Apply through Sijilat with NHRA's application form, a project proposal and engineering drawings approved by a certified engineering office, then pass NHRA's licensing inspection. A private clinic can only be licensed to a doctor licensed to practise in Bahrain, and every licence must be renewed in the three months before it expires.
What the law requires
Legislative Decree No. 21 of 2015 says no one may establish, manage or operate a private health facility without NHRA's prior licence. It covers hospitals, specialised hospitals, medical centres, private clinics, alternative medicine centres and allied health units. A private clinic licence is limited to a person licensed to practise medicine in the Kingdom, who becomes its responsible director, and every other facility names a responsible director for all its technical and administrative work.1
If NHRA needs more information it tells the applicant within fifteen days, and the decree gives it sixty days to decide.1 NHRA's own guidance says applications are processed and answered within five working days.2
What to submit
| Document | What NHRA asks for |
|---|---|
| Authorisation letter | The person the owner authorises to deal with NHRA, with proof of the delegation, a copy of their CPR or passport, an email and a phone number. |
| Project proposal | Every aspect of the project, its specialties and activities, and for a centre or hospital the expected number of doctors and allied health professionals, on NHRA's template and in line with Resolution No. 2 of 2019. |
| Engineering drawings | Approved by a certified engineering office, with measurements and every room named, including the medical waste and sterilisation rooms where the project needs them, to NHRA's 2023 engineering guideline. |
| Application form | NHRA's application form for a facility licence. |
- Choose the facility type. Hospital, medical centre, private clinic or allied health facility, each with its own requirements under Resolution No. 2 of 2019.
- Name a responsible director. The licensed doctor for a private clinic, and a qualified director for any other facility.
- Write the proposal. On NHRA's template, with the services, specialties and planned staffing.
- Commission the drawings. From a certified engineering office, to NHRA's 2023 engineering guideline.
- Apply through Sijilat. With the authorisation letter, the proposal, the drawings and NHRA's application form.
- Pass the licensing inspection. Inspectors check the premises, staff and records against NHRA's checklist for each service.
- Open within six months. NHRA may revoke a licence when services have not started within six months of it being granted.
- Facility name ______ Facility type ______
- Responsible director ______ NHRA licence number ______
- Proposal completed on ______ Drawings approved on ______
- Sijilat application on ______
- Inspection on ______ Licence issued on ______
- Licence expires on ______ Renewal window opens on ______
Keeping the licence
The licence lapses at the end of its term unless it is renewed in the three months before it expires.1 NHRA's inspector contacts the facility within those three months to guide the renewal, and the renewal inspection is announced.3 Changes to services or capacity go through Munshaat, a change of location or activity through Sijilat, and none of them may start before NHRA approves it.2
NHRA's published fees are annual. A new private clinic licence is BD 300 and its renewal BD 200, a medical centre's is BD 1,000 and BD 800, and a new hospital licence runs from BD 2,000 to BD 4,000 by bed count.4 Under the 2015 decree, a fee paid late is charged at double.1
Questions
Who can hold a private clinic licence in Bahrain?
Only a person licensed to practise medicine in the Kingdom, who is also the clinic's responsible director.
How long does NHRA take to decide?
NHRA says it answers applications within five working days, and the 2015 decree sets sixty days as the outer limit for a decision.
Can we add a service after licensing?
Yes, through a request on Munshaat, and the new service may not start until NHRA approves it.
What happens if we do not open?
NHRA may revoke a licence when the facility has not started delivering services within six months of it being granted.
Sources
- 1National Health Regulatory Authority, 2015Legislative Decree No. (21) of 2015 on Private Health Facilities, English textRead source
- 2National Health Regulatory Authority, 2026Medical Complaints & Investigation Section, complaints, incident reporting and FAQRead source
- 3National Health Regulatory Authority, 2026Health Facilities Regulation Section, licensing procedure, inspection checklists, policies and feesRead source
- 4National Health Regulatory Authority, 2026Healthcare facilities licensing and accreditation feesRead source
Written by the wai team from National Health Regulatory Authority guidance, checked on 16 October 2026. This is guidance, not legal advice. NHRA does not endorse wai or any software.