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Blog · Opening a clinic in the UAE

How to Open an Aesthetic Clinic in Dubai: DHA Licence, Laser Rules and Staffing

Open an aesthetic clinic in Dubai: which DHA licence you need, the dermatologist rule, who may inject Botox and fillers, laser room rules and official fees.

Guide · 18 Oct 2026 · Access One

Quick answer

In Dubai, aesthetic treatments such as Botox, fillers, laser and IPL must be done in a DHA-licensed hospital, day surgery centre or outpatient clinic that is licensed for dermatology or plastic surgery. Beauty salons cannot offer laser hair removal, IPL or microneedling. Your clinic must have at least one DHA-licensed consultant or specialist dermatologist or plastic surgeon, full or part time, to supervise. Botox and fillers can only be injected by a trained, privileged physician, never on patients under 18. Laser rooms need at least 7.5 m², 90 cm clearance around the bed and MOHAP-registered devices.

Last checked: 26 October 2026

The rulebook you are working under

Aesthetic medicine in Dubai is governed by DHA's Standards for Non-Surgical Cosmetic Procedures. Version 2 took effect on 22 August 2022. DHA has since issued version 2.1 and sent reminders in March 2025 and June 2025. The June circular stressed three points:

Only licensed plastic surgeons may do invasive skin procedures (opening the skin) for tightening, lifting or fat dissolving, on the face or body.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections are allowed on the face and hair only, not the body.
Beauty therapists may not perform manual lymphatic drainage (MLD/LPG).

Download the latest version attached to those circulars before you finalise your service menu. The rest of this guide is based on version 2 plus those updates.

Which facility licence you need

The standard says non-surgical cosmetic services belong in DHA-licensed facilities that are permitted to provide plastic surgery and/or dermatology services. That means:

Outpatient clinic (a specialty clinic or polyclinic with dermatology or plastic surgery). This is the usual route for a medspa-style aesthetic clinic.
Day surgery centre or hospital, if you want procedures under general anaesthesia or sedation. The standard does not allow those in an ordinary clinic, and an anaesthetist must be present throughout.

Beyond the facility licence, you apply to DHA's Health Regulation Sector for permission to provide each cosmetic service or add-on. The facility design must follow outpatient unit 360 in Part B of DHA's Health Facility Guidelines. For the general licensing route, see how to open a clinic in Dubai and DHA facility licence types.

Setting up, step by step

Choose the specialties on the licence. Dermatology alone is a specialty clinic. Dermatology plus plastic surgery or another specialty makes a polyclinic, with a higher fee. Pick based on the procedures you want to sell.
Get the trade licence and premises. The trade name and company come from Dubai Economy and Tourism or a free zone. Ownership questions are covered in can a non-doctor own a clinic.
Apply for the New Facility Licence on Sheryan with an AutoCAD layout showing your laser rooms. Approval gives you an inactive licence valid for one year.
Buy compliant equipment. All cosmetic devices, including laser and IPL, must be registered and approved under MOHAP's medical device registration rules. Ask any supplier for proof of UAE registration before you sign.
Recruit the supervising doctor first. Without a licensed dermatologist or plastic surgeon, you cannot staff the rest of the team.
Write your policies. The standard lists at least 14, including what counts as a "medical-related" procedure, informed consent, medication management, emergency readiness and clinical privileging.
Pass final inspection and activate the facility and staff licences. DHA publishes an inspection checklist for non-surgical cosmetic services, so audit yourself against it before inspection.

Staff you must have

A supervising dermatologist or plastic surgeon. At least one DHA-licensed consultant or specialist, full or part time. They must sit on your clinical privileging committee, check credentials and grant or remove privileges. To supervise a procedure they need at least three years of post-qualification experience in it and at least 150 of that procedure.
A medical director who leads the clinical privileging committee.
Licensed injectors and operators. Everyone needs an active DHA licence, valid BLS and malpractice cover (malpractice insurance guide).

Two rules affect hiring from abroad. Professionals coming from overseas need at least two years of experience in non-surgical cosmetic procedures, or one year for beauty therapists. And GPs who want to inject need two years of clinical experience after graduation before training, then a one-year mentorship under a dermatologist or plastic surgeon.

Job titles are restricted too. Staff may only use the title on their DHA licence. "Aesthetic specialist", "cosmetologist", "anti-ageing consultant" and similar titles are not allowed, on your website or anywhere else.

