Tourism License in Dubai, UAE

A valid Tourism License is required for the companies and establishments that operate in the travel and tourism sector of Dubai and UAE. As Dubai is a thriving tourist destination, the demand for Tourism License in Dubai is growing every year. Those who are planning to start a tourism business in Dubai need to obtain a tourism license in Dubai. In Dubai, three types of tourism licenses are available.

  • Inbound tourism license
  • Outbound tourism license
  • Travel agency license as a travel agent

Kiltons Business Setup Services LLC offer tourism license services in Dubai and UAE to help individuals set up tourism businesses across the country. At Kiltons, we assure you seamless tourism license services following all the necessary steps for registration.

  • Travel and tourism sector in Dubai
    Apart from an innovation and technology hub, Dubai is one of the most preferred tourist destinations in Asia. Dubai’s geographical location serves in a great way to attract revenue from Tourism related activities. Dubai serves as a connectivity hub for tourists who travel from the west to east and vice versa. Tourists from the west travel to Africa and Asia via Dubai. Hence the Connectivity factor associated with Dubai is huge. By 2020, it is predicted that the passenger movement through Dubai International Airport would reach 75 million.

    Travel and Tourism sector has a significant contribution towards UAE’s GDP figures. Based on 2016 statistics, the total contribution was AED 150 billion – GDP’s 12.1%. The sector supports more than 300,000 direct jobs in the UAE – 5.4% of overall employment.

    Several initiatives have been launched by the UAE Government in the Travel and Tourism sector. The initiatives are launched in different Emirates and some of them are Abu Dhabi Sustainable Tourism, Dubai Tourism Strategy 2020 etc.

    The skyscraper wonder, Burj Khalifa in Dubai alone attracts nearly 2 million visitors every year. And yes, Dubai has a lot to offer in Travel and Tourism for investors all around the world.
  • Who should apply for a Tourism License

    Here are the business establishments that require a valid Tourism License for operation in Dubai and UAE.

    Travel firms

    Hotels

    Restaurants

    Car rental firms

    Travel agents

  • How to start a travel enterprise in Dubai?

    The Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) is in charge of the travel and Tourism license issuance. And hence you need to approach the same agency in order to set up a travel and tourism enterprise in Dubai. When it comes to travel and tourism, 3 different types of licenses are issued based on the operation. And they are listed below:

    Inbound Tourism operation license

    Outbound Tourism operation license

    Travel agent license

    Each license has its own features, benefits and drawbacks. Kindly read on to understand the 3 type of licenses.

  • Inbound Tour license
    Businesses planning to conduct Inbound Tourism activities must possess an Inbound Tourism operation license. All Inbound tour operators are required to have the same license. An Inbound tour license holder can conduct tour and sightseeing activities within the limits of Dubai. The inbound tour operator can arrange tour programs associated with events and conferences. Another mandatory requirement is an insurance policy to deal with travel-related uncertainties. The policy will be valid for the full term of the license.
  • Outbound Tour license
    Both inbound and outbound tour operation in Dubai shall be possible with an Outbound Tour License. This means that tour operators can arrange tour programs beyond the limits of Dubai – which is not in the case of Inbound License. The Outbound license holder has the added advantage of conducting international meetings and conferences. The insurance policy requirement is mandatory for Outbound License too. The validity of the policy covers the full term of the license. The bank guarantee amount of Outbound Tour License exceeds Inbound Tour License amount.
  • Travel agent license

    Travel agent license is required for travel agents who involve in activities like visa support, travel accommodation, tour and sightseeing operations, transportation, air ticket sales etc. The prerequisites for the Travel Agent License is the same as Outbound and Inbound Licenses. However, there is an additional requirement. Department of Civil Aviation’s NOC or No Objection Certificate is mandatory for the license issuance. In order to apply for a NOC, a request letter in Arabic on behalf of the local sponsor is necessary.

  • Documents needed to acquire Tourism License in Dubai

    Since Dubai is a tourist hub, getting a tourism license in Dubai is not a complicated procedure if you follow the necessary steps accurately. Given below are the essential documents needed to obtain a tourism license in Dubai so that you can set up your travel and tourism business.

    Application form

    Applicant’s passport (copy)

    Proof of educational and professional qualification of manager

    The Company owner and the manager should produce a certificate that endorses no criminal record.

    Civil Aviation Authority’s NOC.

    Attested document supporting office space of 30 Sq.m

  • Tour guide license

    A tour guide is someone who guides and accompanies the tourists to important tourist destinations or places of interest in Dubai. The tour guide should have an in-depth knowledge of the tourist spots and good insight into the culture and history of the Emirates. And the job requires a valid Tour Guide License. Here are the rules and regulations associated with Tour Guide License in Dubai.

    DTCM issues the Tour guide license badge. The badge is mandatory for any tour guide to operating in Dubai.

    The applicant should appear for Tour Guide Award program and complete it successfully.

    The validity of the tour guide license is 1 year.

    The license has a yearly renewal. The license renewal can be accomplished only when the tour guide appears for the DTCM-approved annual refresher program.

    If license renewal is not done for 2 successive years, the tour guide shall be liable to face the penalty stated by DTCM.

    A valid license badge is mandatory for employment purposes.

  • Benefits of acquiring Tourism License

    Acquire Tourism License via Kiltons. There are many benefits that we assure.

