Tourism license in Dubai
Tourism License in Dubai is widely known as one of the most popular travel destinations in the world. This city welcomes thousands of tourists throughout the year that are looking to have a good time and get to know its wonderful locations and landscapes.
Given its popularity among foreigners, tourism and travel businesses can get a lot of advantages from the number of people visiting the city. From offering booking services up to packages for tours within Dubai, there are many options for setting up a tourism agency that can give you a large revenue.

The UAE Department of Tourism is in charge of regulating businesses interested in working in this industry. If you want to avoid making mistakes in the application for your license, here at Connect Business Centers we can ensure your submission is error-free and you can get your document quickly.
Establish your tourism company in Dubai
Companies that are interested in establishing a travel and tourism company should get a tourism license in Dubai. As a business, you need to comply with all the legal requirements set forth by the UAE so you can run your operations without trouble.
Whether you are considering opening a hotel or perhaps working as a travel agent, you need to know the process to obtain a tourism license. The greatest advantage of the UAE is that getting this permit does not take too much time. So, you can start your application and run your business in no time.
In Connect Business Centers we want to help you obtain this crucial document so you can start your company successfully. Our team of experts will help you with everything you need, from complying with the requirements for the tourism license in Dubai to the renewal.
For Further Information, Get In Touch
You can contact us on info@connectbusinesscenter.com or call us on +971 43316688

What is the Tourism License?
The tourism license in Dubai grants businesses and establishments the possibility to carry out tourism and travel activities within some specifications. Depending on the type of tourism license in Dubai, the company may offer its services within the limits of the city or the entire UAE territory and to foreign countries.
Therefore, a company with a tourism license in Dubai may engage in activities and provide services or goods about tourism. To set up your company and work in the tourism sector, you need to obtain this crucial document.
How to apply for a tourism license?
To apply for the tourism license in Dubai you must gather the required documentation, fill out the application, and submit it to the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, also known as DTCM.
However, before the application process, you need to determine which type of tourism business license in Dubai you want to get. You could choose between the inbound tour operator license, outbound tour operator license, and travel agent license. Nevertheless, you can opt for including the three types of licenses in the application.
Another important aspect you must take into account is that you need to have a local service agent. This is necessary for incorporating your company. Nevertheless, you have nothing to worry about, since the agent will only be necessary to complete the legal formalities and it will not have any type of power in your company.
Types of business licenses in Dubai

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Benefits of the Tourism License in Dubai
- Getting a tourism license in Dubai can offer you several advantages. As a tourism and travel establishment, you can get the following:
- With the tourism license in Dubai, you can obtain the three types in a single license at no extra cost.
- Run your successful travel and tourism establishment in one of the best tourist destinations
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- Variety of modern offices and facilities from where to run your business
- Provide several types of tourism packages and activities to clients
- The tourism license in Dubai allows you to offer support with visas subject to immigration approval
- The application process is pretty simple and low-cost
- Take advantage of the investor-friendly rules set up by the UAE Government
- You can offer additional services like selling airline, train, and bus tickets.
Business activities
With a tourism license in Dubai, you can engage in several types of activities. For this reason, the UAE Authority has divided it into three forms depending on the task you want to carry out.
Regardless if you decide to include the three types in a single license, or if you opt for just one type, you can offer the following services depending on the specifications of your tourism license in Dubai:
- Travel insurance
- Selling of tourism packages online and offline
- Offer accommodation and stay choices to clients
- Sell tickets (plane, railway, bus, etc.)

- Apply for visas (as long as it is approved by the Immigration Authority)
- Sell adventure packages in Dubai
- Offer tourism packages to foreign countries
- Run an Airbnb or a Hotel
- Work as a tour operator
- Provide transportation services to tourists
- Hire agent workers
Who should apply for a Tourism License?
To obtain a tourism license in Dubai you need to incorporate a company in the UAE. This is because the UAE Authority does not grant this document to individuals, but only to corporations. Therefore, you should prove you are a business interested in offering tourism services.
In this regard, companies that can apply for a tourism license in Dubai are hotels, travel agents, car rental firms, travel agencies, tour operators, and more.
For Further Information, Get In Touch
You can contact us on info@connectbusinesscenter.com or call us on +971 43316688

