A Dedicated Medical Free Zone
Purpose-built for healthcare and managed by the Sharjah Health Authority — a regulated medical environment, not a general zone with a clinic add-on.
Sharjah Healthcare City (SHCC)
Company Formation
Establish a clinic, hospital, medical or wellness business in Sharjah's dedicated free medical zone. Set up in 2012 and managed by the Sharjah Health Authority, SHCC pairs free-zone ownership with a healthcare-specific licensing environment.
- 100% Ownership
- Established 2012
- Free Medical Zone
- Sharjah Health Authority
- Healthcare & Wellness
Sharjah's Dedicated Medical Free Zone
Sharjah Healthcare City (SHCC) was established by Emiri Decree in March 2012 as a free medical zone, managed by the Sharjah Health Authority. It concentrates healthcare, medical and wellness providers in one regulated environment, offering 100% foreign ownership, profit repatriation and single-window licensing, while clinical operators work within the Sharjah Health Authority's health-sector licensing.
Sharjah Healthcare City (SHCC) was established by Emiri Decree in March 2012 as a free medical zone, and is managed by the Sharjah Health Authority (SHA), the emirate's health regulator. It was created to concentrate healthcare, medical services and wellness providers in one purpose-built, regulated environment — the Sharjah counterpart to the medical free zones in the wider UAE.
For a healthcare business, the value is the combination of free-zone benefits and a healthcare-specific framework. SHCC offers 100% foreign ownership, profit repatriation and a single-window licensing process, while clinical operators work within the health-sector licensing of the Sharjah Health Authority. That dual structure — a commercial free-zone licence plus clinical regulation — is exactly what a clinic, hospital, diagnostic centre or medical-services business needs, and what a general free zone cannot provide.
A healthcare-specific free zone, regulated by the Sharjah Health Authority
Why Sharjah Healthcare City
SHCC is built for healthcare, not adapted for it. For a medical or wellness business, a healthcare-specific licensing environment and a cluster of health providers are the deciding factors.
A Healthcare Cluster
Concentrates clinics, medical services, diagnostics and wellness providers in one place, supporting referrals, talent and shared facilities.
100% Foreign Ownership
Full foreign ownership of the medical or wellness business, with profit and capital repatriation — no local partner required.
Single-Window Licensing
A streamlined, single-window setup process for the commercial licence, coordinated alongside the health-sector approvals.
Sharjah's Healthcare Positioning
Part of Sharjah's push as a regional healthcare destination, with supportive policy and a growing patient catchment.
UAE Free-Zone Tax Status
Free-zone status with eligibility for the 0% Qualifying Free Zone Person Corporate Tax rate on qualifying income; healthcare carries specific VAT treatment.
Ideal for
- Clinics, polyclinics and day-surgery centres
- Hospitals and specialist medical centres
- Diagnostic, imaging and laboratory services
- Dental, cosmetic and wellness providers
- Pharmacies, medical trading and health-tech
- Allied health and rehabilitation services
Sharjah Healthcare City Licence Types
SHCC licences cover clinical operators and the healthcare businesses around them.
Clinical / Medical Licence
For clinics, hospitals and medical centres providing patient care — paired with health-sector licensing from the Sharjah Health Authority.
- Clinics & polyclinics
- Hospitals & day surgery
- Diagnostics, imaging & labs
- Dental & cosmetic centres
- Specialist & allied health
Healthcare Services Licence
For wellness, rehabilitation and the professional services that support clinical care.
- Wellness & rehabilitation
- Physiotherapy & therapy
- Healthcare management & consultancy
- Telemedicine & health-tech
- Home-care & support services
Medical Trading Licence
For trading in pharmaceuticals, medical devices, equipment and supplies, subject to the relevant health approvals.
- Pharmaceuticals & pharmacy
- Medical devices & equipment
- Consumables & supplies
- Distribution & representation
- Healthcare logistics
Legal Structures Under Sharjah Healthcare City
SHCC recognises the standard free-zone legal forms; clinical operators also require health-sector licensing alongside the entity.
Free Zone Establishment (Single Shareholder)
A limited-liability entity with one shareholder, individual or corporate — for a single-owner clinic or medical business.
Free Zone Company (Multiple Shareholders)
A limited-liability entity with two or more shareholders, for partnered practices and joint ventures.
Branch of a Company
A branch of an existing UAE or foreign medical or healthcare company operating under the parent's identity.
How a Sharjah Healthcare City Company Is Formed
Six steps — clinical operators add a health-sector licensing layer.
- 01
Confirm Activity & Licence Type
Determine whether the business is a clinical operator (health-sector licensing required), a healthcare-services business or a medical trader, and select the matching licence.