    The travel company can offer visit visas, conduct air ticket sales Conduct guided tours and other tourism-oriented activities Set up international conferences, meeting and events.

    Promote tourism activities inside and outside the country Assist you in finding an appropriate office space for your tour firm. Systematically performs the entire travel license documentation. Systematic department-level coordination.

    The travel and tourism sector in Dubai is witnessing huge investments in recent years. And yes – it’s a booming sector. Make full use of the technological and infrastructure advancement of Dubai and invest wisely. The Dubai World Expo 2020 is expected to generate large revenue for the Tourism sector. Any advice, suggestions or consultation regarding Tourism license in Dubai, feel free to contact Kiltons Business Setup Services.

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Types of Tourism Licenses in Dubai

There are three types of licenses available for conducting tourism business in Dubai, and they are as follows:

  • Tourism license - Outbound Tour Operators

This tourism license allows the business to organize trips outside of Dubai along with domestic tours. This license is necessary for businesses that have travel and tourism prospects inside and outside of Dubai. People from Dubai can avail the services of outbound operators for travel packages abroad. 

  • Tourism license - Inbound Operators

The businesses that possess this particular license can conduct and organize tours for tourists who visit Dubai. They are eligible to conduct global exhibitions and conventions. 

  • Tourism license - Travel Agents

Travel agents can open agencies only with this license. The license permits them to book tickets and other related services on behalf of the customer. 



Benefits of Obtaining a Tourism License in Dubai

The tourism license in Dubai is in high demand as the city is undergoing constant development, making the space more and more attractive to tourists from all over the world. They are trying to blend and encompass the Arab culture and make it more appealing to the global crowd. Taking advantage of this growth is best achieved through obtaining a tourism license in Dubai.

Let us look into the different benefits of obtaining a travel and tourism license in Dubai:

  • Tourism license in Dubai helps the entrepreneur to get access to inbound, outbound, and travel agencies without additional payment and without any bank guarantees, and all under one license.
  • The license will let the entrepreneur set up global conferences and exhibitions.
  • With a travel agent license, the entrepreneur can easily book tickets and get the eligibility issue visit visas ( under strict conditions of the Immigration Department).
  • The travel agent license along with the inbound operator license, lets the entrepreneur book lodging, transportation, and guided or planned tours to clients.
  • As Dubai is growing to be a one-stop destination for tourism and thereby getting a tourism license can bring in many great benefits from the authorities in Dubai. 

Steps to Obtaining a Tourism License in Dubai

The authority that approves and sanctions the tourism license in Dubai is the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing.

Here are the steps to obtain a tourism license in Dubai:

  • Decide the location

Dubai gives its investors who wish to own a travel and tourism license in Dubai the option of two premium locations: the mainland and the Freezone. If you are interested in starting a business in the mainland of Dubai, then you are availing yourself of benefits like visibility, the ability to work with the UAE market, and also getting businesses from the UAE government. Whereas, if you decide on setting up your business in the free zone, then you get multiple benefits like tax discounts and rebates, no currency restrictions, 100% repatriation of profits, and many other benefits.

A good business setup consultant like Kiltons will help you weigh the pros and cons of both spaces.

  • Define your business activity

In this case, we are speaking about tourism as the main objective. The mere mention of the objective won’t suffice; you should be able to get yourself a proper business plan evaluated and submitted.

  • Choose a trading name

The name of the company can be chosen after following the terms and conditions laid down by the authorities, and those conditions are:

  • The name should not be an already existing one and should not bear any resemblance to an existing name.
  • The name should not contain any references to Islam or any other religion.
  • The name should not be in blasphemous or obscene language.
  • You can place your own name as the company name but short forms of your name are not acceptable.
  • Obtain Initial Approval

Once the above steps are completed, you can now submit the application along with relevant supporting documents to the Department of Economic Development for initial approval. If you are starting a business in a free zone, you also require approval from those respective authorities.

  • Site Inspection

Once the DED gives the initial approval, the next step is for them to come and visit the site of the respective office. This procedure is done before the handing over of the tourism license in Dubai.

  • LLC Agreement

A public notary should be assigned to translate the non-Arabic agreement and certificate.

  • Sign the Agreement

Shareholders and attorneys to the agreement should sign the paperwork.

  • Tourism license

Now, the additional documents have to be submitted to the DED along with the signed agreement, and after careful scrutiny, the tourism license in Dubai is issued. You will also need to pay the license fee at this time.

Cos of obtaining a Dubai tourism license

The Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM Authority) announced a new regulation in mid-October 2018, removing the requirement for a bank guarantee of AED 100,000-AAED 200,000 for each operation such as an inbound tour operator, an outbound tour operator, and a travel agent.

This significantly reduces the initial investment and expense of obtaining a Dubai tourism license. The minimum requirement of 300 square feet has also been removed. Documents such as experience letters and educational certificates for managers in the same field that were previously required have been removed, making it possible for new investors in the field to apply for a tourism license in Dubai.



Why Choose Kiltons?

Kiltons has been providing business setup services for a very long time. Our panel of experts is invested in and keeps track of the regular changes that are happening in the UAE economy. Our scrutiny will be reflected in our advice, and you, as an entrepreneur, will be able to make the right decisions for your business. Our skills and in-depth knowledge of the market will easily help you blend into the high-potential market of Dubai.