How to get a tourism license in Dubai?
How to get a tourism license in Dubai? It is one of the most common doubts among business investors. The best news is that obtaining the license for your business is a pretty straightforward process.
Given the fact that the UAE Authority wants to encourage foreign investment to boost the economy, there are many policies and regulations that allow for an easy incorporation process. You can set up your business quickly in the UAE with the assistance of Connect Business Centers.
How can you start your tourism business in the UAE?
So, if you are wondering: how to get a tourism license in Dubai? Here at Connect Business Centers, we want to assist you with the entire process. Since Dubai is a hotspot place for tourists, you can start your operations and offer your services with the guarantee that you can expand your company and obtain a large revenue.
First of all, you need to decide which type of activity you want to carry out. After that, you have to determine the kind of legal entity you would like to incorporate. But, you need to contact a local service agent and draft an agreement. Once you have that, you need to decide on a trading name for your corporation.
Then, you need to obtain the Initial Approval for your business. You should look for a physical space to rent, so you can have the office for your tourism establishment. After you have all the required documents, you have to submit the application and pay the fees. You will receive your license in 3 to 4 weeks.
Types of Tourism License in Dubai
The tourism license in Dubai allows travel-related companies to offer services and activities to tourists. However, the type of activity will vary depending on the type of tourism license in Dubai.
There are three types of tourism licenses: inbound, outbound, and travel agent. Each one has a determined set of activities that can be performed under it. So, as a business, you need to determine which one suits your desired activity best.

How to choose the type of tourism license in the UAE?
Since the tourism sector is one of the leading industries in the UAE, acquiring a tourism license is a wise decision. Nevertheless, the main step of the process consists of selecting the type of activity you want to carry out. Thus, this affects the type of license you have to apply for.
Foreign investors may get confused regarding the types of tourism licenses, but it is actually very simple. If you want to operate only in Dubai, you could opt for an inbound license. On the other hand, if you prefer to offer tour packages to UAE residents, the outbound license is perfect for you.
But, if you prefer to work as an agent, then the travel agent license is the right choice. However, if you do not want to have any limits regarding the type of activity you want to perform, then you can apply for the three licenses in a single one.

