Process to Open a Travel Agency in Dubai: Complete Guide 

Dubai is one of the most visited cities in the world. People travel there every year to go on business trips, stay in 5-star hotels, go on shopping sprees, and enjoy all the activities the city has to offer. This makes starting a travel agency in Dubai a good and profitable option.

When starting a travel agency in the UAE, there are a lot of legal formalities that must be considered. You will need a travel agency license in Dubai, some approvals related to tourism, and a proper business setup. 

This guide will explain the steps to starting your travel agency, the cost to open a travel agency in Dubai, the different types of travel agency licenses in Dubai, the approvals required, and the annual requirements.

Why Open a Travel Agency in Dubai? 

Dubai is a city that relies on tourism. It links Asia, Europe, and Africa with ease. Home to a super-busy airport, the city backs travel firms strongly.

Top perks include:

• Yearly tourist crowds in millions
• Significant need for inbound and outbound travel agency Dubai help
• Zero personal income tax
• Cutting-edge roads, tech, and tools
• Simple setup vs. other nations

That’s why the travel agency business setup in Dubai keeps booming.

Services Offered by Dubai Travel Agencies

A Dubai travel agency plans smooth trips for folks. They sort out all the details to make travel stress-free. Your license picks what services you provide, such as:

• Sell plane tickets to anywhere
• Find hotels for any budget
• Set up tours and fun at Dubai hotspots
• Help with visa forms for trips
• Plan business team travel
• Run inbound and outbound travel agency Dubai trips for locals and guests

Dubai OKs inbound (incoming) and outbound (outgoing) services. But each needs government approval to run safely and legally.

Easy Steps to Open a Travel Agency in Dubai

Step 1: Pick Your Travel Service Type

Start by choosing your focus. Options:

• Full Travel Agency
• Inbound Tour Operator
• Outbound Tour Operator
• Corporate Travel Agency in Dubai

This picks your license, approvals, office needs, and funds required. A wrong pick slows you down.

Step 2: Choose Your Base Location

Decide mainland or the free zone.

Mainland Setup:

• Run by Dubai Economy and Tourism (DET)
• Reach all UAE clients
• Link with the government and hotels
• Needs DTCM travel agency license in Dubai
• Fits tourist-focused agencies best

Free Zone Setup:

• The Free Zone Office issues a license
• Limits on services
• Extra permits for some activities
• Mainland better for most tourism

Step 3: Secure Your Business Name

Follow UAE name laws:

• Skip religious or rude words
• No politics
• Match your travel work
• “International” adds fees

Approved names hold for license steps.

Step 4: File for Travel Agency License

Main permit: Travel Agency License.

• Send to DET
• Pick a commercial or pro type
• Pay fees

Add tourism approval after.

Step 5: Get DTCM Tourism License

DET (ex-DTCM) oversees travel firms. Submit:

• Office meeting min standards
• Named manager
• Civil Aviation NOC (tickets)
• Bank guarantee by service

Proves you meet Dubai tourism business requirements and setup rules.

Step 6: Rent Office Space

Need a real office. Rules:

• At least 30 sqm
• Ejari registered a lease
• No virtual spots

Location impacts OKs and renewals.

Step 7: Appoint Skilled Manager

Must have travel pro manager:

• Tourism or travel background
• Right school papers
• Clean crime record

Manager’s approval needed for license.

Step 8: Sponsor Staff Visas

Post-license, get visas:

• Get an establishment card
• Immigration filing
• Visas for sales, managers, and team

Step 9: Set Up Bank Account

Open corporate bank:

• Show trade license
• DTCM OK
• Lease contract
• Business plan
• Owner papers

Takes 2-6 weeks.

Types of Tourism License in Dubai

Dubai provides focused licenses for tourism companies. Each matches specific travel jobs. Select based on your services. All issued by the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) or the tourism board.

• Travel Agency License

Run complete agent services. Book flights, hotels, and tours. Add visa support and tickets. Get the Civil Aviation NOC first. Need 30 sqm+ office. Pass owner/manager passports, degree, and police clear.​

• Inbound Tourism License

Bring tourists to Dubai. Set local tours, desert safaris, and city views. Book hotels and events. Show Burj Khalifa trips. Must include travel insurance for safety.

