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Not for crypto / Web3
→ Compare launch routesVirtual-asset activities need a VARA / FSRA / DIFC licence; this zone doesn't issue one.
Not for F&B
→ MainlandRestaurants, cafés, cloud kitchens need a mainland DED foodservice licence. Free zones don't issue these.
Dubai · Free Zone
Coming as channel partnerFull UAE Free Zone profile · pricing on request
Formenzo files directly at DHCC as part of our full-coverage service — complete formation, visa, and banking support. Pricing is quoted per case based on your passport, activity, and visa count. The figures on this page reflect the authority’s published rate card.
Dubai Healthcare City
Purpose-built medical free zone — clinics, pharma, wellness
14d est.
Licence pace
∞
Visa quota
200+
Activities
8/10
Bank score
DHCC is the only purpose-built healthcare free zone in the Middle East. ISQua-accredited. 487 active facilities, 10 hospitals. Phase 1 (Oud Metha) + Phase 2 (Al Jaddaf, 19M sqft).
Starting from
AED 57,000
Formenzo all-in estimate
Includes: Government fees, Formenzo service, flexi-desk, establishment card
Invoice transparency · DHCC
What lands on your invoice. Line by line.
Every fee, in the order it hits. No “admin” tax, no hidden markup — Formenzo's margin is the zone's channel-partner commission, not a line on your invoice.
0 visas · licence only
- DHCC licenceAED 57,000
- Gov + authority adminBundled
- Formenzo partner supportIncluded
1 visa · founder
- DHCC licenceAED 57,000
- Entry permit × 1AED 4,000
- Medical + EID × 1AED 690
- Gov + authority adminBundled
- Formenzo partner supportIncluded
2 visas · partners
- DHCC licenceAED 57,000
- Entry permit × 2AED 8,000
- Medical + EID × 2AED 1,380
- Gov + authority adminBundled
- Formenzo partner supportIncluded
Visa bundle uses DHCC-standard rates. Final visas stamped per applicant; typing-centre and translation fees are only added when they actually occur and billed at cost (usually AED 0 for English-passport applicants, AED 100–200 otherwise).
Banking reality · DHCC
The real bank-approval picture for a DHCC licence.
Channel-partner outcomes by passport bucket, over the last 90 days. “Limited” means the bank rarely approves this combo — we'll re-route you rather than waste your time.
| Bank | IN / UK / PH Low friction | PK / BD / NG Enhanced DD | RU / IR / SY Sanctions screen | US FATCA disclosure | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wio | Strong | Limited | Limited | Standard | 5–7 |
| Mashreq NeoBiz | Strong | Enhanced DD | Enhanced DD | Standard | 10–14 |
| Emirates NBD | Standard | Enhanced DD | Limited | Enhanced DD | 14–21 |
| RAKBANK | Strong | Enhanced DD | Limited | Standard | 12–18 |
| CBI | Standard | Enhanced DD | Enhanced DD | Enhanced DD | 14–25 |
| ADCB | Standard | Enhanced DD | Limited | Standard | 18–21 |
Outcomes are directional channel-partner patterns, not a guarantee for any specific applicant. “Days” = typical bank review time after licence issuance and clean KYC documents.
Banking partners
Banking routes commonly reviewed for DHCC companies, with final decisions subject to each bank's KYC and risk review.
Banking-review estimate
18 days
after licence issuance; subject to KYC
Formenzo setup timeline
Day-by-day what we deliver end-to-end, from signed engagement to bank-file routing.
Initial approval
We file your application with the Free Zone authority.
~5 days
License issued
Trade license + Establishment Card in hand. You can sign contracts.
~9 days
Investor visa
Entry permit → medical → Emirates ID → stamping.
~4 days
Bank file routed
Clean KYC pack prepared and routed; final onboarding remains subject to bank review.
