technical support with a defined escalation matrix, communication channels approved by the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), and the hosting rules in the data section below. Clause 7.6.3 is why an overseas software company cannot simply sell into Dubai from abroad.

Clause 7.7 adds that any change to a platform's core functions, data management practices or ownership must be reported to DHA and approved [1]. A founder planning a funding round or share sale should treat that approval as a condition of the deal.

Which DET activity code fits a telehealth business in Dubai?

Three Dubai mainland activities relate to telehealth: 8690041 Telehealth Services, 8690011 Telemedicine Counseling Center and 6312005 Therapeutic Services Brokerage Via Electronic Media. All three are Professional licence activities in the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism business activity list, as recorded in a public copy of the register [4].

The DHA category and the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) activity have to describe the same business. The table maps each activity to the DHA category it most closely fits, on this guide's reading [1][4].

The register's descriptions show why. For 8690041 it reads: "Includes providing range of electronic technologies used by health facilities or healthcare professionals to enable the safe, secured internet-based video, telephone, secure email." [4]

For 8690011: "A center specialized in using different communication means to provide diagnostic, therapeutic and learning services for individuals residing in places far from specialized medical centers. It includes direct contact with specialists around the world for consultation, diagnosis and therapy without providing any therapeutic services." [4]

For 6312005 the description begins: "Includes firms operating interactive platform which connects licensed healthcare providers and patients via electronic media, smart apps, it involves entering into contracts between the healthcare providers and the platform" [4]. That wording sits close to clause 7.8 of the DHA standard.

This mapping is a reading, not a ruling. Confirm it with DET and with DHA before you file.

Pro Tip: Check the exact code and wording on the live DET list on the day you apply. The three records carry register update dates of 24 and 25 October 2023, and DET renames and renumbers activities from time to time [4]. A pure software builder with no healthcare function uses ordinary software activities, which our software development company guide covers.

Should a telehealth company sit on the Dubai mainland or in a free zone?

A Dubai mainland company on BusinessDubai.ae's package costs AED 18,200 in year one without a visa and AED 24,400 with one visa. A Meydan Free Zone package is AED 12,500 licence only and AED 21,050 with one visa. Either way the Dubai Health Authority permission is separate, and neither price includes it [19].

Mainland or free zone changes the price and the address. It does not change the health regulator's questions. Our free zone company setup and mainland company setup pages itemise each route, including the year-two renewal that a headline price leaves out.

The table compares the two on the points that differ for a telehealth business [6][19].

A free zone is cheaper on the licence-only line and close to the mainland once you add a visa. The health permission is the same job on either side, and it is the larger one.

Real Talk: A free zone telehealth licence at AED 12,500 buys a company, not a telehealth service. It excludes DHA assessment, UAE-hosted data, accreditation and, for a platform, the Dubai legal representation that clause 7.6.3 asks for [1][19]. Meydan also requires a shareholder applying for an investor visa to show capital of at least AED 75,000 in a bank account [19].

Our guide to the best free zones for healthcare in Dubai compares the zones for clinical and health technology businesses.

Who may consult patients by telehealth in Dubai, including doctors abroad?

Only DHA licensed professionals working through one of the four licence categories may provide telehealth in Dubai, and the service must be physician led. Clause 6.2 of the DHA standard allows DHA licensed physicians residing outside the UAE to consult patients in the UAE, provided they are DHA licensed and affiliated to a DHA licensed facility [1].

Clause 9.2 is one sentence: "Telehealth services shall be physician led." Clause 9.3 requires clinicians to be privileged for telehealth under DHA's clinical privileging policy, and clause 9.3.3 says: "Nurses and allied health professionals may provide telehealth services under the direction and clinical supervision of the treating physician." [1]

On doctors abroad, clause 6.2 reads in full: "DHA licensed Physicians residing outside the UAE may provide teleconsultations to patients in the UAE provided they are DHA licensed and affiliated to a DHA licensed facility." [1] Two conditions sit in that sentence, and a home-country licence alone meets neither.

Appendix 2 of the standard sets out the licensing position by where the physician and the patient are. The table reproduces its first four scenarios [1].

Wherever two organisations share a telehealth service, clause 6.3 applies: "The provision of Telehealth services that entails two or more entities shall ensure a written Contract or Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is in place and kept up to date." Clause 6.3.1 adds: "The MOU shall detail out the roles and responsibilities of each party and align with UAE Federal and local Laws and Regulations." [1] The DHA licensed facility must also keep a record of all physicians engaged in telehealth. For a platform, this is the contract that makes the model lawful.

Common Mistake: Building a specialist panel from doctors licensed only in their home countries. Clause 6.2 requires a physician residing outside the UAE to be "DHA licensed and affiliated to a DHA licensed facility" [1]. Budget the DHA professional licence for every overseas doctor on the panel, or leave them off the launch list.

Which telehealth services does DHA allow, and which are excluded?

