How to get a Dubai travel licence in 2026: 11 steps from name reservation to IATA
How to get a Dubai travel licence in 2026: 11 steps from name reservation to IATA
Fast-track your tourism agency launch with DET digital portals, 100 % foreign ownership and no bank guarantee.
Vincy Amirtharaj
58 post
Senior Business Setup Consultant, Dubai
Dubai is one of the most well-connected tourism destinations in the UAE. The Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) regulates and handles the permits for travel business establishments within the Emirate of Dubai. Some important upgrades to DET’s official service portals have made the travel agency licensing in Dubai far simpler this year. Either planning to get an inbound, outbound or ticketing travel licence, the entire application can now be completed online, with 100% foreign ownership included and no bank guarantee is required. A complete outlook answering how to get a Dubai travel licence in 2025 for solo entrepreneurs, established OTAs and agencies branching into the Gulf region and about new changes in Dubai travel licence requirements is covered throughout in this guide.
The cost of a tourism licence in Dubai will vary based on the licencing authority and package selected. The approval process may be streamlined for applicants who already have public liability insurance, tenancy agreements or DET activity codes. Establish a budget prior to commencing the approval process, ensuring that you account for all necessary costs, including any potential additional fees.
We have compiled a 11-step checklist that explains everything, including how to become a tour operator in the UAE to getting IATA accreditation. Included as well are a real-time cost calculator and a renewal calendar. Read to find out more about the timelines to upload Emirates-ID scans, set appointments for DET tour-guide cards and maintain good standing with your corporate bank’s compliance team.
Quick Fact
According to a January to December 2024 report by the DET, the total number of international overnight visitors that arrived in Dubai was 18.72 million. In addition, the report also revealed that the visitor numbers increased by 9% compared to the same time last year, thereby beating the previous year’s record of 17.15 million visitors in 2023.
Note: “Express” packages at Dubai Commerce City or IFZA can compress
Weeks 1-4 to 5–7 days; IATA accreditation may extend Week 5
if financial guarantees are required.
“Anyone who logs into Invest in Dubai now can get his/her trade license within a maximum of five minutes. ” - Ahmad Khalifa AlQaizi AlFalasi, CEO of DBLC
Follow this 11-step checklist to complete your travel-licence process in Dubai.
Step 1: Confirm your eligible service scope
Match your planned activities to the official DET licence categories:
This is a foundational step in any travel business setup in Dubai, as the activity you select determines your permits, compliance obligations and operational scope.
Inbound tour operator
Desert safaris, city tours, visa support for visitors.
Dune bashing, camp operations, DET safety permits.
Pro tip
Select only the activity codes you’ll monetise in year 1—adding codes later is cheaper than removing unused ones during renewal.
Step 2: Reserve a trade name
Pick a tourism-friendly name (avoid “Emirates”, “Royal”, etc. without NOC) and reserve it via DED e-Services or your free-zone portal. Secure the matching domain & branded email—banks reject generic addresses.
A clear and compliant trade name is an early milestone when you set up your business in Dubai, because it appears on all licences, contracts and banking documents.
Quick Fact
Number of commercial licences in tourism, hospitality, aviation, air transport, aviation technologies and digital tourism solutions in the UAE reached 39,546 by mid-September 2025.
Source: Minister of Economy and Tourism, UAE
Step 3: Draft a compliance-ready business plan
A business plan remains one of the key steps to establish a travel business in Dubai, since it guides both regulatory approvals and operational planning. It also ensures your selected DET activities match the services you intend to offer.
Products & itineraries
3-day city breaks, desert adventure bundles, cruise stopovers.
Safety & quality controls
DET vehicle specs, tour-guide licences, guest-injury protocols.
Digital marketing & tech stack
B2C booking engine, GDS connection, AI itinerary builder.
Pro tip
Attach a licence-expiry calendar to your appendix—DET officers often ask how you’ll manage renewals.
Licence cost snapshot · 2025
DED initial approval: ~AED 120
Trade-name reservation: AED 620
Mainland travel licence fee: AED 14 000 – 20 000
Free-zone tourism package: from AED 12 900 (0-visa)
Public-liability insurance: from AED 3 800 / year
The AED 100,000 tourism bank guarantee requirement was abolished in 2018, and no security deposit is required for tourism licences as of 2025.