Inbound Tourism License
The Inbound Tourism License in Dubai enables businesses to offer their travel services only within the limits of the city. Therefore, with this form of license, you can offer inbound trips to tourists.
This means that you cannot offer tourist packages to travel outside of Dubai. However, it has many advantages. Since Dubai is one of the most beautiful cities in the UAE you can offer services like sightseeing, touring, transportation, and much more.
Business opportunities with the inbound tourism license
Although the inbound license may seem limited, the truth is that if you are starting it can be perfect for you. You will only have to work within the limits of Dubai, so you will not have to worry about dealing with international tourism services.
Once you get to know the city more, you can discover the best-hidden spots for tourists and include them in your itinerary. You can work offering activities as a tour operator, organizing travel programs in Dubai, preparing the transportation through the city, and much more.
There are endless possibilities in a place like Dubai, with outstanding facilities and enriching culture. Furthermore, with the inbound travel and tourism license in Dubai, you can arrange conferences and events in the city.
Outbound Tourism License
The outbound tourism business license in Dubai differs from the inbound in the fact that you can offer tour packages to UAE residents to travel to foreign countries. So, your clients will be people living in the UAE that have the desire to visit another country.
Thus, with the Tourism License in Dubai, you can work beyond the limits of the city. You can sell travel services internationally and, in addition, you are allowed to conduct international meetings and conferences.
Outbound tourism activities
With the outbound tourism license, you are able to work as a tourism company and organize and market your travel programs abroad. Among the variety of activities, you could perform are offering business trips to foreign countries, organizing workshops or training sessions, and providing individual and group itineraries for families or friends wishing to visit foreign countries.
Moreover, if you are an experienced travel company, you can work as a tourism consultant for other businesses. Having knowledge of traveling abroad can take you further. You can help other companies identify opportunities and offer facilities and services to tourists.
You could opt for including both the inbound and outbound services in your tourism license in Dubai. This way you can offer a wide range of services both for tourists and residents in the UAE.
Travel agent License
The Travel Agent is another type of tourism license in Dubai. Establishments that hold this license can act, as its name suggests, as travel agents. Thus, they can sell tickets, offer booking services, travel accommodation, visa support, car rental services, hotel reservations, and more.
The best part of including the three types of licenses in a single one is that the cost for the tourism license in Dubai does not change. Thus, whether you decide to include just one of the three types, you will have to pay the same fee.
Have a tourism agency in Dubai
If your dream is to work independently, having a tourism agency in Dubai is perfect for that. You can sell tour packages, programs, and itineraries organized by tour operators. Moreover, you can offer a variety of services to tourists in the UAE.
A profitable business could be renting out residential premises to generate income. You can offer short and long-term rental of apartments, houses, rooms, villas, and much more. By doing this, you can increase your revenue.
By having the three types of tourism licenses in Dubai, you can be a travel establishment that will offer everything to its clients. From offering plane tickets to reserving the hotel, to creating a complete tour itinerary within Dubai. It will be a success among tourists.
Documents to obtain the Tourism License
The requirements for the tourism license in Dubai are the following:
- Duly filled application form
- Passport copy of the applicant
- The manager of the company should provide proof of professional/educational qualification
- Criminal record certificate for the company’s owner and manager (clean)
- In case you are planning to build a facility for your tourism establishment, you need to submit the economic and technical feasibility of the project
What are the requirements to opt for a tourism license?
Businesses that offer tourism-related services can apply for a tourism license in a simple process. However, before applying you need to comply with the requirements. First of all, it is important to know which requisites are no longer needed.
Previously, tourism companies needed to have a bank guarantee of AED 100,000-200,000, a minimum physical space of 300 sq. ft., and provide educational certificates for the managers. Nowadays it is no longer required, so it is easier to apply for investors.
You just need to be a business that operates in the tourism sector to apply. Make sure to collect the necessary documents and pay the required fees that way you will be able to obtain your tourism license.
What is the cost of the Tourism License?
The main aspect that business owners want to know is the cost of the travel and tourism license in Dubai. It is important to learn about the tourism license fee in Dubai so you can be prepared for the application process.
Setting up your establishment in the UAE requires determining the cost of the tourism license in Dubai. Nevertheless, it is not the only expense that you will have to incur. You will have to pay for the leasing of your physical space, the fee for incorporating the company, for translating the documents into Arabic, and more.
Tourism License Fee
So, you should be prepared when it comes to deciding to apply for the license. The tourism license fee in Dubai is AED 10,000. Other fees you have to take into account for the cost of the travel and tourism license in Dubai are the local service agent (AED 10,000), agreement notarized (AED 1,500), and registration service fee (AED 5,000).
Some additional fees are AED 4,700 for the cost of the investor visa per application, AED 2,500 for the dependents visa (if applies), AED 1,000 for the Establishment Card and Visa Service, and AED 2,300 for the MoHRE. Keep in mind that you also have to take into account the renewal fee of AED 12,000 and AED 1,000 for the service fee, which are paid yearly.
In Connect Business Centers we want to ensure you get the best rate for obtaining a tourism license. Our goal is to help you set up your travel and tourism establishment in the UAE without having to incur additional expenses.
Tour guide license in Dubai
In case you are considering working as a tour guide, you also have an option to do it. Since Dubai is a city that attracts many tourists, you can also guide them and accompany them to the most iconic tourist destinations.
Moreover, if you are a UAE resident, you may know the places of interest better than many people. So, as a tour guide, with your in-depth knowledge of the city, its culture, and history, you will be able to work and obtain your income.
How to get a tour guide license in Dubai?
To work as a tour guide, you need to obtain a valid license first. There are some regulations associated with this type of document that you have to follow. First of all, you need to obtain the Tour Guide license badge, and you need to wear it if you want to operate in the city.
You have to complete the Tour Guide Award program successfully, and after that, you can obtain your license. It will be valid for one year, but you can renew it once the expiration date is near. To do it, you have to attend the annual refresher program approved by the DTCM.
Keep in mind that if you do not renew your license, you can face repercussions. If you continue working as a Tour Guide and your license is 2-years expired, the DTCM will determine the penalty.
Why do you need a Tourism License in Dubai?
Entrepreneurs and investors from around the world see the UAE as a promising place to conduct business. When it comes to a tourism establishment, it is even more rewarding because you can be sure that you are going to obtain many clients from the massive flow of tourists Dubai welcomes yearly.
Nevertheless, for being able to offer your services, you need to have a travel and tourism license in Dubai. Do not even think about starting your business without having a valid business license, because you may face legal repercussions.
Connect Business Centers Licensing Service
Connect Business Centers is one of the top leading providers of Business Services to enterprises that are looking for a solution to establish their operations easily in the UAE. We specialize in offering outstanding office solutions, licensing services, corporate sponsorship, and business setup.
This way, you can get a one-stop solution for your needs. If you want to have your travel and tourism establishment in Dubai, or anywhere in the UAE, we are here to help you. Our team of specialists offers a tailored service adapted to your company’s requirements.
We offer guidance throughout the entire business setup process. From deciding the proper business activity to assisting you with the application process, to find the perfect home for your business and more. Our goal is to help you run an outstanding business in the UAE.