Who may perform which procedures

Appendix 1 of the standard sets out who may do what. A summary of the procedures most clinics sell:

Procedure	Dermatologist / plastic surgeon	Other physician or GP (trained)	Nurse (trained, supervised)	Beauty therapist
Botox, face (not nose)	Yes	Yes	No	No
Face fillers, jawline	Yes	Yes	No	No
Nose fillers and Botox	Yes	No	No	No
Deep chemical peels	Yes	No	No	No
Superficial peels, Hydrafacial, microdermabrasion	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Laser hair removal and IPL	Yes	Yes, with laser privilege	Yes, as "Laser Hair Technician"	Yes, as "Laser Hair Technician", in a licensed facility
Laser tattoo removal	Yes	Yes	No	No
PRP, face and hair	Yes	Yes	No	No
Mesotherapy, derma rollers over 0.5 mm	Yes	Yes	No	No
Thread lifts	Yes	Consultant or specialist surgeons only	No	No

Orthodontists, prosthodontists and maxillofacial surgeons may also inject Botox and fillers in the face. General dentists may not (see our dental clinic guide). Cosmetic Botox and fillers are prescription-only medicines. Written consent is required and must be reconfirmed on the day, and neither may be used on anyone under 18.

Laser and IPL rules

The room

At least 7.5 m² of floor area.
At least 90 cm clearance on each side and at the foot of the bed.
A laser safety sign on the door.
Matt walls, no carpet, no metal surfaces or mirrors, non-reflective lighting and instruments, closed windows with non-reflective curtains, and a white couch or sheet.

The people

Laser treatments (class 2 or higher), IPL, LED and other energy devices may only be used under the treating physician's written instructions and treatment plan.
Hair laser and IPL may be supervised by a dermatologist or plastic surgeon (no extra certificate needed). A consultant or specialist in family or internal medicine, or a GP with at least five years in cosmetic procedures, can also supervise if they hold a DHA hair laser licence and training certificate.
Registered nurses, assistant nurses and beauty therapists can add the "Laser Hair Technician" title to their DHA licence after an accredited hair-reduction course with ten hands-on cases and privileging by the medical director. They sign an undertaking not to go beyond hair reduction.

What it costs

DHA's published fees (services guide, updated March 2023) for an outpatient clinic:

DHA item	Fee (AED)
New facility licence application	1,000
Final approval	2,000
Annual licence: specialty clinic	6,000
Annual licence: polyclinic, 2 or 3 specialties	12,000 or 18,000
Physician licence activation, full time, per year	3,000 (part time 4,000)
Nurse or allied licence activation, full time, per year	1,000

Lasers are usually the biggest line after fit-out. Prices depend on the platform, the wavelengths you need for different skin types, and whether you lease or buy. A part-time dermatologist is cheaper than a full-time one, but the supervisor rules above still apply. Rent depends heavily on area. For a full budget, see cost to open a clinic in Dubai.

Marketing before you open

Set up your Google Business Profile with a future opening date so it appears on Google 90 days before launch. Use your DHA-licensed name only. Build treatment landing pages for Botox, fillers and laser hair removal, then start pre-opening Google Ads to fill a launch waiting list. Aesthetic ads are where DHA enforcement bites hardest: unlicensed titles, "best" claims and unconsented before-and-after photos are all prohibited, and your medical director must approve each piece of content (see before-and-after photo rules). Get a free launch plan, or see how our clinic marketing service works for aesthetic clinics. For growth after launch, read how to market an aesthetic clinic in Dubai.

Frequently asked questions

Can a beauty salon in Dubai offer laser hair removal?

No. DHA's standard says beauty therapists may do some procedures in salons, but not laser hair removal, IPL or microneedling. Those must be done in a DHA-licensed health facility.

Do I need a dermatologist to open an aesthetic clinic in Dubai?

You need at least one DHA-licensed consultant or specialist dermatologist or plastic surgeon, full or part time, to supervise non-surgical cosmetic procedures and sit on the privileging committee.

Can nurses inject Botox or fillers in Dubai?

No. Cosmetic Botox and fillers are prescription-only and may only be given by a trained, privileged physician. Nurses can do listed procedures such as laser hair removal, peels and Hydrafacial with training and supervision.

Can a GP do Botox and fillers in Dubai?

Yes, for the face, if they have two years of post-graduation clinical experience before training, a recognised in-person certificate, a one-year mentorship and privileges from the clinic.

Does my laser machine need approval?

Yes. All laser, IPL and other cosmetic devices must be registered and approved under MOHAP's medical device registration rules, tested before use and maintained to the manufacturer's specifications.