TourismLicense in Dubai
Tourism License for Travel Agents in Dubai
Tourism is one of the key contributors to the economy of the United Arab Emirates. Dubai, the most populated city in the United Arab Emirates, is a global tourism hub with a thriving tourism industry and a supportive business environment for tourism entrepreneurs entering the travel and tourism sector. We can help you secure a Tourism License in Dubai for your tourism/tour operator establishment or travel agency.
In fact, less than 1% of Dubai’s GDP can be attributed to oil revenues. Dubai has successfully reinvented itself as a tourist-friendly destination and keeps on attracting visitors from across the globe. Its tourism market generates more than $32 billion annually from global visitor spending. In fact, tourists spend more in Dubai than anywhere else in the world. MasterCard finds that the average spend by a tourist in Dubai every day is $553.
There is so much to see and do in Dubai, and this is due to the fact that the emirate constantly finds out new ways to keep tourists engaged. There is even a Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) in Dubai.
Dubai now officially has the second-highest number of five-star hotels after London. Dubai has more five-star hotels than New York, and is a prime destination for meetings, events, and international conferences. The Dubai International Airport is the busiest in the world when it comes to international passenger traffic.
Emirates, the largest airline in the Middle East, has its hub at Dubai. Dubai welcomed over 17.15 million overnight visitors in 2023, highlighting strong growth potential in the tourism sector.
As more and more tourists flock to Dubai, there is also a need for more tourism-related services. Businesses in this field need a Dubai tourism license or tourism business license to operate legally, comply with local regulations, and strengthen credibility in the travel and tourism industry.
There are four types of Tourism Licenses
Inbound Tourism License: As the name suggests, this type of license is meant to cater to those arriving in Dubai to take in the sights and experience all that Dubai has to offer. The travel operator can conduct sightseeing tours within Dubai, and he/she can also do it for business travellers. Businesses handling inbound tours and organising tours inside Dubai generally need a mainland license rather than free zone licenses. All Inbound Tourism License holders are mandated to have insurance for their tourism-related activities, and this is the usual route for tour operators offering regulated local experiences.
Outbound Tourism License: This type of license allows stakeholders in the tourism industry to conduct tours / trips both in Dubai as well as beyond the geographical limits of the emirate. In practice, the outbound tour operator license is designed for serving UAE residents travelling abroad. For instance, with an Outbound Tourism License, a tour operator could organize a visit to Jebel Hafeet near Al Ain, where the winding mountain road is said to offer the greatest driving experience in the world. Or to the racetrack on Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, where some of the world’s best motorsport action happens.
Travel Agency License: This type of license allows one to conduct both inbound and outbound tour operations, as well as offer ticketing agency support, which involves air tickets, international cruise tickets, and visa assistance. A Travel Agency License allows businesses to operate as travel agents in Dubai, enabling them to sell tickets, book hotels, and make reservations. In other words, a travel agency license covers core travel agency services such as hotel bookings, travel packages, and visa services alongside ticketing and reservations. Travel insurance is still mandatory, and a No Objection Certificate from the Department of Civil Aviation, along with any relevant approval linked to the General Civil Aviation Authority as the civil aviation authority context, is additionally required before one can apply for a Travel Agency License. To obtain the NOC, the Local Sponsor needs to submit a request in Arabic.
Tour Guide License: This is issued by the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing to tour guides. One needs to have in-depth knowledge of the tourist spots in the UAE, as well as about the culture and history of the United Arab Emirates. Those aspiring to be granted a Tour Guide License need to sit for an exam, and individual guides may also need the tour guide license badge to conduct tours lawfully. The Tour Guide License has a validity of only one year, and to renew it, the tour guide must pass a refresher course to keep his/her credentials relevant.
Choosing the right license type depends on the intended business activities and whether the company will operate as a mainland travel agency, use a free zone setup, or provide regulated local tourism services, such as under an inbound tour operator license.
Procedure to Get the Tourism License in Dubai
The dubai department responsible for licensing is now the Department of Economy and Tourism, with DTCM integrated into DET, and tourism companies must secure the commercial trade license and tourism-specific approval from the relevant authorities before starting operations.
Getting licensed in dubai involves selecting the business activities, choosing the license type, reserving the trade name, obtaining initial approval, deciding on the legal structure, and preparing the file.
To complete registration with DET, applicants must submit the required documents, and in some cases, a business plan may be reviewed while the file is coordinated with the relevant authorities as part of economic development compliance.
- Duly filled application form
- Passport copy of the applicant
- Clean criminal record certificate of company’s owner and manager
- Studies for feasibility of the project
The approval timeline is usually around 2 to 4 weeks if the documents are complete.
Tourism Licence Cost
The cost of obtaining a tourism license in Dubai varies based on several factors including the type of license, business jurisdiction, and operational activities. Generally, setup costs for tourism businesses range from AED 15,000 to AED 45,000. The average starting price for a tourism license is around AED 14,999, but this can increase depending on the company structure, office space requirements, and additional fees.
For mainland travel agencies or inbound tour operators, the total first-year expenses typically fall between AED 25,000 and AED 75,000. These costs cover the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) license fees, Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) approval fees, commercial office rent, and Ejari registration.
Outbound tour operators face an additional significant cost: a mandatory bank guarantee of AED 100,000 must be deposited with DTCM before the license is issued. This guarantee serves as a consumer protection measure and remains blocked for the duration of the license.
Understanding these costs upfront is essential for budgeting and planning successful business operations in Dubai’s competitive tourism sector.
New incentives by government
In order to make the license approval process simpler for companies, DTCM has announced new incentives recently.
- Previously, bank guarantee of AED 100,000 to AED 200,000 was required for all licenses (inbound tour operator, outbound tour operator and travel agent). This condition is not applicable now anymore. This will surely reduce the cost of tourism license markedly.
- The minimum space required was 300 sq ft. This is also not needed now.
- Another former mandatory requirement was the inclusion of documents like educational certificates and experience letter of company’s manager. These documents are not further required.
All these positive changes will make the whole licensing process of tourism business simpler, quicker and lower in cost
Need Help Getting a Tourism License ?
This is where we can be of assistance. As business setup experts, we help tourism companies secure the right Tourism License, choose the best structure, manage approvals, and open a corporate bank account after licensing. Our friendly business setup in Dubai consultants will guide you through the paperwork, and will not rest until everything is in order and you are ready to commence operations. Many setups also require physical office space for licensing, visa allocation, and client-facing compliance, and mainland cases may need Ejari-backed office space and a physical office.
Tourism license cost usually starts from AED 14,999, while the broader license cost in Dubai often ranges from AED 15,000 to AED 45,000 depending on license type, jurisdiction, and activities.
For a mainland travel agency or inbound operator, first-year costs can reach AED 25,000 to AED 75,000 once approval fees, rent, and registration are included.
We even have a legal team in place to ensure that your operations are fully compliant with local laws. A licensed travel agency must also plan for employee visas, local consumer protection obligations, and tax compliance, including 0% personal income tax and 9% corporate tax on profits above AED 375,000. For instance, there are restrictions on the sale and purchase of alcohol in the United Arab Emirates, and services such as desert safaris may need extra permits beyond the core Tourism License. Prior knowledge of all these can go a long way and see to it that your business runs smoothly, guaranteeing happy customers and smiles all around.