The DHA standard covers six areas: teleconsultation, telemonitoring, telerobotics and robot-assisted services, telepharmacy, telediagnostics and tele-ICU. It excludes emergency cases, the prescribing of narcotic, controlled or semi-controlled medication, and platforms used for in-person consultation. Those three exclusions are in clause 4.2 [1].

The exclusions are written as follows: "Emergency cases for immediate life threating intervention or referral." (clause 4.2.1, spelling as printed), "Prescribing of narcotic, controlled or semi-controlled medication." (clause 4.2.2) and "Platforms used for face-to-face in person consultation." (clause 4.2.3) [1].

The table sets out each service area with the rule a business plan has to respect [1].

Because emergencies are excluded, clause 12.4 makes the facility keep a written emergency protocol that is tested regularly, a service contact number for emergency care and the local emergency number [1].

Remote patient monitoring has its own chapter. Clause 15.1 says: "Only DHA licensed facilities with telehealth services can provide telemonitoring services and shall adhere to the requirements in this standard." Clause 15.12.4 sets the hours: "PRM services shall be available throughout the day and night (24/7)." [1]

Can a Dubai telehealth doctor prescribe, issue sick leave or arrange medicine delivery?

A DHA licensed physician employed in a DHA licensed facility may prescribe through telehealth, but not narcotic, controlled or semi-controlled medication. Sick leave issued by telehealth is capped at three days per week under clause 17.12.9. Pharmacy delivery needs DHA approval and cannot carry those three medication classes [1].

Clause 17.12.1 reads: "A DHA licensed physician employed in a DHA licensed health facility shall only offer Teleprescribing." Prescribing must follow the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) drug list under clause 17.12.6 [1].

Clause 17.12.7 says: "The physician shall not prescribe Narcotic, Controlled or Semi-controlled medication through telehealth services." The telepharmacy chapter repeats it from the dispensing side, at clause 17.3: "Controlled, Semi-Controlled and Narcotic medication cannot be prescribed or dispensed through telehealth services." [1]

Real Talk: Any service line that depends on prescribing narcotic, controlled or semi-controlled medication remotely is outside what the DHA standard allows, in three separate clauses (4.2.2, 17.3 and 17.12.7) [1]. If your overseas model earns most of its revenue from that kind of prescription, it does not transfer to Dubai.

On sick leave, clause 17.12.9 reads: "Issuance of sick leave is limited to a maximum of three (3) days per week as consecutive sick leave based on patient severity or as single sick leave(s) and as per DHA sick leave policy." [1]

On e-prescriptions, clause 17.13.1 requires an online prescription system that can verify the DHA licensed physician and the prescription, the patient, and the pharmacist handling it. Prices must conform to the MOHAP and DHA price list, and the pharmacy needs protocols that stop one prescription being filled twice [1].

On pharmacy, clause 17.1 sets the scope: "Telepharmacy services refers to the dispensing of prescribed medications only and does not include vending machines, delivery services, online pharmacy, and dispensing of nonprescription medication." A pharmacy that wants to dispense this way "Must be a DHA licensed pharmacy and apply for addition of Teledispensing." [1]

Delivery of over-the-counter and general items sits in Appendix 6, for DHA licensed outpatient pharmacies: "Pharmacies shall seek DHA approval for dispensing medications via delivery system." It closes the same door again: "It is prohibited to deliver Narcotic, Controlled and Semi-controlled medications via pharmacy delivery system." [1]

Clause 17.7 also says a telepharmacy provider must not restrict the patient's choice of DHA licensed pharmacy, which a marketplace steering every prescription to one partner should read closely. Holding or wholesaling medicines is a different licence, covered in our pharmaceutical distribution company guide.

Where must telehealth data be hosted, and can it leave the UAE?

Under clause 7.6.7 of the DHA standard, a telehealth platform's data centres must be at least Tier 3 certified, and all data must sit on a server at a cloud service provider certified by the Dubai Electronic Security Centre in the UAE. Storing or transferring health data outside the UAE is prohibited unless DHA approves it [1].

What DHA's standard says

The first two parts of clause 7.6.7 are the hosting rule: "All data centres shall be at least Tier 3 Certified." and "All data shall be stored in a server located at a Cloud Service Provider (CSP) certified by Dubai Electronic Security Centre (DESC) in the UAE." [1]

A note under the same clause reads: "It is not permitted to store, develop, or transfer data and health information outside the country that is related to health services provided within the country, except in cases mentioned in Article no. (2) of the Ministerial Decision no. (51) of 2021." [1]

Facilities face the same rule. Clause 7.9.1 requires "Provision of secure servers located in the UAE with relevant data backup." Clause 8.2.5 tells management to ensure that "The storage, development, or transfer health data and health-related information outside the UAE is prohibited unless approved by DHA." [1]

The federal law behind it, and how it was sourced

DHA's standard cites Federal Law No. 2 of 2019 on the use of information and communications technology in health fields, and Ministerial Decision No. 51 of 2021 [1]. The official texts of those two instruments could not be opened for this guide, because the official legislation sites block access. What follows is taken from two named legal analyses, not from the law itself. This guide is not legal advice.

