Tourism Licence in Dubai and the UAE
How to get a tourism or travel agency licence in the UAE: inbound, outbound and tour operator categories, DET tourism approval, bank guarantee, manager requirements and costs.
Business Setup AE editorial review Last reviewed 2026-09-09
Quick answer
A UAE tourism licence permits travel agency and tour operator activity and is issued by the emirate's economic department with tourism-sector approval — in Dubai, from the Department of Economy and Tourism. Applicants need a qualified tourism manager, an approved office, and in several categories a bank guarantee. Budget roughly AED 25,000–60,000 for year one before rent.
- Regulator
- DET / emirate tourism authority
- Categories
- Inbound, outbound, travel agency, tour operator
- Bank guarantee
- Commonly AED 100,000 – 200,000
- Manager
- Qualified tourism manager required
- Premises
- Physical, Ejari-registered office
- Timeline
- 3 – 6 weeks with approvals
Tourism is a regulated sector in every emirate. Selling tours, packaging travel, ticketing or handling inbound visitors requires a tourism licence plus sector approval from the tourism regulator — the Department of Economy and Tourism in Dubai, and the equivalent tourism authority in Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and the northern emirates.
The category you choose sets your obligations. Inbound operators handle visitors arriving in the UAE, outbound operators sell travel to residents heading abroad, and travel agencies handle ticketing and reservations. Several categories require a bank guarantee held in favour of the regulator to protect customer funds.
This page explains the categories, approval sequence, guarantee amounts, staffing rules and realistic costs.
Tourism licence activities & approval requirements
| Activity | Status | Licensing authority | Qualification requirements | Additional approvals | Official source | Enquire |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Travel agency | Regulated | Dubai DET (tourism) or emirate tourism authority | Qualified manager may be required | Tourism permit; bank guarantee may apply | Dubai DET | |
| Tour operator | Regulated | Dubai DET (tourism) | Licensed tour guides for guided tours | Tourism licence | Dubai DET | |
| Desert safari | Regulated | Dubai DET (tourism) | Licensed drivers and guides | Tourism licence and safety requirements | Dubai DET | |
| Hotel & hotel apartments | Regulated | Dubai DET (tourism) | Not applicable | Classification, Municipality and Civil Defence | Dubai DET | |
| Event management | Regulated | DET or free zone authority | No specific degree usually required | Event permits per event | Dubai DET |
- Travel agencyRegulated
- Authority:
- Dubai DET (tourism) or emirate tourism authority
- Qualification:
- Qualified manager may be required
- Approvals:
- Tourism permit; bank guarantee may apply
- Source:
- Dubai DET
- Tour operatorRegulated
- Authority:
- Dubai DET (tourism)
- Qualification:
- Licensed tour guides for guided tours
- Approvals:
- Tourism licence
- Source:
- Dubai DET
- Desert safariRegulated
- Authority:
- Dubai DET (tourism)
- Qualification:
- Licensed drivers and guides
- Approvals:
- Tourism licence and safety requirements
- Source:
- Dubai DET
- Hotel & hotel apartmentsRegulated
- Authority:
- Dubai DET (tourism)
- Qualification:
- Not applicable
- Approvals:
- Classification, Municipality and Civil Defence
- Source:
- Dubai DET
- Event managementRegulated
- Authority:
- DET or free zone authority
- Qualification:
- No specific degree usually required
- Approvals:
- Event permits per event
- Source:
- Dubai DET
"Regulated" means an extra regulator approval or qualification is normally needed. General guidance only — rules vary by emirate and authority and can change; confirm with the licensing authority before applying. Search all UAE business activities →
| Item | Cost band (AED) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Trade licence + tourism approval | 18,000 – 35,000 | Category dependent |
| Bank guarantee | 100,000 – 200,000 | Held, not spent; some banks require cash cover |
| Office rent (small) | 25,000 – 90,000 | Ejari registered, per year |
| Establishment card | 2,000 | Immigration file |
| Residence visa per person | 3,500 – 5,500 | Includes medical and Emirates ID |
| IATA accreditation (optional) | 10,000 – 25,000 | Plus financial security requirements |
Tourism licence categories
- Inbound tour operator — packages, excursions and destination management for visitors to the UAE
- Outbound tour operator — holiday packages sold to UAE residents travelling abroad
- Travel agency — air ticketing, reservations and travel arrangements, often with IATA accreditation
- Adventure and desert tourism — additional safety, vehicle and guide approvals
- Cruise and yacht tourism — maritime authority approvals in addition to the tourism licence
Requirements and approvals
Every category needs a physical office with a registered tenancy, a manager with recognised tourism qualifications or experience, and the regulator's technical approval before the licence is issued. Ticketing activity usually requires IATA accreditation, which is a separate application with its own financial tests.
Bank guarantees are common and are held for the duration of the licence. They are released only after the regulator confirms no outstanding customer claims.
