Dubai’s expanding healthcare sector is creating opportunities for specialized services supporting older adults and people who require long-term care. For investors and healthcare entrepreneurs, establishing a dementia care center in Dubai can be an opportunity to provide structured, professional care while entering a specialized healthcare segment.
However, a dementia care center that provides healthcare or long-term clinical services cannot simply begin operations as a general commercial business. The appropriate healthcare facility category, licensing pathway, facility design, professional staffing and regulatory approvals must be determined before operations begin.
This guide explains the key considerations for dementia care center setup in Dubai, including DHA licensing, long-term care requirements, costs, documents and the approval process in 2026.
Is a DHA License Required for a Dementia Care Center in Dubai?
If the proposed center will provide regulated healthcare or long-term clinical care in Dubai under DHA jurisdiction, healthcare facility licensing requirements apply.
Importantly, “dementia care center” should not automatically be treated as a standalone DHA facility category. The correct facility classification depends on the actual services and model of care.
Under DHA’s current Standards for Long-Term Care Services, long-term care facilities operate under approved facility types that include:
- Convalescence Facilities
- Nursing Homes Facilities
- Palliative Care and Hospice Facilities
- Addiction Treatment and Rehabilitation Centres
The appropriate category for a dementia-focused project therefore needs to be established according to its proposed scope of services.
What Type of Dementia Care Facility Can You Start?
The business model is one of the first decisions an investor should make.
A dementia-care project could potentially involve residential long-term care, nursing services, home healthcare, rehabilitation or other regulated healthcare services. Each model can have different licensing, staffing and facility requirements.
For example, a business providing dementia-related healthcare in patients’ homes may need to follow the applicable home healthcare services standards, rather than requirements designed for a residential long-term care facility.
Need help identifying the right facility category?
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How to Start a Dementia Care Center in Dubai
Step 1: Define the Dementia Care Business Model
Start by defining exactly what the facility will provide.
Your proposal should clearly establish the intended services, target patient group, operating model, clinical services, staffing structure and whether care will be residential, outpatient or home-based.
This is particularly important because the regulatory pathway depends on the actual healthcare activities rather than the marketing name of the business.
Step 2: Determine the Correct Healthcare Facility Category
Before leasing or fitting out a property, identify the appropriate DHA facility type and permitted services.
DHA’s long-term care standards require healthcare facilities providing long-term care services to comply with DHA licensing and administrative requirements. Existing licensed facilities seeking to add long-term care services must obtain the required permission through Sheryan.
Step 3: Apply for a New Healthcare Facility License
Applications for new healthcare facilities are processed through DHA’s Sheryan system.
For a New Healthcare Facility License, DHA currently lists documents including:
- Owner/partner passport copies and Emirates ID where applicable
- Engineering layout from an engineering/design company
- Facility proposal/business plan
- Trade license, if already available
DHA states that obtaining the trade license before the initial New Healthcare Facility License application is optional.
Step 4: Prepare a DHA-Compliant Facility Design
Healthcare premises must be designed around the requirements applicable to their approved facility type and scope of service.
DHA’s Health Facility Guidelines establish standards covering areas such as facility planning and design, accessibility, occupational health and safety, infection control, engineering systems and feasibility planning.
For a dementia-focused environment, the final design should be developed by qualified professionals against the applicable regulatory and clinical requirements rather than relying on a generic clinic layout.
Step 5: Complete Business Licensing and Fit-Out
Once the healthcare facility pathway and proposed layout are established, the investor can proceed with the relevant commercial licensing, premises and fit-out processes.
Because healthcare fit-outs can involve significant capital expenditure, securing regulatory and design clarity early can reduce the risk of costly redesigns.
DHA Requirements for Dementia & Long-Term Care Services
A long-term care facility needs to satisfy requirements relevant to its approved facility category and scope of services.
DHA’s long-term care standards provide a framework for medical and clinical services delivered in long-term care settings and apply to healthcare professionals and facilities providing these services in Dubai.
Depending on the approved model, requirements may cover areas such as:
- Healthcare facility licensing
- Appropriate clinical governance
- Qualified healthcare professionals
- Patient assessment and care planning
- Medication management
- Infection prevention and control
- Patient safety
- Emergency procedures
- Quality management
- Documentation and medical records
- Suitable premises and infrastructure
The exact requirements should always be checked against the facility’s approved category and services.
Staffing Requirements for a Dementia Care Center
Staffing should be planned according to the facility category, capacity, patient needs and approved scope of services.
A dementia or long-term care operation may require a multidisciplinary workforce. The exact composition must be determined against applicable DHA requirements and the approved service model.
Before facility activation, DHA requires healthcare facilities to add and activate the licences of the required professionals and select a Medical Director.
This makes workforce planning an important part of the setup process rather than something to address only after the premises are completed.
DHA Inspection and Final Facility Activation
Receiving the initial approval does not mean the facility can immediately start accepting patients.