Latham & Watkins, in a client alert dated 29 August 2021, says the law "restricts businesses from transferring health information outside of the UAE and requires the storage or processing of health information in the UAE, unless such activity has been approved by a decision of the health authority or the Minister" [7]. Law-firm commentary places that rule in Article 13.

On the 2021 ministerial decision, Latham & Watkins lists an exemption for remote medical services with three conditions: "The relevant physician shall only have access to the system for a determined duration", any specific report or image goes only to the concerned physician, and "The patient has provided written consent" [7].

CMS, in an analysis dated 22 June 2021, describes the same category as online health or telemedicine. On CMS's account, patient consent is required, and "Treating physician can only access the patient data held on the relevant system for a defined period" [8].

The two firms differ on one point that matters. CMS records that a local copy of the data must be retained in the UAE for the telemedicine exemption. Latham & Watkins lists no local-copy condition for remote medical services [7][8]. This guide cannot resolve that, because the text was not available. Whichever reading is right, a DHA-licensed business also has DHA's own clauses to meet. Get advice from a UAE health data lawyer before you host or transfer any patient data outside the country.

The law carries financial penalties for storing or transferring health data outside the UAE without approval. This guide could not confirm the amounts against the law's text, so it quotes none; ask your adviser for the current figures [9].

Common Mistake: Assuming a HIPAA certificate answers the UAE data question. DHA does ask for it, in clause 7.6.7: "All platforms must have HIPAA compliance certification." and "All platforms must have ISO 27001 compliance certification." [1] Those certificates sit beside the UAE hosting rule and do not replace it.

Records and NABIDH

Clause 11.10 sets retention: telehealth data is to be "retained securely for a minimum period of twenty-five (25) years from the date of the last health encounter or as otherwise specified by DHA regulations" [1]. Price 25 years of storage into the hosting contract. Clause 7.9.1 adds that the facility's health records system "shall integrate with Nabidh", Dubai's health information exchange.

What accreditation does DHA require for telehealth, and by when?

DHA requires telehealth accreditation for every telehealth service, facilities and platforms alike, within a grace period of 24 months from initial licensure, or from licence renewal for existing facilities. Platforms must also hold HIPAA and ISO 27001 compliance certification, and may be asked for HITRUST or SOC 2 [1].

Clause 5.2.1 is unambiguous: "Accreditation is required for all telehealth services, both facilities and platforms." Clause 5.2.2 sets the clock, requiring accreditation "within a grace period of 24 months from the date of initial licensure or from the date of license renewal for existing facilities" [1].

Clause 5.3 names accrediting bodies in a list it says is not exhaustive: the Quality and Accreditation Institute (QAI), the Emirates International Accreditation Center (EIAC), Joint Commission International (JCI), the Utilization Review Accreditation Commission (URAC) and the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) [1].

What must a Dubai telehealth provider report to DHA?

Dubai telehealth providers must report key performance indicators to DHA. The standard's clause 19.1 says each quarter, while DHA's Guidelines for Reporting Telehealth KPIs, Version 3.0, effective 3 January 2026, say reporting is annual, with a submission window of 5 to 14 January [1][10].

The two documents read differently, so both are quoted. The standard says: "Key Performance Indicators shall be captured by Telehealth providers and reported to HRS each quarter." (clause 19.1), where HRS is DHA's Health Regulation Sector [1]. The guideline, issued on 3 July 2025, says: "Data reporting and submission to DHA should be on an annual basis." [10] Ask DHA which frequency applies to you, and collect the data quarterly either way.

The guideline's indicators fall in two domains. Access covers referrals to in-person consultation, urgent or emergency referrals, new mental health encounters and the share of outpatient visits delivered through telehealth. Quality covers medication and antibiotics prescription through teleconsultation, patient satisfaction and provider satisfaction [10].

Reporting lands beside everything else a licensed company owes each year: licence renewal, visa renewals, the corporate tax return and any VAT returns. Our post-setup services team runs the company side of that calendar, so the clinical team can keep to the regulator's side.

How do telehealth rules differ in Abu Dhabi, Dubai Healthcare City and the northern emirates?

Abu Dhabi licenses telemedicine through the Department of Health under its Standard on Tele-Medicine, reference DOH/SA/TLM/0.9/2020, effective 16 September 2020. Dubai Healthcare City has its own regulator. No Ministry of Health and Prevention telehealth standard was found for the northern emirates in this guide's research [11][13].

DHA's standard applies, in the words of its scope clause, to "Telehealth services in DHA licensed health facilities." [1] Step outside that and a different rulebook applies. The table compares the four on the points the documents read for this guide support [1][11][12].

