Tourism License Dubai (Travel Agency & Tour Operator)
A tourism license in Dubai lets your company sell travel, tours and holiday packages, with the tourism activity approved by the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET, formerly DTCM). We help you pick the right activity, meet DET's manager and office rules, and take the company through to visas and a bank account.
Description
A tourism license in Dubai is a mainland trade licence that carries a tourism activity approved by the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). DET took over the tourism regulator's role from the former Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, which is why many people still call it a DTCM licence. You need it if you sell travel to the public: flight tickets, hotel and holiday packages, tourist visas, city tours or desert safaris.
Dubai's travel regulation (Regulation No. 6 of 2006) treats each tourism activity separately: travel and tourism agent, inbound tour operator (tours inside the UAE for visitors), outbound tour operator (trips abroad for UAE residents) and general sales agent for an airline. The activity you choose decides which manager you must appoint, what kind of office DET expects and which documents it asks for. You can hold more than one activity, but each adds its own requirements.
The company itself is set up like any other Dubai mainland company: trade name, initial approval, an office lease registered on Ejari, then the licence. The tourism part adds a DET review of the manager, the office and your documents. Plan for a real office: a virtual address will not satisfy DET for a business that deals with customers.
Desert safaris, desert camps and guided tours need further DET permits on top of the licence: safari vehicles and drivers are registered with DET, and tour guides hold a DET tour guide licence. DET requires safari drivers and tour guides to be on the company's own visa, so budget time for employment visas before you start operating.
The travel and tourism license cost in Dubai depends on how many activities you hold, the office size and location, how many visas you need, and whether you add IATA accreditation to issue airline tickets yourself. We give you a written quote once these are clear.
Once licensed, you will need a corporate bank account to take customer payments, and travel businesses often reach the threshold for VAT registration quickly. The licence and DET approvals are renewed every year.
What's Included
- Advice on which tourism activity or activities fit your business
- Trade name reservation and DET initial approval
- Memorandum of Association drafting
- Guidance on DET's office expectations before you sign a lease
- Ejari registration of the office lease
- Preparation and submission of the DET tourism activity application
- Trade licence issuance
- Establishment card and visa processing (number depends on your package)
- Guidance on DET permits for safari vehicles, drivers, camps and tour guides where relevant
- Introduction for corporate bank account opening
Requirements / Prerequisites
- A clear decision on the activity: travel agent, inbound tour operator, outbound tour operator or airline general sales agent
- A manager whose tourism qualifications and experience meet DET's requirements for that activity
- A physical office in Dubai suitable for a customer-facing travel business
- At least one shareholder (individual or company)
- A trade name that follows DET naming rules
Required Documents
- Passport copies of all shareholders and the manager
- Passport photographs
- UAE visa and Emirates ID copies for anyone resident in the UAE
- Manager's CV, tourism qualifications and experience certificates
- Good conduct certificate where DET asks for one
- Feasibility study or business plan for tour operator activities
- Office lease registered on Ejari
- For a corporate shareholder: attested company documents and board resolution
Our Process
- Agree the tourism activity and company structure
- Reserve the trade name and obtain DET initial approval
- Choose an office that meets DET's expectations and register the lease on Ejari
- Draft and sign the Memorandum of Association
- Submit the tourism activity file to DET (manager, office, documents)
- Respond to any DET review comments or inspection
- Receive the trade licence with the approved tourism activity
- Establishment card, visas, medical test and Emirates ID
- Apply for any extra DET permits (safari vehicles and drivers, camps, tour guides)
- Open the corporate bank account and, if you will issue tickets yourself, start IATA accreditation
Pricing
Contact us on WhatsApp for a tailored quote for this service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who issues a tourism license in Dubai now that DTCM no longer exists?
The Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). It took over both business licensing and tourism regulation, so the trade licence and the tourism approval now sit with one department, although many people still say 'DTCM licence'.
What is the travel and tourism license cost in Dubai?
It depends on the number of tourism activities, the office you rent, how many visas you need and whether you want IATA accreditation. Tell us your plans on WhatsApp or live chat and we will send a written quote.
Do I still need a bank guarantee for a Dubai tourism licence?
In January 2019 Dubai Tourism announced it would stop requiring the bank guarantees that tour operators and travel agencies used to post, and refunded the existing ones. Some advisers still list a guarantee. We confirm DET's current requirement for your activity before you commit to any costs.
What is the difference between a travel agent and a tour operator licence?
A travel and tourism agent sells tickets, hotel stays, visas and packages made by others. An inbound tour operator runs tours inside the UAE for visitors. An outbound tour operator puts together trips abroad for UAE residents. Each is a separate activity with its own DET review.
Can I run a tourism business from a free zone company?
Some free zones offer tourism-related licences, but regulated activities that serve the public in Dubai, such as selling tours and packages, need DET approval. We check your exact activity before recommending free zone or mainland.
Is IATA registration required for a Dubai travel agency?
No. DET does not require it. You need IATA accreditation only if you want to issue airline tickets directly; otherwise you can sell tickets through an accredited consolidator.
Can I start a desert safari business with freelance drivers or guides?
No. DET requires safari drivers and tour guides to be on the company's visa, and safari vehicles must be registered with DET. A tour guide licence alone does not let a guide deal with tourists directly.
Related Services
- Dubai Instant License (DET Instant Licence)
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- Dubai Mainland Commercial Trade License
- Dubai Trade License Renewal (DET Mainland and Free Zone)
- Freelance Visa Dubai: GoFreelance Permit and Residence Visa
- General Trading License in Dubai (DET Mainland)