Licence-cost estimator (AED)
Estimated setup cost: —
Get detailed breakdown on WhatsApp
Includes AED 740 for initial approval (120) + trade-name reservation (620).
Office rent, insurance & bank costs vary—contact us for an exact quote.
Step 4: Select the right business structure
Your chosen legal form drives which authority issues the licence, visa quotas, and banking credibility:
LLC (Mainland)
Operate inbound / outbound tours under a DET “Travel & Tourism” licence.
Sole establishment
Ideal for solo ticketing agents or translators—lower fees, but personal liability.
Free-zone FZ-LLC / FZE
100 % foreign ownership; licence issued by zone authority (e.g., DCC, IFZA).
Branch office
Let an overseas OTA operate under its parent balance-sheet; quicker bank KYC.
Pro tip
A minimum of five tour guides are needed to be issued a permit. You can add as many tour guides as you wish above the minimum of five.
Need help applying these requirements to your specific business idea?
Our travel business setup page offers detailed insights into the services that differentiate us, along with practical support solutions for a smoother setup journey.
Where you register determines office rules, tour-permit processes, and tax exposure.
Mainland
Operate on-shore, serve UAE residents and tourists directly, and bid for government tenders. Requires DET travel licence, Ejari office, and public-liability insurance.
Those opting for mainland company formation in Dubai benefit from greater operational flexibility, especially if they plan to run inbound tours or ticketing services.
Key requirements:
DET tourism permit
Select “Travel agent”, “Inbound operator”, or “Outbound operator”.
Ejari tenancy
Physical office lease recorded with DLD.
Public-liability insurance
Cover guest injury claims (AED 1 m +).
Free zones
100 % foreign ownership and fast digital processing—perfect for OTAs and niche tour creators.
The UAE Tourism Strategy 2031 aims to raise the tourism sector’s contribution to the GDP to AED 450 billion, with an annual increase of AED 27 billion.
Source: United Arab Emirates Government
Step 6: Apply and obtain your travel licence
Submit online forms, attach documents, and secure mandatory DET classification.
Mainland
DET travel licence
Select inbound, outbound, ticketing, or combo package.
Professional indemnity insurance
Cover itinerary errors or booking failures (AED 500 k +).
Tour-guide cards
Issue digital IDs for guides; upload training certs.
Tip: Upload PDFs at 300 dpi to avoid portal rejections. Keep originals for bank KYC.
sequenceDiagram
participant Founder
participant DED as DED / Free Zone
participant DET as DET Tourism Dept
participant GDRFA
participant Insurer
Founder->>DED: 1 · Initial approval & trade name
DED-->>Founder: Certificates
Founder->>DET: 2 · Activity classification
DET-->>Founder: Approval letter
Founder->>DED: 3 · Upload lease & docs
DED-->>Founder: Travel licence
Founder->>GDRFA: 4 · Establishment card
GDRFA-->>Founder: Investor visa
Founder->>Insurer: 5 · Public-liability policy
Insurer-->>Founder: Certificate
Step 7: Set up immigration files & staff visas
Create your establishment card in the GDRFA portal, register for WPS payroll, and issue investor visas. Understanding how visa processing services in Dubai function can help reduce delays. Tour guides must obtain a tour guide licence and keep required safety training.
Pro tip
DET requires tour guides to hold a Dubai Police Clearance Certificate and certified UAE First Aid training. Have these ready before applying for guide cards to avoid delays.
Speak to a Dubai license expert
Click to schedule a free consultation with our license experts and get a clear, step-by-step action plan tailored to your business.
Provide your new licence, office lease, projected cash-flow, and AML policy. A live website with domain email accelerates KYC; IATA-accredited agents often need a financial-guarantee letter.
DET activity-classification letter – inbound / outbound / ticketing.
Office lease / Ejari – stamped copy.
12-month cash-flow forecast – XLS/PDF.
Supplier or client MOUs – ≥2 preferred.
Passport & Emirates ID – all shareholders.