The Department of Health (DoH) standard says: "A DOH license is required for the provision of tele-medicine services." A facility may seek it by "Application for a new facility license to provide tele-medicine services" or by "Application to add a tele-medicine service under an existing DOH licensed facility." On clinicians: "Professionals providing tele-medicine services do not require specific tele-medicine license. Only a DOH healthcare professional license is required" [11].

The sharpest difference from Dubai is prescribing. Where DHA bars it outright, the Abu Dhabi standard says: "Prescribing of controlled, semi-controlled and narcotic medications must be in accordance with existing federal laws, DOH regulations and applicable systems." [11] That is a conditional rule, not a ban, and what those laws allow is a question for DoH. On data it says: "Sharing of healthcare data outside UAE needs authorization from DOH, as per UAE Federal Law No. 2, 2019." [11] If your patients are in the capital, our business setup in Abu Dhabi page covers the company layer there.

Dubai Healthcare City is a free zone with its own health regulator. A 2020 Dubai Health Insurance Corporation directive refers to facilities licensed to offer telehealth by DHA, "the Dubai Healthcare City Authority or any other applicable regulatory body" [13]. The zone's telehealth policies were not read for this guide, so take its requirements from the zone directly.

A Sharjah free zone licence is cheaper than a Dubai one, with SRTIP at AED 5,510 licence only and AED 13,990 with one visa [19], but it does not place the business under DHA. Our business setup in Sharjah page prices the company layer; confirm the health regulator's route before choosing an emirate on price.

Will Dubai insurers pay for telehealth consultations?

Clause 13.3 of the DHA standard says all licensed health insurance payers operating in Dubai must recognise and reimburse telehealth services under Dubai Health Insurance Corporation standards, where the service meets standard terms and clinical necessity. A 2020 corporation directive adds that payers need not add out-of-network providers [1][13].

The sentence in the standard is: "All licensed health insurance payers operating in Dubai must recognize and reimburse Telehealth services in accordance with the standards set by DHIC provided the services meet the standard terms and clinical necessity requirements." (clause 13.3), where DHIC is the Dubai Health Insurance Corporation [1].

The standard then puts duties on the provider. Before any telehealth service the provider must verify the patient's insurance eligibility and disclose expected out-of-pocket costs (clause 13.4). Services must be coded with DHIC-approved codes, and "Claims data must be submitted in eClaimLink to enable adjudication, audit, and reimbursement." (clause 13.6) [1]

DHIC's Policy Directive 02 of 2020, published on 24 March 2020 and stated to run until further notice, told payers to accept telehealth claims from their network providers. It also drew a line: "This directive does NOT mandate the default inclusion of any telehealth providers" who are not part of a payer's network [13].

Real Talk: The duty to reimburse is not a right to join a network. A new standalone telehealth centre still has to contract with each insurer or third-party administrator before patients can use their cover with it. Until those contracts are signed, plan on self-pay revenue only, and do not put a date on insured revenue in a forecast.

How is a telehealth business taxed in the UAE?

Consultations sold to patients are transactions with natural persons, an Excluded Activity under Article 2(2)(a) of Ministerial Decision No. 229 of 2025, so a free zone telehealth provider does not get the 0% rate on that income. Ordinary rates apply, 0% up to AED 375,000 and 9% above, or Small Business Relief [14][15].

The free zone 0% rate is available only to a Qualifying Free Zone Person earning qualifying income. Ministerial Decision No. 229 of 2025 lists as an Excluded Activity: "Any transactions with natural persons, except transactions in relation to the Qualifying Activities specified under paragraphs (e), (g), (h) and (k) of Clause (1) of this Article." [14] Those four exceptions are ships, fund management, wealth and investment management, and aircraft financing. Healthcare is not among them.

A patient is a natural person. So a standalone telehealth centre in a free zone, earning its revenue from patients, is taxed like a mainland one: 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above that [19].

A platform charging clinics is not dealing with natural persons, so that exclusion is not its problem. The other list is. Article 2(1) of the same decision sets out the Qualifying Activities, which run from manufacturing and commodity trading through fund management and treasury services to distribution from a Designated Zone and logistics [14]. Software and technology services are not on it, so platform fees are also taxed at the ordinary rates. Our Qualifying Free Zone Person guide explains the conditions.

The relief a new telehealth company can use is Small Business Relief. A company with revenue at or under AED 3,000,000 can elect to be treated as having no taxable income, for tax periods ending on or before 31 December 2029, under Ministerial Decision No. 131 of 2026 [15]. Our Small Business Relief guide covers the election. Corporate tax registration is still required, and late registration carries a penalty of AED 10,000 [19].

Quick Math: Small Business Relief ends at AED 3,000,000 of revenue. UAE Free Zone Finder advertises teleconsultation prices of AED 100 to 600, a range this guide has not verified [16]. At AED 600 that is 3,000,000 / 600 = 5,000 consultations a year, about 14 a day. At AED 100 it is 30,000 a year, about 82 a day. Model the 9% rate on taxable income above AED 375,000 from the year volume builds.