- Tourism regulator technical approval, submitted before licence payment
- Bank guarantee in the regulator's favour where the category requires it
- Qualified tourism manager with CV and attested credentials
- Ejari-registered commercial office of the minimum required area
- Professional indemnity or travel insurance where mandated
Who this option suits best
- Destination management companies serving inbound visitors
- Holiday and package operators selling to UAE residents
- Ticketing agencies and online travel platforms
- Desert, adventure and experience operators
- Hospitality groups adding a travel arm
Step-by-step process
- 1
Pick the tourism category1 day
Inbound, outbound, agency or specialist — this drives guarantee and staffing rules.
- 2
Reserve trade name and initial approval2 – 4 days
Names must reflect the tourism activity.
- 3
Lease and register an office1 – 2 weeks
Minimum area applies; Ejari required in Dubai.
- 4
Appoint the tourism manager3 – 7 days
Submit CV, attested credentials and experience letters.
- 5
Obtain regulator approval and bank guarantee1 – 3 weeks
Guarantee issued by a UAE bank in the regulator's favour.
- 6
Pay, issue and complete immigration1 – 3 weeks
Licence, establishment card, then staff visas.
Documents required
- Passport copies (valid 6+ months) for every shareholder and manager
- Passport-size photo with white background for each applicant
- Proof of address or a recent utility bill / bank statement
- Three proposed trade names in order of preference
- Business activity list and a short business description
- Emirates ID and visa copy or entry stamp if you are already in the UAE
- Tourism manager CV with attested qualification and experience letters
- Ejari-registered office tenancy contract
- Bank guarantee letter in the regulator's favour
- Business plan describing tour products or ticketing model
Realistic timeline
| Stage | Duration |
|---|---|
| Name and initial approval | 2 – 4 working days |
| Office and manager file | 1 – 2 weeks |
| Tourism regulator approval | 1 – 3 weeks |
| Licence and visas | 1 – 3 weeks |
The bank guarantee is a blocked amount, not a fee — treat it as working capital committed for the life of the licence. Provider service fees are itemised separately on marketplace packages.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Budgeting the bank guarantee as a fee
Fix: It is blocked capital; plan cash flow around it for the whole licence term.
Using a flexi-desk
Fix: Tourism categories require a physical office of a minimum area.
Appointing an unqualified manager
Fix: The regulator reviews credentials; a weak file delays approval by weeks.
Selling outbound packages on an inbound licence
Fix: Add the correct category — enforcement and fines are active in this sector.
Ignoring IATA timelines
Fix: Accreditation runs separately and can take longer than the licence itself.
Compliance after licensing
- Corporate tax registration with the FTA — 9% applies on taxable profit above AED 375,000; 0% below it. Small Business Relief may apply to revenue under AED 3m.
- VAT registration is mandatory once taxable turnover passes AED 375,000 in 12 months, and voluntary from AED 187,500.
- Economic Substance notifications and reports applied only to financial years ending on or before 31 December 2022 — no new ESR filings are due for later years (Ministry of Finance).
- Ultimate Beneficial Owner (UBO) register kept with the licensing authority and updated within 15 days of any change.
- Anti-Money Laundering (AML) registration on the goAML portal for designated non-financial businesses and professions.
- Annual licence and establishment-card renewal, plus audited financials where the free zone or activity requires them.
Regulators referenced: Ministry of Economy (UAE) · Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) · Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED) · Federal Tax Authority (FTA) · General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) · Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE)
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How much does a tourism licence cost in Dubai?
Do I need a bank guarantee?
Can a tourism licence be issued in a free zone?
Is a qualified manager mandatory?
How long does it take?
People also ask
What is a DTCM licence?
The legacy name for Dubai's tourism approval, now issued under the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET).
Can I sell travel online without a licence?
No. Marketing or selling travel to UAE customers requires a licensed tourism entity, whatever the sales channel.
Do I need IATA to sell flights?
IATA accreditation is needed to issue tickets directly; agencies without it work through a consolidator.
Founder checklist
- Confirm the exact activity codes you need before paying any fee
- Compare at least three providers on total year-one cost, not licence cost alone
- Check the visa quota attached to your chosen facility (flexi-desk vs office)
- Ask what is excluded: establishment card, e-channel deposit, medical, Emirates ID, PRO fees
- Confirm the exact tourism category before paying any fee
- Get a written bank guarantee quote early
- Line up a qualified tourism manager before applying
Why you can trust this guide
- Independent marketplace — Business Setup AE does not form companies and takes no commission on provider pricing
- Package prices are read from each provider's own published page or PDF and stored with that source URL and check date
- Government fee figures are cited to the published schedule of the relevant authority; where an authority does not publish a figure we say so instead of estimating
- We do not audit provider operations, licence standing or adviser credentials — see how we verify for exactly what a verification covers
Editorial ownership: Business Setup AE Editorial Team. See our editorial and corrections policy and package verification method.
Related guides and services
Official government sources
Fees, thresholds and licensing rules on this page are checked against these official UAE government and regulator sources.
- Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET)Tourism licence categories, guarantees and manager requirements
- Ministry of Economy — UAEFederal commercial registration, trade names and company law
- Federal Tax Authority — corporate tax and VATSource for the 9% corporate tax threshold and VAT registration limits
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