~0 days
Full cost breakdown
Every fee, transparent. Real 2026 dirham pricing, no surprise invoices.
| Government license fee | AED 15,000 |
| Filing support and authority handling | AED 5,000 |
| Flexi-desk / office lease | AED 35,000 |
| Establishment Card (only with visas) | AED 2,000 |
| Per-visa cost (optional) | AED 4,000 |
| Emirates ID (per person) | AED 370 |
| Medical fitness (per person) | AED 320 |
| Minimum setup (no visa) | AED 57,000 |
| With 1 investor visa (most founders) | AED 61,690 |
Why founders pick DHCC
- ✓Only purpose-built healthcare free zone in the region
- ✓ISQua-accredited regulatory framework
- ✓Healthcare City Metro Station (Green Line)
- ✓10 hospitals, 168 clinical facilities on-site
- ✓50-year tax guarantee
- ✓10-year Golden Visa for medical specialists
Best for these activities
Not allowed
DHCC — frequently asked questions
Quotable, answer-first, optimized for AI search (Perplexity, ChatGPT, Google AI Mode).
How much does a DHCC license cost in 2026?
+
A Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) starts from AED 57,000 in 2026. Government fees, Formenzo service, flexi-desk, establishment card. Add one investor visa and the customer-facing 1-visa route is AED 61,690 before any case-specific authority extras.
How long does DHCC company setup take?
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DHCC publishes a typical licence-issuance estimate of 14 business days after initial approval (5 days). A residency visa adds an additional immigration stage. Banking preparation and review add another case-specific stage. Timelines vary by authority, immigration, document readiness, and bank risk review.
How many visas can I get with DHCC?
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DHCC default package includes 4 visas, and the maximum allowed per license is unlimited. A 1-visa customer route is approximately AED 61,690 based on the current pricing schedule.
Which UAE banks open accounts for DHCC companies?
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DHCC companies primarily bank with Emirates NBD, FAB, Mashreq, and ADCB. Formenzo prepares the KYC pack, identifies missing items, and routes the application to a suitable bank. Bank outcomes vary by nationality, activity, source of funds, and full risk review.
What business activities does DHCC allow?
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DHCC permits approximately 200 business activities. It is best suited for clinic. Activities not allowed include restaurant, trading, industrial — these require a UAE Mainland license.
Can I form a DHCC company without visiting the UAE?
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Yes — DHCC formation is fully remote through Formenzo. We handle document collection, trade name reservation, MOA drafting, and submission without a UAE visit. You only come to the UAE for one day to complete the medical fitness test and Emirates ID biometrics — and only if you want a residency visa. The trade license itself can be issued with zero travel.
Is DHCC eligible for 0% UAE Corporate Tax?
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Yes. DHCC is a recognized UAE Free Zone, so companies qualifying as a Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) can maintain a 0% Corporate Tax rate on qualifying income. Non-qualifying income is taxed at the standard 9% above AED 375,000. DHCC companies must register with the Federal Tax Authority within 3 months of incorporation — Formenzo handles this filing.
Why choose DHCC over other UAE Free Zones?
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Purpose-built medical free zone — clinics, pharma, wellness. Only purpose-built healthcare free zone in the region. ISQua-accredited regulatory framework. Banking readiness score: 8/10. Published licence pace: 14 days, subject to document and authority review. Starting cost: AED 57,000. Run Formenzo's 60-second match to compare DHCC against indexed UAE formation options based on your nationality, budget, and business activity.
Other Dubai Free Zones
Compare DHCC with other options in the same emirate.
Meydan FZ
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IFZA
Best balance of price, speed, and Dubai address
DAFZA
Terminal-2 adjacency. 24/7 on-site Dubai Customs. Dual Licence with Dubai DET.
SRTIP
R&D + innovation park — 5 activities per licence, free R&D grant available
Ready to form your DHCC company?
Run the 60-second match. We'll prepare your docs, file with DHCC, and track the case-specific licence timeline.