Is a teleconsultation zero-rated for VAT in the UAE?

Article 41 of the VAT Executive Regulation zero-rates healthcare services on two conditions: the supplier is a licensed healthcare body or professional, and the supply relates to the wellbeing of a human being. No Federal Tax Authority statement naming telehealth was found, and platform fees charged to clinics are standard-rated [17].

Article 41 of Cabinet Decision No. 52 of 2017 defines healthcare services as "any Service supplied that is generally accepted in the medical profession as being necessary for the treatment of the Recipient of the supply including preventive treatment" [17]. The copy on the Federal Tax Authority (FTA) site is marked as an unofficial translation, and later amendments were not checked for this guide.

The operative sentence is: "A supply of healthcare services shall be zero rated on the condition that the supply shall:" followed by two conditions. The first: "Be made by a healthcare body or institution, doctor, nurse, technician, dentist, or pharmacy, licensed by the Ministry of Health or by any other competent authority." The second: "Relate to the wellbeing of a human being." [17]

The article does not mention the channel. On its face, a medically necessary consultation supplied by a DHA licensed facility meets both conditions whether it happens in a room or on a screen. That is this guide's reading of the general test, not an FTA position.

A platform is in a different position. It is not a licensed healthcare body, and its fees to clinics for software or access are a technology supply, standard-rated at 5% on this guide's reading of the general rule.

Zero-rated is not exempt. A zero-rated supplier registers once taxable supplies pass AED 375,000, may register voluntarily from AED 187,500, files returns and can recover input VAT on its costs [19]. Our VAT registration and compliance guide covers the mechanics. To see how the corporate tax and VAT positions combine for your model, ask before the first invoice.

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What does a telehealth licence cost in Dubai?

Only two cost lines can be stated from published sources. Company formation on the Dubai mainland is AED 18,200 in year one without a visa or AED 24,400 with one visa on BusinessDubai.ae's package. The DHA telehealth add-on for an existing facility is AED 2,000 a year. Everything else is a quote [3][19].

The add-on figure comes from DHA's one-page Facility Services Fees sheet, which lists "Add-on yearly fees: Telehealth" at "2000/per year". The page is undated, and its file path on DHA's site points to January 2025 [3].

The table itemises what a telehealth founder pays for, and marks which lines have a published figure [1][3][6][19].

Quick Math: For an existing DHA clinic, the one official fee is AED 2,000 a year. UAE Free Zone Finder advertises a "DHA digital health platform licence" at AED 10,000 to 30,000 a year, and AEDBS advertises DHA application fees of AED 2,500 to 5,000 [16][18]. Neither figure appears in any DHA document read for this guide. Ask any adviser quoting a larger DHA fee to show the DHA page it comes from.

For an itemised quote on the company layer and a list of the regulator lines to price yourself, ask before you sign a platform contract.

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In what order should you set up a telehealth business in Dubai?

Start with the DHA category, not the company. Decide which of the four categories in clause 7.2.1 describes the business, confirm it with DHA, then form the company with the matching activity, then apply to DHA. The DHA documents read for this guide publish no processing time [1].

A workable sequence, built from what the standard requires at each point [1][4]:

1. Write the model down: who examines the patient, who employs that clinician, who holds the record, who bills.
2. Match it to one of the four DHA categories and ask DHA to confirm.
3. Choose the activity code that describes the same business.
4. Form the company. A platform needs this first, because clause 7.6.3 asks for legal representation in Dubai with a trade licence.
5. Open the bank account, using our corporate bank account guide for what banks ask.
6. Put hosting on a DESC-certified UAE cloud before the DHA assessment.
7. Sign the contracts or MOUs that clause 6.3 requires, then apply to DHA and license the clinicians.

On timing, consultancy sites advertise totals from four to twelve weeks; AEDBS, for one, advertises eight to twelve [18]. None of those is an official figure, and this guide gives none.

Which route fits your situation?

The right route depends on who treats the patient. An existing DHA clinic adds telehealth to its licence. A virtual-only provider with its own doctors needs the standalone telehealth centre category. A technology company selling to clinics needs the platform category, under clause 7.8 of the DHA standard, and may not treat patients [1].

The table sets out seven common starting points against the DHA category and the first thing to check [1][3].

An existing clinic has the shortest route, and our medical clinic setup guide covers the facility it rests on. A home healthcare operator should read the telemonitoring chapter beside our home healthcare company guide. A specialist centre, such as the one in our IVF and fertility clinic guide, can use telehealth for the pre-travel assessments and follow-up that Appendix 3 of the standard describes.

Real Client Stories

These are composite examples built from the situations telehealth founders most often face. Names and details are illustrative, and the only figures used are published Dubai Health Authority rules and BusinessDubai.ae's package prices.