• Outbound Tourism License

Help Dubai folks go abroad. Plan overseas flights, hotels, and packages. High need from expats on vacation. File via DED with trade name and fees. Follow with visas and bank setup. Free zones speed it up with 100% ownership. The right match keeps you legal and growing fast.

What is the Cost to Open a Travel Agency in Dubai?

Costs shift by size and spot. See breakdown:

Expense	Cost Range (AED)	Details
Trade License	10,000 – 20,000	DED/free zone. Renew yearly
DTCM Approval	5,000 – 15,000	Must for travel services
Yearly Office Rent	15,000 – 50,000	30 sqm min mainland. Flexi cheaper
Bank Guarantee	50,000 – 100,000	Refundable for client safety
Per-Person Visa	4,000 – 7,000	Owner/staff. Medical + ID
Other Fees	5,000 – 10,000	NOC, papers, agent aid

Total Range: AED 70,000 to AED 150,000+. Varies by plans.

Top 5 Essential Dubai Tourism Rules

Dubai enforces strict rules for travel firms through DET (old DTCM). These keep guests safe and ops legal. Break them and face hefty fines or closure. Here are the must-follow basics.

Office Space Minimum

Mainland needs a 30+ sqm physical office with an Ejari lease. Free zones allow flexi-desks. Site inspection checks the floor plan. No virtual offices for the mainland.

Qualified Manager Required

Hire a manager with a tourism degree and experience. Clean police record under 6 months. DET approves before license issue.

Bank Guarantee Mandatory

Post AED 50K-100K refundable deposit. Covers client cancellations like safaris. Renew yearly or lose license.

Civil Aviation NOC for Tickets

All flight sales need this approval. Submit Arabic request via sponsor. Without it, no bookings allowed.

Staff Visa Deadline

File visas within 30 days of arrival. Approval to Board for South Asian staff. Drivers need RTA permit + DET training course. Late fines AED 5K each.​

How to Renew Your Travel Agency License in Dubai

Renew your travel agency license each year to stay legal. Dubai’s DET (ex-DTCM) runs this for tourism businesses. Late renewal brings fines or closure. Begin 30 days before it ends for no hassle.

Travel Agency License Renewal Dubai Steps:

• Sign in to DET eServices or the Invest in Dubai site: Check your license status first.
• Renew Ejari lease (good for 3+ months): Mainland must have it; free zones verify flexi-desk.
• Upload files: old license, owner/manager passports or Emirates ID, landlord NOC, extra OKs like Civil Aviation or RTA.
• Pay online fees (AED 10K-20K plus add-ons): Text 6969 for a quick auto-renew link.
• New digital license arrives in 1-3 days: Print copies at service spots if needed.

Travel Agency Musts: Show bank guarantee (AED 50K+), fresh manager police check, last year’s guest stats, DTCM course cert.

Corporate Travel Agency in Dubai

A corporate travel agency in Dubai focuses on business clients and teams. It handles trips for companies, events, and groups. This setup brings steady work and good pay year-round.

What They Do:

• Plan staff flights and hotels for work trips.
• Book conference venues and travel for meetings.
• Manage group bookings for teams and clients.
• Offer visa help and fast changes for busy execs.

Why It Works Well:

Big firms in Dubai need reliable travel pros. Oil, finance, and tech sectors travel a lot. Contracts lock in repeat cash with less marketing. Same licenses as regular agencies, but add a corporate focus.

Setup Needs:

Uses Travel Agency License with DTCM approval. Mainland is best for local deals. Office 30 sqm min. Bank guarantee AED 50K+. Manager with business travel know-how. Gets the same NOC for tickets.

Corporate agencies grow fast in Dubai’s business hub. Serve expats and Gulf firms for long wins.

Mainland or Free Zone: Best Pick?

 

Aspect	Mainland	Free Zone
UAE Clients	Yes, all access	Limited, needs middleman
DTCM	Must have	Often zone covers
Government Deals	Yes, tender bids	No
Office Space	30 sqm+ Ejari	Flexi-desk, low cost

How to Start a Travel Agency in UAE: Complete Business Plan

Write a clear plan before license steps. It shows DET and banks, and you understand Dubai tourism business requirements.