Website & domain email – live screenshot.
Tip: If you plan to apply for IATA BSP, be prepared for a financial guarantee. The required amount varies in the AED 30,000–50,000 range.
Step 9: Secure external approvals & codes
Beyond DET / free-zone, you may need:
Understanding how to start a business in Dubai also means recognising that separate approvals may be needed for guides and safaris. Beyond DET / free-zone approval, you may need:
Maintain public-liability, professional indemnity, and staff medical insurance. No DET bank guarantee is required, but IATA may request a financial security for BSP agents.
Dubai continues to attract record visitors. And so, the opportunity for brands to align with evolving traveller behaviours has never been greater. Travel agencies can lead this new shift by using the three macro forces, which involve digital-nomad visa demand, emergence of GCC-wide cross-border rail network and the rising importance of net-zero travel itineraries. You are up for better competitive positioning if your product mix accommodates these trends. Understand the upcoming trends and get an advantage over agencies that still go behind high volume generic tours and last-minute ticket sales.
Given below are the three high-impact strategy levers that stretch past normal airfare discounting and help new licencees profit from Dubai's next tourism surge.
Digital-nomad visa bundles
A package that combines the one-year Remote Work Visa with co-working passes and coliving stays. It has turned out to be an effective way of enhancing the contract value by 28% as today’s travellers more often prefer bundled convenience.
Bundle health insurance upgrades and SIM activation to capture upsell revenue before arrival.
GCC Rail Explorer itineraries
Ticket sales for Etihad Rail passenger service are expected to begin in 2026 once the network connecting 11 major cities and regions throughout the UAE is completed. Present and excite adventurous travellers with flexible rail and desert experience combinations.
Early signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) helps with the reservation of group-class seat blocks and may offer more favorable allocation terms.
Net-zero, carbon-tracked tours
Add CO₂ calculators or offer certified carbon offsets on your checkout page. Now more than ever, corporate buyers prioritize sustainability criteria in their Requests for Proposals (RFPs) when they choose partners for their future events.
Obtain DET’s ‘Dubai Sustainable Tourism Stamp’ for meeting the standards under UAE’s NetZero 2050 initiative and attract guests who give much importance to eco-friendly practices.
Pro tip
Add a one-pager on rail-ready itineraries and
CO₂-tracking methodology to your corporate sales deck—
procurement teams now shortlist agencies that can prove both
time-saving multimodal routes and verified emissions data.
Risk & penalty matrix – key non-compliance fines
Offence
Fine (AED)
Fix-time / sanctions
Organising tours without DET tour permit
5000
Immediate tour suspension; 30-day window to regularise
Selling air tickets of airlines that are not represented by an Appointed General Agent for Airline
3000
Closure of the establishment (Optional)
Unauthorised re-opening of an Establishment after a closure order
10000
Re-closure of the establishment
Figures based on DET
Step 11: Stay compliant — renewals & taxes
Schedule these annual tasks to keep your travel licence active and avoid fines:
Licence renewal
DED / free-zone fee & paperwork every 12 months.
Insurance renewal
Public-liability, professional indemnity, vehicle cover.
Corporate Tax
9% for taxable income above AED 375,000.
VAT returns
Quarterly if turnover ≥ AED 375 k.
Guide-card renewals
DET tour-guide cards & first-aid refreshers (yearly).
IATA surveillance
BSP financial guarantee check (yearly).
Pro tip
Create a shared compliance calendar for licence, IATA, VAT and guide-card deadlines—inspectors often ask for evidence of tracking.
Decision snapshot – what to choose, at a glance
Structure / Licence
100 % foreign ownership
Sell to UAE residents*
Setup speed
Bank-account ease**
Office rule
Mainland LLC (Travel licence)
Yes
✓ (direct)
≈ 3 weeks
High
Ejari physical office
Meydan Free-zone FZ-LLC
Yes
▲ need DET permit
5-10 days
Medium
Flexi desk or office
DMCC branch of foreign OTA
n/a
✓ (direct)
4-6 weeks
High
Office inside tower
Sole establishment (Ticketing)
Yes
—
≈ 3 weeks
High
Shared office
Boutique travel design (IFZA)
Yes
▲ sales via mainland partner
2-5 days
Medium
Virtual / flexi desk
*“Sell to UAE residents” means contracting packages directly in AED.