The app founder who signed doctors first (Dubai mainland)

A founder forms a mainland technology company on BusinessDubai.ae's package at AED 18,200 in year one without a visa, builds a consultation app and signs agreements with six freelance doctors to see patients through it. The plan rests on a telehealth platform licence. Clause 7.8 of DHA's standard says a platform may not deliver direct clinical services, and may not recruit or contact healthcare professionals to deliver them. The founder has to choose between partnering with DHA licensed facilities that employ the doctors, or applying as a standalone telehealth centre. Lesson: decide whether you are the tool or the provider before you sign a single clinician.

The clinic that planned an overseas specialist panel (Dubai mainland)

A Dubai polyclinic adds video consultations under its existing licence, budgets DHA's add-on fee of AED 2,000 a year, and plans a panel of specialists based in Europe. Clause 6.2 lets physicians residing outside the UAE consult patients here only if they are DHA licensed and affiliated to a DHA licensed facility, and clause 6.3 asks for a written contract or MOU wherever two entities share a service. The clinic narrows the launch panel to the specialists willing to obtain a DHA licence. Lesson: an overseas doctor's home licence does not carry into a Dubai consultation.

The overseas brand that kept its home cloud (Dubai free zone)

An overseas telehealth brand forms a Dubai free zone company on a Meydan licence-only package at AED 12,500 and plans to serve UAE patients on its existing platform, hosted in its home-country data centre with HIPAA and ISO 27001 certificates in hand. DHA's clause 7.6.7 also asks for Tier 3 data centres and storage at a DESC-certified cloud service provider in the UAE, and clause 8.2.5 prohibits storing health data outside the UAE unless DHA approves. The brand rebuilds its hosting plan around a UAE provider before applying. Lesson: certificates travel, data location does not.

Start your Dubai telehealth business on the right footing

Three decisions carry most of the risk. The first is the category: whether you are a provider or a tool, because clause 7.8 does not let you be both under a platform licence. The second is the data: UAE hosting on a DESC-certified cloud is DHA's rule, and whatever the federal exemptions allow needs a lawyer's reading before you rely on it. The third is the money: patient income does not earn the free zone 0% rate, and only two cost lines in the whole budget have a published figure.

BusinessDubai.ae handles the company layer, with itemised pricing and no hidden fees. We will price a mainland company setup against a free zone company setup for the activity your DHA category needs, and our post-setup services team keeps the licence, visas and tax filings current while your clinical team deals with the regulator. The DHA application, the clinical governance and the data advice stay with you and your specialist advisers.

Talk to a setup expert→

Frequently Asked Questions

Cost

How much does a telemedicine licence cost in Dubai?

Only two figures can be stated from published sources as of 2026. Company formation on the Dubai mainland is AED 18,200 in year one without a visa on BusinessDubai.ae's package, and DHA's fee sheet lists the telehealth add-on for an existing facility at AED 2,000 a year. No DHA fee for a standalone centre or a platform was found.

Is the DHA telehealth fee AED 2,000 or tens of thousands of dirhams?

The only official figure found is AED 2,000 a year, listed on DHA's Facility Services Fees sheet as the yearly telehealth add-on for an existing licensed facility. Figures of AED 10,000 to 30,000 a year are advertised by consultancy websites and appear in no DHA document read for this guide.

Who can provide telehealth

Do I need a physical clinic to run a telemedicine business in Dubai?

Not necessarily. Version 4 of the DHA Standards for Telehealth Services lists a Standalone Telehealth Centre, whose services "are dedicated entirely to virtual care". The standard sets no premises rules for that centre, so ask DHA's health facility licensing section what address it requires.

Can I start a telemedicine company in Dubai with only an app and no doctors?

Yes, as a telehealth platform, if the app is a tool that licensed facilities use. Clause 7.8 of the DHA standard limits a platform to a DHA-approved technological tool that connects licensed health facilities to patients, and DHA must approve it before it goes to market.

Can a telehealth platform employ or recruit its own doctors?

No. Clause 7.8.3 of the DHA standard says a telehealth platform is not permitted to recruit or contact healthcare professionals for the purpose of delivering clinical services through the platform. A company that wants its own clinicians needs the standalone telehealth centre category.

Does each doctor need a separate telemedicine licence in Dubai?

No separate telemedicine licence is named in the DHA standard, but each clinician needs a DHA professional licence and must be privileged for telehealth under clause 9.3. In Abu Dhabi, the Department of Health standard says only a DoH healthcare professional licence is required.

Can a doctor based abroad treat patients in Dubai by video?

Yes, on two conditions set by clause 6.2 of the DHA standard: the physician must be DHA licensed and affiliated to a DHA licensed facility. A licence from the doctor's home country alone is not enough.

Can an overseas telehealth company serve Dubai patients without a Dubai entity?

Not under the DHA standard as written. Clause 7.1 says telehealth services shall only be offered through a DHA licensed telehealth facility, and clause 7.6.3 requires a platform to have legal representation in Dubai with a relevant trade licence.

Can a Dubai clinic consult a patient in Abu Dhabi or Sharjah by video?

