Healthcare and Medical Company Formation.
In healthcare, licence conditions determine the company structure. Which service requires permission from which authority is settled before formation.
Healthcare Formation Decided by the Licensing Regime.
The facility, the service and the staff may each be subject to permission; the company is formed as the holder of these permissions.
Country where the service is providedA service provided to patients requires permission from the health authority of the country where it is provided.
Services provided to patients, such as clinics, laboratories, pharmacies or home care, are subject to the health regulator of the country where the service is provided. In Dubai, health facilities require a DHA licence, except in the Dubai Healthcare City free zone. In England, organisations providing regulated health and care services must register with the CQC. In Northern Cyprus, an additional permit or licence may be required depending on the subject of the activity.
Licence ownershipPermission may be tied jointly to the company, the facility and the responsible person; the company structure is formed accordingly.
In healthcare, permission may be tied not only to the company but also to the facility and to the responsible physician or manager. In the UK, CQC registration is made in the name of the legal entity carrying out the activity. The ownership structure, the responsible person and in whose name the licence will be issued are determined before the formation file; a later change may require an additional application.
Physician and staff permissionsA facility's permission does not cover an employee's professional permission.
Every health professional providing the service additionally requires a professional licence or registration: in Dubai, the licensing of health professionals falls under the DHA, and in the UK, physicians and nurses are registered with their own professional bodies. If the team will move to Dubai, the employee visa quota is also part of the same plan.
Product and service distinctionThe sale and import of medical products are subject to a permission regime separate from services.
A company selling medical devices, medicines or supplements has the registration and import of the product regulated separately, even if it provides no service to patients. The activity description is made according to this distinction: trade only, product registration, or service provided to patients.
Where the Licence Is Granted, Where the Company Is Formed.
A summary first: the country matching your situation is indicated below. A comparison of the three countries follows.
You will open a clinic or health facility in Dubai
The facility requires a DHA licence; the Dubai Healthcare City free zone is outside this. The location of the company is chosen together with the licence.
You want to bring your team with you
The only country where a residence visa can be obtained through the company; the quota depends on the licence package.
You produce health software or content, you do not treat patients
If there is no diagnosis or treatment service, the structure is close to that of a software company; even if provided remotely, treatment may be considered a regulated activity.
| Criterion | Dubai | United Kingdom | Northern Cyprus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structure and formation | Free zone or mainlandA trade licence and a health facility licence are separate; one does not replace the other. | Limited · Companies HouseCQC registration applies to England; Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own bodies. | Free Port · limitedAn additional permit or licence may be required depending on the subject of the activity; the exemption does not apply to services in the domestic market. |
| Residence / visa for the team | Residence visa through the company | Company formation does not provide residence | Company formation does not provide residence |
| Tax framework | 0% up to AED 375,000, 9% aboveOn net profit; free zone companies included. | 19-25%, depending on profit19% up to £50,000, 25% above £250,000; a gradual transition in between. | 0% on business outside Northern CyprusFor a Free Port company; sales to companies within the Free Port are also exempt. Normal tax rules apply to sales to a local company within Northern Cyprus. |
| Setting up a healthcare company in Dubai | Setting up a healthcare company in the UK | Setting up a healthcare company in Northern Cyprus |
The tax cells are a general framework, not a personal opinion.
Formation cost, typical timeline and bank channels are not included in this table: as they do not depend on the industry, they are presented in the full comparison of the three countries. Compare the Three Countries by Criteria
You can send us your service, the place where you reach patients and the country where the team will work; the scope of the licence and the country are assessed together.
Request an AssessmentFacility with a DHA licence
Setting up a healthcare company in Dubai
In Dubai, health facilities operate with a DHA licence, except in the Dubai Healthcare City free zone. The location of the company and the scope of the licence are determined together before the formation file.
- The facility licence application is made through the DHA's online system.
- An employee visa can be obtained for the team; the quota depends on the licence package.
- The choice of free zone or mainland is made together with the place where the service will be provided to patients.
Restrictions to note for Dubai3 items
- Presence in the UAE is required for the visa and biometrics; this step cannot be carried out by proxy.
- The timetable for facility and health professional licences is set by the DHA; no timeline is promised.
- In addition to formation, a licence renewal cost arises every year. The second-year renewal should be planned from the start.
Regulated service with CQC registration
Setting up a healthcare company in the UK
In England, organisations providing regulated health and care services must register with the CQC, and the registration is made in the company's own name. For health software or content activity that does not admit patients, formation is carried out remotely.
- CQC registration is made in the name of the legal entity carrying out the activity; the company structure is formed accordingly.
- For activity that does not admit patients, the whole formation is carried out remotely.
- Contract and invoicing practice is established; the Ltd is widely accepted by corporate clients in Europe.
Restrictions to note for United Kingdom3 items
- Company formation does not provide a right of residence. Immigration is a separate process.
- A service requiring CQC registration cannot be provided without registration; the registration process is separate from formation and the timetable is set by the CQC.
- The approval rate at traditional banks is low for non-resident partners; in practice, we start with a payment institution account.
Additional licence depending on the activity
Setting up a healthcare company in Northern Cyprus
In Northern Cyprus, a service provided to patients is a domestic market activity; the Free Port tax exemption does not apply. An additional permit or licence may be required depending on the subject of the activity; the scope is settled before the application.
- An Eastern Mediterranean location.
- Contract and accounting practices are similar to those in Turkey, so the compliance process is short.
- For services to customers outside Northern Cyprus, the tax exemption of a Free Port company applies.
Restrictions to note for Northern Cyprus3 items
- A service provided to patients within Northern Cyprus is a domestic market activity; the Free Port tax exemption does not apply.
- Stripe and PayPal do not work with a Northern Cyprus company.
- It is not an EU member and is not the same country as Southern Cyprus.
Our Services for Healthcare Companies
The criteria above decide the matter; the services below cover putting that decision into effect. All of them are services we currently provide.
- Company formationIn whose name the licence will be issued and who the responsible person is are determined before the formation file; the activity description is made accordingly.
- Accounting and reportingMonthly accounting records, filings and annual financial statements are run in the same cycle.
- Banking and payment systemsDocuments showing the permission status of the activity are added to the corporate account application file.
- Visa and residenceIf the team will move to Dubai, the employee visa, medical test and Emirates ID steps are included in the formation plan.
The scope, timeline and fee of the service vary by country; details are on the relevant country page.
Frequently Asked Questions.
Health facilities in Dubai require a DHA licence, except in the Dubai Healthcare City free zone, and the application is made through the DHA's online system. The trade licence and the facility licence are separate; health professionals also obtain a licence separately.
In England, organisations providing regulated health and care services must register with the CQC; the registration is made in the name of the legal entity carrying out the activity. A service requiring registration cannot be provided without it.
If it involves diagnosis or treatment, it may be considered a regulated activity even when provided remotely. If only software or content is produced, the structure is close to that of a software company; this distinction is settled before formation.
A company selling medical devices, medicines or supplements has the registration and import of the product regulated separately, even if it provides no service to patients. The activity description is made at the formation stage according to this distinction.
Yes; an employee visa can be obtained through the company and the quota depends on the licence package. For health professionals to practise in Dubai, a professional licence is also required separately.