- 02
Initial Approval
Secure initial approval for the activity and, for clinical operators, in-principle health-sector approval.
- 03
Reserve Name & Arrange Facility
Reserve the entity name and arrange the clinical or office facility the licence and the medical activity require.
- 04
Health-Sector Licensing (Clinical)
For clinical operators, the facility and practitioners are licensed by the Sharjah Health Authority.
- 05
Licence & Establishment Card
On approval, the trade licence and establishment card are issued, unlocking staff visas.
- 06
Bank Account & Visas
Open the corporate bank account and process practitioner and staff visas with Emirates ID and medicals.
Documents Required for Sharjah Healthcare City Setup
The standard set, plus clinical documentation for medical operators.
- Passport copies of all shareholders and directors (valid at least 6 months)
- UAE residence visa copy for residents in the country
- Emirates ID for UAE residents
- Passport-sized photographs of shareholders
- Proposed entity names and a description of the medical / healthcare activities
- For clinical operators: practitioner credentials, facility details and health-sector documentation
- For corporate shareholders: licence, constitutional documents, board resolution and UBO list
Why Choose Sharjah Healthcare City
SHCC pairs free-zone ownership with a healthcare-specific environment.
100% foreign ownership of the medical or wellness business
Full repatriation of profits and capital
A dedicated free medical zone managed by the Sharjah Health Authority
A concentrated healthcare cluster
Single-window licensing coordinated with clinical approvals
0% Corporate Tax on qualifying income under the QFZP regime
Zero-rated VAT on qualifying healthcare services
Part of Sharjah's regional healthcare positioning
Tax & Compliance Position — Sharjah Healthcare City
SHCC entities follow UAE Federal Corporate Tax and can qualify for the 0% QFZP rate. Healthcare also carries specific VAT treatment and, for clinical operators, health-sector licensing.
UAE Corporate Tax
9% Headline · 0% QFZP on Qualifying Income
SHCC entities follow UAE Federal Corporate Tax under Decree-Law 47/2022 — 9% on taxable income above AED 375,000. Most can elect the Qualifying Free Zone Person (QFZP) regime and pay 0% on Qualifying Income.
QFZP eligibilityQFZP eligibility needs Qualifying Income, adequate Free Zone substance, arm's-length transfer pricing and audited financials. Healthcare and medical-services income is assessed against the qualifying-activity rules per operator.
UAE VAT
5% Standard Rate · Healthcare Treatments Apply
SHCC entities follow UAE VAT — 5% on taxable supplies, AED 375,000 mandatory registration threshold. Qualifying preventive and basic healthcare services can be zero-rated under the VAT legislation, while other supplies are standard-rated. We confirm the treatment per medical operator.
Not a Designated ZoneSHCC is a medical and services free zone, not a Designated Zone for goods under Cabinet 59/2017 — Designated-Zone treatment is not the relevant lens for its healthcare tenant base.
Ongoing Compliance Obligations
- Health-sector / Sharjah Health Authority licensing for clinical operators
- Annual Corporate Tax return (9 months from FY-end)
- VAT returns per FTA assignment (healthcare treatments applied)
- Audited financial statements (free zone requirement; mandatory for QFZP)
- Trade-licence renewal with the free zone authority
- ESR notification + report where a Relevant Activity is carried on
- UBO register + patient-data protection obligations
Sources & official references: Federal Decree-Law 47/2022 (Corporate Tax) · Cabinet Decision 100/2023 (QFZP) · Federal Decree-Law 8/2017 (VAT) · Sharjah Health Authority health-sector regulations
Sectors Active in Sharjah Healthcare City
SHCC's tenant base is healthcare, wellness and the businesses that support them.
Clinics & Hospitals
Diagnostics & Labs
Dental & Cosmetic
Wellness & Rehabilitation
Telemedicine & Health-Tech
Pharma & Medical Trading
Medical Tourism
Healthcare Consultancy
The Avyanco Advantage
Avyanco runs SHCC setups end-to-end — coordinating the entity, the health-sector licensing, banking, visas and tax.
Entity + Clinical Licensing
We handle both the free-zone entity and the Sharjah Health Authority licensing process, so a clinic or medical centre is set up correctly on both fronts.
Facility Guidance
Help selecting the clinical or office facility against the licence and the medical activity planned.
Healthcare Tax Handled
QFZP assessment and VAT mapping for healthcare, where qualifying medical services may be zero-rated.
Corporate Bank Account
Introductions to UAE banks that onboard healthcare businesses, with the compliance file they ask for.
Practitioner & Staff Visas
Practitioner, nursing and administrative visas processed alongside Emirates ID and medicals.
