Apply through the Ministry of Health's eHealth Portal for initial approval, have your drawings approved, prepare the premises and request a final inspection. Once the establishment passes and every professional is licensed, DGPHE issues a licence valid for three years.
Initial approval, under the 2024 regulation
Ministerial Decision 231/2024 says no private health establishment may be set up without the Ministry's initial approval, or operate without its licence. The applicant must be a company on the commercial register, and the Ministry decides within 10 working days of a complete file. Silence counts as a refusal, which may be appealed within 60 days.1 The eHealth Portal service asks for a certificate of no criminal record, the commercial register, proof of financial solvency and the scope of work,3 and DGPHE's manual sets the application fee at OMR 100.4
From initial approval to the licence
Initial approval is valid for one year.2 Within 12 months the applicant files proof of the premises, the licences of its professionals, the Ministry's approval of the electronic health information system and, unless it is a small or medium enterprise, an unconditional bank security in the Ministry's favour. Premises outside a commercial complex must sit at least 100 metres from the nearest public pharmacy or private establishment of the same specialty.1
DGPHE's SOP of November 2025 gives 2 to 3 weeks to review drawings stamped by an approved engineering office. The central inspection team inspects specialised clinics, centres and polyclinics, and governorate teams inspect the rest. The licence is printed only once every professional is licensed and entered in the system.2
- Apply for initial approval. On the eHealth Portal, signed in with PKI, with the commercial register, solvency proof and scope of work.
- Have the drawings approved. Stamped by an approved engineering office, then reviewed by DGPHE and checked on site by the governorate.
- Prepare the premises. A Be'ah waste contract, a cleaning contract, and the municipality and civil defence licences.
- Set up the electronic record. A networked system for registration and the medical record, for the Ministry's approval.
- License every professional. Each doctor, nurse and allied professional licensed by DGPHE before they treat a patient.
- Request the final inspection. With the activated commercial register, the economic activities licence, the lease, the trade name reservation and the approved drawings.
- Pay the fee and activate. DGPHE activates the establishment in its system and issues a licence for three years.
- Establishment ______ Category ______ Governorate ______
- Initial approval on ______ Expires ______
- Drawings approved on ______
- Medical director ______
- Record system ______ Ministry approval on ______
- Professionals licensed ______ of ______
- Final inspection on ______ Licence expires ______
| Stage | Who acts | Time the rules give |
|---|---|---|
| Initial approval | DGPHE | A decision within 10 working days of a complete file |
| Drawings | DGPHE and the governorate | 2 to 3 weeks |
| Documents for the licence | The applicant | Within 12 months of initial approval |
| Gaps found | The applicant | Up to 90 days to complete them |
| Licence | DGPHE | Three years, then renewed |
Questions
Can we see patients once we have initial approval?
No. Article 4 of the Executive Regulation says an establishment may not operate until the Ministry has licensed it.
How long is the licence valid?
Three years, renewable for further three-year terms.
What happens if the final inspection finds gaps?
DGPHE reports them back for correction and you request a new inspection. The regulation gives up to 90 days to complete the gaps, and the Ministry may fine OMR 100 for each later inspection, up to OMR 1,000.
Sources
- 1Qanoon.om, 2024Ministerial Decision 231/2024 issuing the Executive Regulation of the Law Regulating the Practice of the Medical Profession and Allied Medical ProfessionsRead source
- 2Ministry of Health, Oman, 2025Licensing and Assessing of Private Polyclinics, Medical Centers, and Clinics, Standard Operating Procedure, MOH/DGPHE/SOP/002/Vers.2, November 2025Read source
- 3Ministry of Health, Oman, 2026Getting initial approval for a private clinic, centre or polyclinic, eHealth Portal serviceRead source
- 4Ministry of Health, Oman, 2024Licensing Regulations for Private Health Establishments Manual, MoH/DGPHE/F/013/Vers.003, August 2024Read source
Written by the wai team from Oman Ministry of Health guidance, checked on 16 October 2026. This is guidance, not legal advice. Oman MOH does not endorse wai or any software.