**“Bank-account ease” reflects typical KYC scrutiny; mainland trade history helps.
Choosing an activity code that doesn’t match operations — DET will reject the application.
Applying for a bank account before final licence — banks need the licence first.
Skipping IATA accreditation if you plan to issue tickets.
Under-budgeting public-liability insurance for desert safaris.
Operating tours without registered tour-guide cards.
Using a PO-box only — DED and banks need a physical address.
Travel regulation & news updates · 2026
VisaUAE introduces new Entertainment Visa - 29 September 2025
The new Visa allows individuals in commercial gaming and entertainment sectors to live and work in the UAE, sponsored by licensed local entities.
VisaUAE introduces Events Visa for short-term entry - 29 September 2025
The new Events Visa allows foreign visitors to attend official events in the UAE on a temporary, sponsor-backed basis with an invitation letter.
VisaMultiple-entry tourism visa introduced for cruise ship - 29 September 2025
New multiple-entry visas enable cruise and leisure boat tourists to enter the UAE with an approved itinerary and licensed operator sponsorship.
Transport RegulationRTA issues new executive regulation - 8 September 2025
New regulation standardises permits for tourist transport establishments, vehicle registration and renewal, and professional driver licensing.
VisaUnified GCC Tourist Visa to launch pilot phase in late 2025 - 29 September 2025
GCC tourist visa will enter pilot rollout in Q4 2025, strengthening regional integration and positioning the Gulf as one unified tourism destination.
ImmigrationUAE now requires passport cover copy for all entry permit applications - 25 Sept 2025
New mandatory requirement for all entry permit applicants to submit the external passport cover page copy, along with supporting documents.
Processing mainland LLC applications may take few weeks after uploading all supporting documentation. IFZA/DCC “express” packages can accelerate the processing time to a few days if all required documents are submitted at the time of application. Some examples of this supporting documentation are a fully executed and signed office lease agreement, a scanned Emirates ID and proof of public liability insurance.
No. Inbound, outbound and ticketing activities can be 100% foreign owned on both mainland and free zone licences. Only in case of cultural-guide activities or Haj/Umrah services, you may require a UAE national service agent.
Types of insurance mandated can vary on the basis of the type of travel agency and the services offered. Most common among them are:
Professional indemnity protects the travel agency against itinerary or booking errors and professional misconduct.
Public liability provides coverage in case a third party like customers or guests suffers any injury on tours.
Vehicle insurance offers full protection if you own safari or shuttle vans.
Staff medical cover that is mandatory under Dubai Health Authority (DHA) rules.
Yes, you have to pick any one of the two routes to sell packages to UAE residents, and these are:
Open a mainland branch and obtain DET endorsement, or
Contract through a mainland licenced partner agency
Engaging in direct sales outside these approved methods risks fines and, to the extreme, licence suspension.
Banks usually request:
Final travel licence and MOA
DET activity classification letter
Office lease/Ejari or flexi-desk contract/li>
12-month cash-flow forecast and supplier MOUs
12-month cash-flow forecast and supplier MOUs
Yes, tour guides do require separate permits to operate under the umbrella of a tour company. They must complete the Tour Guide Award Programme developed by the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) and get a Tour Guide licence badge. A Aid Certificate from a certified safety training centre in the UAE must be kept while registering. In case of violating the provisions of Bylaw, administrative fines of 100 to AED 5,000 apply.
The renewal costs will depend on the type of licence your travel agency holds, the jurisdiction in which it operates and any additional services it maintains (e.g. office lease renewal). Companies located on the mainland usually renew via the relevant economic department, whereas free zone entities renew via the relevant authorities, where workspace or flexi-desk fees are often included in the renewal package.
Additionally, agencies that hold further approvals, such as tour-guide cards, insurance policies or industry accreditations like IATA should factor these renewals within the same cycle as well.
Disclaimer: This content is for information only and not legal advice. Regulations change — always consult a qualified professional.
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