Tourism Agency License in Dubai, UAE
A tourism agency license in Dubai lets you sell air tickets, holiday packages, hotel bookings, tours and visa services. You need a mainland trade license plus a tourism permit from DET, a physical office, a qualified manager and, in most cases, a bank guarantee of AED 100,000 to 200,000. First-year costs usually run AED 45,000 to 90,000, excluding the guarantee, and setup takes about three to six weeks.
What Is a Tourism Agency License in Dubai?
A tourism agency license (often searched as a travel agency license or tourism license in Dubai) is the approval that lets a company sell travel and tourism services. It has two layers:
- A mainland trade license for your company
- A tourism activity permit from the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), which took over the role of the former Dubai Tourism (DTCM)
From my experience with clients, this second layer is the step most first-time founders miss. A normal trade license does not allow you to sell tours or packages, and DET checks both before you can operate.
Why Open a Travel Agency in Dubai?Dubai?
- Dubai welcomed a record 19.59 million international overnight visitors in 2025, according to the Dubai Media Office.
- Residents travel often, creating strong outbound demand for holidays, Umrah packages and business travel.
- Events, exhibitions and MICE travel fill hotels all year.
- Dubai’s airline and airport network connects to hundreds of destinations.
Types of Tourism Licenses in Dubai
Activity | What you can do | Typical bank guarantee (AED) |
|---|---|---|
Travel and tourism agent | Sell air tickets, hotel bookings, transfers, visa services and resell packages | 100,000 |
Inbound tour operator | Run tours inside the UAE, such as city tours, desert safaris and MICE | 100,000 |
Outbound tour operator | Design international holiday packages for UAE residents | 200,000 |
General sales agent for airlines | Sell on behalf of appointed airlines | 200,000 |
Each activity is licensed separately. If you want to sell tickets and run local tours, you usually need two activities, two guarantees and more office space.
Bank guarantee note: published guides cite these amounts from DET tourism regulations, while some recent sources suggest the rule has been relaxed. Confirm the current position with DET before you budget.
Mainland vs Free Zone Tourism License: Which Is Best?
When applying for a tourism license in Dubai, you must decide between Mainland (DET-issued) and Free Zone options. Each has its own benefits:
Mainland Tourism License (DET)
- Trade directly with customers anywhere in Dubai and across the UAE.
- Access to government tenders and official contracts.
- Requires Ejari (office lease) in most cases.
- Ideal for agencies targeting tourists within Dubai or UAE residents booking trips.
Free Zone Tourism License
- 100% foreign ownership guaranteed.
- Cost-effective packages and simplified setup.
- Flexible office options such as shared desks or virtual offices.
- Suited for B2B wholesalers, online-only agencies, or startups testing the market.
Still unsure? Gulf Corporate Services provides a detailed comparison of cost, visa quotas, and market access so you can choose the right model confidently.
Related Tourism Activities With Extra Rules
- Desert safari and tourist transport: vehicles carrying tourists need Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) approval in addition to DET. See our guide to starting a transport business in Dubai.
- Tour guides: individual guides need a DET tour guide license and must renew it.
- Yacht and boat tours: need marine approvals. Read our guide to a yacht and boat rental business in Dubai.
- Car rental: a separate activity. See our car rental business license guide.
- Events and MICE: often paired with an event management license in Dubai.
- Hajj and Umrah: regulated separately, so confirm the current approval route before selling these packages.
Tourism License Cost in Dubai & Setup Timeline
The cost of a tourism license in Dubai varies based on your activity, location, and office setup.
- Mainland tourism license: Approx. AED 18,000–25,000 depending on activities.
- Free Zone license: Starting from AED 12,500 with flexi-desk packages.
- Additional costs: Ejari, visas, external approvals, or IATA accreditations.
Most applications are processed within 2–4 weeks, provided documents are complete. Gulf Corporate Services provides a transparent cost breakdown before you commit, so you know exactly what to expect.
Travel Agency License Requirements in Dubai
- Physical office: usually around 30 to 40 square metres of independent space per tourism activity, with Ejari. Flexi desks and virtual offices are not accepted for DET tourism activities.
- Qualified manager: typically three years of tourism experience with a tourism degree, or five years with a secondary school certificate, with attested certificates.
- Staff: a manager plus supporting staff for each activity.
- Bank guarantee: per activity, as shown above.
- Insurance: professional and public liability cover is advisable and often requested.
- Good conduct certificates for the manager and partners.
Ownership and Legal Structure
Since the commercial companies law reforms, many mainland activities allow 100% foreign ownership in an LLC. Check whether your tourism activity is on the current DET list for full foreign ownership before you apply. Our guide to mainland business activities explains how activity choice affects ownership, and our LLC company formation guide covers the structure.
Step-by-Step: How to Open a Travel Agency in Dubai
- Choose your tourism activities and confirm the guarantee and office rules for each.
- Reserve a trade name and get initial approval from DET.
- Draft and notarise the MOA for your LLC.
- Lease an office of the right size and register the Ejari.
- Submit the tourism file to DET: manager credentials, good conduct certificates, bank guarantee, insurance and business plan.
- Pass the DET review and receive your trade license with tourism activities.
- Register with Dubai Chambers and get your establishment card.
- Apply for staff visas and open a corporate bank account.
- Apply for IATA accreditation if you will issue tickets directly.
A single-activity license usually takes three to four weeks when documents are ready. Adding IATA can stretch the timeline to six weeks or more.
