MOHAP registration in Dubai and across the UAE is the approval that has to exist before a medical device, drug, or healthcare product can be sold, imported, or shipped here at all. It's a different step from the import permit filed per shipment — get the order wrong, and cargo ends up sitting at the port with nothing to clear against. Here's what MOHAP registration actually covers, and what it takes to get there.
MOHAP registration works on two levels, and both have to be in place. First, the company — the manufacturer, importer, distributor, or local agent — has to be licensed with MOHAP to deal in the relevant category of medical device, pharmaceutical, or healthcare product. Second, the specific product has to be individually registered under that company, by exact model and formulation, not just by brand. A registered company selling an unregistered model is still blocked at the same point a shipment would be.
MOHAP classifies medical devices by risk, broadly similar to the international Class A–D system — from low-risk items like bandages and manual instruments up to high-risk implantable and life-sustaining devices. The classification a product falls into decides how much technical documentation MOHAP asks for and how long registration takes, so getting the classification right before filing is the single biggest factor in how smoothly registration goes.
MOHAP registration for shipping is where this most often gets confused — registration itself doesn't move any cargo, it's what has to already exist before a shipment can be filed at all. An import permit is issued per consignment against a product's existing registration, and Dubai Customs won't release anything through Mirsal 2 without one. If you're planning a shipment against a product that isn't registered yet, the registration timeline needs to be built into the shipping schedule, not treated as a parallel task. For what happens after registration is in place, see our guide to the MOHAP permit checklist for medical shipment clearance, and our breakdown of how medical cargo clearance works in Dubai once permits are approved.
Company registration generally takes a few weeks once the trade license and supporting documents are in order. Product registration runs longer — straightforward, lower-classification products can register in around four to eight weeks, while higher-risk devices or products needing additional technical review can take several months. Building this timeline in early is what keeps a launch date or first shipment from being set before registration can realistically support it.
Both company licenses and product registrations expire and need renewal, and any change to a product's formulation, manufacturer, packaging, or labeling typically requires a variation filing with MOHAP rather than a fresh application. Treating registration as a one-time task, rather than something that needs tracking against renewal and change, is a common reason a previously compliant product suddenly can't ship. For a wider view of how registration, permits, and clearance fit together across a full import, see our guide to importing medical equipment and pharmaceuticals to Dubai.
We work alongside clients on company and product registration status, flag what needs renewing before it lapses, and coordinate the import permit and shipping timeline once registration is confirmed — so a shipment is never planned ahead of what MOHAP has actually approved. Our Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals team and Customs Clearance service handle this together, and can also help you evaluate a customs broker for medical imports if you're setting this up for the first time.
MOHAP registration is approval from the Ministry of Health and Prevention that allows a company to import, distribute, or manufacture medical devices, pharmaceuticals, or healthcare products in the UAE, and allows a specific product to be sold or used here. Manufacturers, importers, distributors, and their local agents all need it before a product can legally enter the UAE market.
MOHAP registration is a one-time approval of the company and the product — it establishes that both are allowed on the UAE market. An import permit is a separate, per-shipment approval filed against that existing registration each time a consignment moves. Without registration in place first, there is nothing to file an import permit against.
Company registration (establishment as a MOHAP-licensed importer, distributor, or manufacturer) typically takes a few weeks. Product registration runs longer — from around four to eight weeks for straightforward, lower-risk items, to several months for higher-risk devices or products needing additional technical review.
No. Dubai Customs will not release a shipment through Mirsal 2 without a valid MOHAP import permit, and a permit cannot be issued for a product or company that isn’t already registered. Shipping before registration is complete is one of the most common reasons cargo sits held at the port.
Yes. Both the company license and individual product registrations carry validity periods and need renewal, and any change to a product’s formulation, labeling, manufacturer, or packaging typically requires a variation filing with MOHAP rather than a fresh registration.