Yes, but the other emirate's rules then apply as well. Appendix 2 of the DHA standard says a physician within DHA jurisdiction serving a patient outside the Emirate of Dubai needs a DHA licence and must comply with the other regulatory authority's requirements.

Process

How long does DHA take to approve a telehealth licence?

No official processing time is published in the DHA telehealth documents read for this guide. Consultancy websites advertise totals of four to twelve weeks, and none of those is a DHA figure. Ask DHA's health facility licensing section for its current service time in writing.

Do I get the trade licence first or DHA approval first?

Confirm the DHA category first, then form the company, then file the DHA application. For a platform, clause 7.6.3 of the DHA standard requires legal representation in Dubai with a trade licence, so the company has to exist before the assessment.

Do I need accreditation such as JCI or URAC for telehealth in Dubai?

Yes. Clause 5.2.1 of the DHA standard requires accreditation for all telehealth services, both facilities and platforms, within 24 months of initial licensure or of licence renewal for existing facilities. The standard names QAI, EIAC, JCI, URAC and NCQA, without limiting the list to them.

Does a Dubai telehealth service have to integrate with NABIDH?

Yes for facilities. Clause 7.9.1 of the DHA standard says the facility's health records system "shall integrate with Nabidh", Dubai's health information exchange. Build the integration into the records system budget from the start.

Can a Dubai free zone company hold a telehealth licence?

A free zone can license the company, but the health permission is separate. Meydan Free Zone lists a telehealth services activity, and a Meydan package is AED 12,500 licence only. Confirm with both the zone and DHA that the service can be licensed at that address before you pay.

Services and prescribing

Can telemedicine doctors prescribe medicine in Dubai?

Yes, within limits. Clause 17.12.1 of the DHA standard says only a DHA licensed physician employed in a DHA licensed health facility may offer teleprescribing, following the Ministry of Health and Prevention drug list. Narcotic, controlled and semi-controlled medication is excluded.

Can controlled medication be prescribed online in Dubai?

No. Clause 17.12.7 of the DHA standard says: "The physician shall not prescribe Narcotic, Controlled or Semi-controlled medication through telehealth services." Clause 17.3 adds that those medications cannot be dispensed through telehealth, and Appendix 6 prohibits delivering them.

Can a doctor issue sick leave after a video consultation in Dubai?

Yes, with a cap. Clause 17.12.9 of the DHA standard limits sick leave issued through telehealth to a maximum of three days per week, as consecutive sick leave based on patient severity or as single sick leaves, in line with DHA's sick leave policy.

Can a pharmacy deliver medicine after a teleconsultation?

A DHA licensed outpatient pharmacy can deliver over-the-counter and general items once it has DHA approval for delivery, under Appendix 6 of the DHA standard. Third-party couriers need DHA approval too. Narcotic, controlled and semi-controlled medication cannot be delivered.

Is remote patient monitoring allowed in Dubai, and who may run it?

Yes. Clause 15.1 of the DHA standard allows only DHA licensed facilities with telehealth services to provide telemonitoring, using DHA approved platforms and MOHAP approved devices. The service must run 24 hours a day and be led by a DHA licensed physician.

Are AI scribes allowed in Dubai telehealth consultations?

Yes, with consent and physician review. Clause 10.6 of the DHA standard requires patient consent where ambient AI tools support documentation, and the treating physician must review AI generated content before it enters the permanent medical record.

Data, insurance and tax

Must patient data stay in the UAE?

For a DHA licensed platform, yes as the default. Clause 7.6.7 of the DHA standard requires data to be stored at a cloud service provider certified by the Dubai Electronic Security Centre in the UAE, and clause 8.2.5 prohibits storage or transfer abroad unless DHA approves. Published legal analyses differ on the federal exemptions, so take legal advice first.

Does HIPAA apply to telehealth in the UAE?

HIPAA is a United States law and does not apply in the UAE as law. DHA nonetheless asks for the certificate: clause 7.6.7 of its standard says all platforms must have HIPAA and ISO 27001 compliance certification. Holding both does not replace UAE hosting.

Does health insurance cover telemedicine in Dubai?

Clause 13.3 of the DHA standard says licensed health insurance payers in Dubai must recognise and reimburse telehealth services under Dubai Health Insurance Corporation standards, where clinical necessity is met. A 2020 directive says payers need not include providers outside their network.

Do I pay corporate tax on telehealth income in a free zone?

Yes on patient income. Ministerial Decision No. 229 of 2025 lists transactions with natural persons as an Excluded Activity, so a free zone telehealth provider is taxed at 0% on taxable income up to AED 375,000 and 9% above. Small Business Relief is available at revenue of AED 3,000,000 or less.

Is VAT charged on a video consultation in the UAE?

Article 41 of the VAT Executive Regulation zero-rates medically necessary healthcare services supplied by a licensed healthcare body or professional, and does not mention the channel. No Federal Tax Authority statement naming telehealth was found, so confirm with a tax adviser. Platform fees to clinics are a technology supply at 5%.