Documents Required
- Passport copies and photos of shareholders and manager
- Emirates ID and visa copies, if resident
- Initial approval and trade name certificate
- Notarised MOA
- Ejari tenancy contract
- Manager CV with attested tourism qualifications and experience letters
- Good conduct certificates
- Bank guarantee letter in DET’s format
- Insurance policy and business plan
Travel Agency License Cost in Dubai
These are approximate market estimates from recent setups and published guides. Confirm current fees before budgeting.
Cost item | Approximate cost (AED) |
|---|---|
Trade name and initial approval | 300 to 1,000 |
Trade license with tourism activity | 14,000 to 20,000 |
Office lease with Ejari (annual) | 25,000 to 60,000 |
Manager and staff visas (each) | 5,000 to 7,000 |
Liability insurance | From about 3,800 a year |
IATA accreditation (optional) | 8,000 to 25,000 plus guarantees |
Bank guarantee (blocked, not a fee) | 100,000 to 200,000 per activity |
A one-activity travel agency usually costs AED 45,000 to 90,000 in year one, plus the bank guarantee. For comparison, see our guides to the cost of a trade license in Dubai and the Dubai mainland license cost.
Sample budget: travel agent with ticketing and hotel bookings
- Trade license and DET tourism activity: about AED 17,000
- 35 sqm office with Ejari: about AED 35,000
- Manager plus two staff visas: about AED 18,000
- Insurance and setup extras: about AED 6,000
- Total year one: roughly AED 76,000, plus an AED 100,000 bank guarantee
Want a costed plan for your travel agency? Our business setup consultants map your activities, guarantee and office before you sign a lease.
Mainland or Free Zone Travel Agency?
Factor | Mainland (DET) | Free zone |
|---|---|---|
Sell to UAE residents and tourists | Yes | Limited |
DET tourism activity | Yes | Usually not issued by free zones |
Office | Physical office required | Flexi desk often allowed |
Best for | Retail agencies and tour operators | Online travel platforms serving overseas clients |
Some free zones, such as IFZA and the DMCC Free Zone, offer travel-related activities, but they generally cannot replace DET approval for selling tours in Dubai. For most agencies, mainland company formation is the right route.
IATA Accreditation and Ticketing
IATA accreditation lets you issue airline tickets directly. It is optional, but most serious agencies get it once volumes grow.
- Full accreditation for established agencies with financial history
- GoLite for smaller, newer agencies
- TIDS for tour operators that do not issue tickets
Ticketing agencies also need a no-objection letter from the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA). Until then, you can book through an IATA consolidator.
Tourist Visa Services
Licensed travel agencies can apply for UAE visit visas for clients through official channels. Check our guides to UAE tourist visa fees and ICP smart services, or use our tourist visa service.
Tourism License Renewal in Dubai
- Renew the trade license, tourism activity and Ejari every year
- Keep the bank guarantee valid for the life of the license
- Renew insurance, staff visas and the manager’s credentials
- Start at least 30 days before expiry to avoid fines
How to Grow Your Travel Agency
- Pick a niche, such as corporate travel, Umrah packages, luxury holidays or Indian and UK inbound markets
- Build a booking website with clear package prices
- Partner with hotels, destination management companies and airlines for better rates
- Offer corporate travel accounts to local companies
- Collect Google reviews and post real trip photos
Tax and Compliance
- VAT: 5%, with special rules for some travel services. Register once taxable supplies exceed AED 375,000.
- Corporate tax: 0% on taxable profit up to AED 375,000 and 9% above it.
- Consumer protection: clear refund and cancellation terms are expected.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Signing an office lease that is too small for your activities
- Choosing a free zone and then trying to sell Dubai tours
- Hiring a manager without attested tourism qualifications
- Running desert safaris without RTA approval
- Forgetting that each activity needs its own guarantee
Expert Tip from Our Desk
Start with one activity, usually travel and tourism agent, and use a consolidator for ticketing. Add inbound tours or IATA once you have steady bookings. This keeps your guarantee and office costs low in year one.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a travel agency license cost in Dubai?
Usually AED 45,000 to 90,000 in year one for one activity, plus a bank guarantee of AED 100,000 to 200,000.
Is a bank guarantee required for a travel agency in Dubai?
Published regulations set AED 100,000 for travel agents and inbound operators and AED 200,000 for outbound operators and airline agents. Confirm the current rule with DET.
Can I open a travel agency in a free zone?
You can run online or overseas-focused travel services, but selling tours in Dubai usually needs a mainland license with DET approval.
Do I need IATA to open a travel agency?
No. IATA is optional, but it is needed to issue tickets directly.
How long does it take to get a tourism license in Dubai?
About three to four weeks for one activity, or six weeks or more with IATA.
Can a foreigner own 100% of a travel agency in Dubai?
Often yes, if the activity is on DET’s full foreign ownership list. Check before applying.
What qualifications does the manager need?
Usually three years of tourism experience with a tourism degree, or five years with a secondary certificate.
Do I need a separate license for desert safaris?
Yes. You need an inbound tour operator activity and RTA approval for tourist transport.
Start Your Travel Agency in Dubai with Confidence
Dubai’s record visitor numbers make it one of the best places to start a tourism business. Our team handles DET approvals, office checks, bank guarantees and visas so you can focus on selling trips. Explore our full business setup in Dubai services, or if you plan to expand into the Kingdom, see our business setup in Saudi Arabia and event management business in Saudi Arabia guides.