DHA explains that a New Healthcare Facility License is initially issued as an inactive facility license. It must subsequently be activated before the facility begins operating.
For activation, the facility must have the required professional licences activated, select a Medical Director and provide a valid trade licence. DHA then coordinates the facility inspection.
If the facility passes the final inspection, the active facility licence is issued. If it fails, another inspection must be scheduled and the applicable re-inspection fee paid.
How Much Does It Cost to Start a Dementia Care Center in Dubai?
There is no single universal cost for opening a dementia care center in Dubai.
The investment can vary substantially according to:
- DHA facility category
- Size and capacity of the facility
- Property rent
- Engineering and design
- Healthcare fit-out
- Medical and safety equipment
- Commercial licensing
- DHA facility licensing
- Inspection
- Professional licensing
- Recruitment
- Technology and medical-record systems
- Insurance
- Operational working capital
DHA itself states that New Healthcare Facility License fees are determined according to the facility category.
Therefore, avoid advertising one fixed “dementia care license cost” unless the exact facility classification and scope have first been determined.
DHA Inspection and Licensing Fees
DHA’s current Activate Facility License service publishes category-dependent fees. The displayed fee schedule includes inspection and re-inspection charges, with the applicable facility licence fee varying according to category and licence duration.
For an accurate project budget, investors should calculate the complete setup cost, not just the government licensing fee.
How Long Does DHA Approval Take?
DHA currently lists an average processing time of 5 working days for its New Healthcare Facility License service and 1 working day for the Activate Healthcare Facility License service.
These figures should not be interpreted as the total time required to open a dementia care facility.
The overall project can take considerably longer because it may involve facility classification, business licensing, engineering design, approvals, property preparation, construction or fit-out, recruitment, professional licensing and inspection.
Documents Required to Start the Facility
At the initial New Healthcare Facility License stage, DHA currently identifies the engineering layout, facility proposal/business plan, owner or partner identification documents and trade licence if available among the required documents.
Additional documents and approvals can apply depending on the proposed facility category, services and stage of the licensing process.
Common Mistakes When Starting a Dementia Care Facility
One of the biggest mistakes is choosing a property before confirming whether it can accommodate the healthcare facility’s regulatory and design requirements.
Other costly mistakes can include selecting the wrong facility category, preparing a non-compliant layout, underestimating fit-out requirements, recruiting too late, misunderstanding professional licensing requirements and budgeting only for the facility licence rather than the complete project.
Early planning can make the approval process significantly more manageable.
Why Get Professional Assistance for Dementia Care Center Setup?
Setting up a specialized healthcare facility involves more than obtaining a commercial licence. Investors need to coordinate the business model, facility classification, licensing application, engineering design, fit-out, staffing and inspection requirements.
Professional healthcare setup support can help you:
- Determine the appropriate facility category
- Structure the proposed healthcare activities
- Prepare the facility licensing application
- Coordinate documentation
- Plan the regulatory approval pathway
- Coordinate healthcare facility design requirements
- Prepare for inspection and activation
- Reduce avoidable delays and redesign costs
Start Your Dementia Care Center in Dubai
Planning to establish a dementia care, memory care, elderly care or long-term care facility in Dubai?
Start by determining the correct facility classification and regulatory pathway for your proposed services.
Speak with a healthcare facility setup consultant today to assess your business model, licensing requirements, premises, documentation and approval process before investing in the fit-out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a DHA license to open a dementia care center in Dubai?
If the business will operate as a healthcare facility providing regulated healthcare services under DHA jurisdiction, the applicable DHA facility licensing requirements must be met. The exact facility category depends on the proposed model and services.
Is “Dementia Care Center” a DHA facility license category?
It should not automatically be presented as a standalone DHA facility category. DHA’s current long-term care standards identify specific approved long-term care facility types. The correct classification needs to be determined according to the proposed services.
Can I open a dementia home care business in Dubai?
Home-based healthcare is a separate model and is subject to applicable DHA home healthcare requirements. DHA published Version 2 of its Standards for Home Healthcare Services in July 2025.
How much does a dementia care center license cost in Dubai?
The licensing cost depends on the approved healthcare facility category and services. DHA states that facility licensing fees vary according to facility category. Property, fit-out, staffing and other business costs should be calculated separately.
Does DHA inspect the facility before opening?
Yes. The facility activation process includes DHA inspection. A facility that successfully passes the final inspection can receive its active facility licence.
Do I need a Medical Director?
For facility licence activation, DHA currently lists selecting a Medical Director among the preparation requirements.
Can I apply for DHA approval before obtaining a trade license?
For the initial New Healthcare Facility License application, DHA states that obtaining the trade licence beforehand is optional. A valid trade licence is required for facility activation.
How long does it take to open a dementia care center in Dubai?
The DHA service-processing time is only one component of the project. The total setup timeline depends on factors such as facility type, property, design, fit-out, staffing, professional licensing, inspection and other required approvals.