References

[1] Dubai Health Authority. Standards for Telehealth Services, code DHA/HRS/HPSD/ST-14, Version 4, issued 26 September 2025, effective 26 November 2025, 94 pages. Used for the four licence categories, the platform rules, clinician, prescribing, data hosting, accreditation, insurance and reporting clauses, and Appendices 2, 3 and 6. DHA Standards for Telehealth Services

[2] Gulf News. "Fewer Dubai residents visit hospitals, clinics and pharmacies", last updated 7 May 2025, citing figures released by Dubai Health. Used for virtual consultation and medicine home delivery figures for 2022 and 2024, which cover Dubai Health's own services. Gulf News report

[3] Dubai Health Authority. Facility Services Fees, one page, undated, file path dated January 2025. Used for the telehealth add-on at AED 2,000 a year. DHA Facility Services Fees

[4] Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism. Business activity list as recorded in a public copy of the register, activities 8690041 Telehealth Services, 8690011 Telemedicine Counseling Center and 6312005 Therapeutic Services Brokerage Via Electronic Media, records updated 24 and 25 October 2023. invest.dubai.ae

[5] Dubai Health Authority. Telehealth Policy, code DHA/HRS/HPSD/HP-20, Issue 1, issued 16 August 2021, effective 22 August 2021. Used for the earlier three-area licensing list. DHA Telehealth Policy

[6] Meydan Free Zone. "The ultimate guide to telemedicine delivery", updated 9 September 2026. Used for the zone's own telehealth activity code and for an advertised hosting cost, which is not verified. Meydan Free Zone guide

[7] Latham & Watkins. Client Alert No. 2891, "UAE Decision on Health Data Law Provides Clarity", 29 August 2021. The legal analysis used for the localisation rule in Federal Law No. 2 of 2019 and the remote medical services exemption in Ministerial Decision No. 51 of 2021; the official texts were not read for this guide. Latham & Watkins client alert

[8] CMS. "UAE Health Data - new data transfer permissions", Ben Gibson and Victoria Noto, 22 June 2021. The second legal analysis used for the telemedicine exemption and its local-copy condition. CMS analysis

[9] Kayrouz & Associates. "Licensing and data rules for telehealth providers in the UAE", 26 June 2026. Used only for the reported fine range, which was not confirmed against the law. Kayrouz & Associates article

[10] Dubai Health Authority. Guidelines for Reporting Telehealth Key Performance Indicators, code DHA/HRS/HPSD/GU-15, Version 3.0, issued 3 July 2025, effective 3 January 2026. Used for the indicators, the annual reporting frequency and the January submission window. DHA telehealth KPI guidelines

[11] Department of Health Abu Dhabi. DOH Standard on Tele-Medicine, reference DOH/SA/TLM/0.9/2020, effective 16 September 2020. Used for the Abu Dhabi licensing routes, the professional licence rule, controlled medication prescribing and data sharing. DoH Standard on Tele-Medicine

[12] Dubai Healthcare City. Activity register, entries Telehealth Centre, Virtual Clinic and Telemedicine Counseling Center, as recorded in a copy of the zone's published rule. DHCC Rule No. 1

[13] Dubai Health Insurance Corporation. Policy Directive 02 of 2020, Telehealth Services, published and effective 24 March 2020. Used for the payer duty to accept telehealth claims and the statement that network inclusion is not mandated. DHIC Policy Directive 02 of 2020

[14] UAE Ministry of Finance. Ministerial Decision No. 229 of 2025 Regarding Qualifying Activities and Excluded Activities. Used for transactions with natural persons as an Excluded Activity and the list of Qualifying Activities. MD 229 of 2025

[15] UAE Ministry of Finance. Ministerial Decision No. 131 of 2026 amending Ministerial Decision No. 73 of 2023 on Small Business Relief, issued 29 July 2026. Used for the AED 3,000,000 revenue threshold and tax periods ending on or before 31 December 2029. MoF financial legislation

[16] UAE Free Zone Finder. "UAE telemedicine and digital health guide 2026", updated August 2026. Used only for advertised teleconsultation prices and an advertised platform licence range, neither verified. UAE Free Zone Finder guide

[17] Federal Tax Authority. Cabinet Decision No. 52 of 2017, the VAT Executive Regulation, Article 41 on the zero-rating of healthcare services, unofficial translation. Used for the definition and the two conditions; no FTA guidance naming telehealth was found. Cabinet Decision 52 of 2017

[18] AEDBS. "Dubai telemedicine license 2026: cost, DHA rules, timeline", 23 August 2026. Used only for advertised DHA application fees and an advertised timeline, neither verified. AEDBS article

[19] BusinessDubai.ae. Company setup package prices: Dubai mainland AED 18,200 in year one without a visa and AED 24,400 with one visa, covering company formation only, with the free zone package prices and the corporate tax and VAT reference figures used alongside them. businessdubai.ae