Must-Have Parts:

• Your Services: List inbound tours, outbound trips, or corporate travel.
• Target Clients: Tourists from India? Expats going to Europe? Business teams?
• Market Facts: Dubai had 17.5M visitors in 2025. Hotels 79% full.
• Money Outlook: Startup AED 100K. 50 clients/month = profit in 6 months.
• Marketing: Social ads, Arabian Travel Market booth, airline partners.
• Competition: 40K+ licenses. Beat them with desert safari packages or corporate deals.

Top Errors to Dodge in Dubai Travel Agency Setup

• Wrong License Type: Choose full agent over inbound. Check DTCM first. Extra AED 10K + delay.
• Skip Office Size Check: Mainland min 30 sqm. Tiny fails inspect. Upgrade or go free zone.
• No Bank Guarantee: Miss AED 50K-100K. DET stops the license. Prep client proof early.
• Miss Civil Aviation NOC: Tickets need it. No NOC = no flights. Request a letter ASAP.
• Bad Company Name: “Global” skips fees or rude words. DED no-go. Portal check rules.

Key Wins Travel Agency Business Setup in Dubai

Dubai shines for travel startups. Millions visit yearly. Low risk, high cash. Wins fuel quick growth.

• Tourism Surge

TripAdvisor’s top rank. 12M+ visitors first 9 months 2023. Burj Khalifa, Mall draws India/GCC/Europe. Steady post-COVID inbound.

• Low Tax Perks

No income tax. 9% corp since 2023, free zones skip. VAT reclaim. Cheap imports. Funds marketing/team.

• Market Expansion

The number of 2022 visitors doubled. 800+ hotels. DXB airport leader. Easy travel rules. Expats outbound. Free zones: full own + fast visas.

• Varied Clients

Wealthy tourists, budgets, business. Indians galore. Luxury/safaris/corporate. Airline deals are cheap.

• Business Boost

Prime banks/law/tech. Fast web bookings. Arabian Travel Market networks. Hotel ties. Easy-skilled hires.

Should You Open a Travel Agency in Dubai?

Dubai has recorded a 17.55 billion rise in the tourism percentage in the previous year. 

Startup AED 90K-200K. 50 clients/month = break-even 6-12 months. No tax, free zones, no sponsors. Tourism +$70B UAE. Hotels AED 531/night +6%. New RV/medical. 40K licenses, Arabian Travel Market leads. Plan well vs rivals—yes, worth it.

You can hire the top professionals from PRO Services in Dubai with over 12+ years of experience in Dubai. They are licensed and experienced business setup consultants in Dubai, providing PRO Services Dubai.

FAQs – Dubai Travel Agencies

Q1: Can Dubai travel agencies use virtual offices for a mainland license even if there are no walk-in clients?

No. Mainland requires inspected 30 sqm physical space with Ejari regardless of client visits. Virtual offices fail DET site check. Free zones permit flexi-desks.

Q2: Why does Civil Aviation NOC need an Arabic sponsor letter specifically for ticket sales?

Arabic format required by GCAA regulation for local sponsor verification. English letters get auto-rejected. Submit via the UAE sponsor within 7 days of DET initial approval.

Q3: Does the bank guarantee amount change based on yearly guest numbers for safaris?

Yes. DET adjusts AED 50K-100K+ if over 1,000 guests/year. Low volume stays the base amount. Submit annual guest report at renewal for recalc.

Q4: Can corporate travel agencies skip DTCM refresher training if serving only business clients?

No. All tourism license in Dubai require a yearly manager course, even for B2B. Corporate focus doesn’t exempt. 4-hour online DET session mandatory.

Q5: What’s the grace period for staff visa filing after the travel agency license issue, before fines hit?

Strict 30 days from the license date. No grace extension. South Asian staff need approval from the Board pre-arrival. AED 5K per late visa blocks operations.

Key Takeaways – Open a Travel Agency in Dubai Easily

There’s no better time to start your travel agency than now, as Dubai is welcoming an increasing number of tourists and expats. You can start your agency by choosing an appropriate travel license, getting the necessary DTCM approvals, providing your bank guarantee, and employing an experienced branch manager. 

Once you’ve done all of these things, you can begin your operations and avoid the pitfalls of choosing the wrong office size or not having NOCs. You will enjoy the perks of operating in a low-tax jurisdiction with a high level of clientele.

Begin your operations now in Dubai, the new travel hub of the world!

Contact PRO Services in Dubai for more help!