Ongoing Compliance
Licensing renewals, Corporate Tax, VAT, ESR, UBO and patient-data obligations handled so the practice stays in good standing.
Meet Our Specialists
Partner-level advisors covering every leg of an SHCC setup — entity, clinical-licensing layer, tax and ongoing compliance.
Why Healthcare Founders Choose Avyanco for SHCC
Three things that come up in every Sharjah Healthcare City engagement.
Healthcare-Sector Fluency
We set up medical businesses and understand how the free-zone entity and the health-sector licensing fit together.
End-to-End Delivery
Entity, clinical licensing, facility, bank, visas and tax — coordinated by one team.
Tax Done for Healthcare
QFZP and VAT handled for the way healthcare income — including zero-rated medical services — actually arises.
Compare Other UAE Free Zones
Sharjah Healthcare City suits clinics, hospitals and medical businesses. Other zones serve different sectors — compare here.
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Read moreWhat Clients Say
A slice of recent feedback from founders who set up their UAE entities through Avyanco.
I have been dealing with Akshta for more than a year now and she has been very professional.
Read more — Sherif Ayub's review on GoogleS
Sherif Ayub24 May 2026
In so far as the emigration process can ever be made easy, Avyanco achieves exactly this.
Read more — Sheru George's review on GoogleS
Sheru George12 May 2026
We are very satisfied with Avyanco's support for Nanasu Realty — especially across AML compliance, accounting, and company setup.
Read more — Purushottam Mukkundi's review on GoogleP
Purushottam Mukkundi6 May 2026
I've used the services of Avyanco twice over the past 3 years for visa processing, and they have never failed to impress me.
Read more — Dominic Pinto's review on GoogleD
Dominic Pinto11 May 2026
I had an excellent experience with Avyanco Business Setup Consultancy for both my company formation and family dependent visa process in the UAE.
Read more — Eder Schaphauser Ziomek's review on GoogleE
Eder Schaphauser Ziomek29 April 2026
We had an excellent experience working with this company for our ADGM company setup in Abu Dhabi.
Read more — Nikhil Nadanga's review on GoogleN
Nikhil Nadanga25 May 2026
Sharjah Healthcare City — Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about setting up in Sharjah Healthcare City.
What is Sharjah Healthcare City?
Sharjah Healthcare City (SHCC) is a free medical zone established by Emiri Decree in March 2012 and managed by the Sharjah Health Authority. It was created to concentrate healthcare, medical services and wellness providers in one regulated environment, offering 100% foreign ownership and single-window licensing alongside health-sector regulation.
Who regulates SHCC?
Sharjah Healthcare City is managed by the Sharjah Health Authority (SHA), the emirate's health regulator. Clinical operators are licensed by the SHA for their medical activity, in addition to holding the free-zone commercial licence.
Do I need a clinical licence as well as a trade licence?
Yes, for patient-facing operators. A clinic, hospital or medical centre needs both the free-zone commercial licence (the entity) and health-sector licensing of the facility and practitioners from the Sharjah Health Authority. Avyanco coordinates both. Non-clinical healthcare-services or medical-trading businesses follow the relevant approvals for their activity.
How is healthcare treated for VAT?
Qualifying preventive and basic healthcare services can be zero-rated under UAE VAT, while other supplies are standard-rated at 5%. The treatment depends on the operator and the service, so we map the VAT position per medical business.
Does an SHCC company qualify for the 0% Corporate Tax rate?
SHCC is a UAE free zone for Corporate Tax. The 0% rate applies to qualifying income earned by a Qualifying Free Zone Person; non-qualifying income is taxed at 9%. Healthcare and medical-services income is assessed against the qualifying-activity rules, which we do at the planning stage.
Can a foreign doctor or group own a clinic in SHCC?
Yes. SHCC allows 100% foreign ownership of the business. The owners and practitioners must still meet the Sharjah Health Authority's clinical-licensing and credentialing requirements for the medical activity, which we manage as part of the setup.
Verification & independence
Content verified against the official Sharjah Healthcare City (shcc.shj.ae) and Sharjah Health Authority sources and public reporting as of June 2026. Avyanco Business Consultancy LLC is independent of Sharjah Healthcare City, the Sharjah Health Authority and all UAE government authorities, and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any of them. Avyanco is not a medical-licensing body.
Health-sector licensing rules, VAT treatment of healthcare, free zone licence categories and Corporate Tax Qualifying Free Zone Person eligibility evolve. Always confirm the current rules for your specific medical activity directly with the Sharjah Health Authority, the free zone authority and the Federal Tax Authority before acting on any fact on this page.
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