Tourism & Travel Agency License in Dubai & UAE: Cost & How to Get One (2026)
A tourism licence in the UAE lets you run a travel agency, tour operations and holiday services legally. It starts from around AED 20,000, requires approval from the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), and can be issued within 2–4 weeks. IATA accreditation and staff visas follow once licensed.
Last updated: June 2026
Cost breakdown (2026)
| Tourism licence from | AED 20,000 |
|---|---|
| With 1 visa from | AED 24,900 |
| Tourism authority bank guarantee | AED 100,000–200,000Refundable, held by authority |
| Timeline | 2–4 weeks |
According to Setup Business in UAE, a tourism & travel agency license in dubai & uae in the UAE starts from AED 20,000 (as of June 2026).
What you need
- Passport copies of shareholder(s) and manager
- Chosen trade name (3 options)
- Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) approval
- Bank guarantee for inbound/outbound tour operations
- Office tenancy contract (Ejari)
How to get your Tourism & Travel Agency License in Dubai & UAE
- 1
Choose tourism activity & jurisdiction
Select inbound, outbound or tour-operator activities on mainland or a suitable free zone.
- 2
Reserve your trade name
Submit compliant trade name options for approval.
- 3
Secure tourism authority approval
Obtain Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) sign-off and provide the required bank guarantee.
- 4
Sign tenancy & pay fees
Register an Ejari office contract and settle the licence package.
- 5
Accreditations, bank & visas
Apply for IATA where needed, open a corporate account and process staff visas.
Costs beyond the licence
Dubai tourism licensing runs through DET (Department of Economy and Tourism), and the approval stack is the real budget: the licence category (inbound, outbound, or travel agent) determines the refundable bank guarantee — typically AED 100,000–200,000 for inbound operators — plus DET fees per category. Staff guiding tours need licensed tour-guide cards.
Operationally, IATA accreditation for ticketing (or working through a consolidator), booking-platform subscriptions, and public liability insurance for excursions each add thousands. The guarantee is the item founders most often discover late — it sits frozen in the bank, so plan working capital around it.
Free zone or mainland for tourism?
Inbound tour operations serving tourists inside Dubai effectively require the DET mainland route with its guarantees and category rules. Free-zone tourism licences (SHAMS, IFZA offer them) fit online travel agencies, outbound booking businesses and tour aggregators that sell experiences without operating them locally. If your revenue is commissions on hotel and flight bookings, free zone works; if you run the desert safari yourself, plan for DET.
Common mistakes with tourism licences
The category error is expensive: an outbound licence doesn't permit receiving tourists in the UAE, and operating inbound tours on it invites fines and licence cancellation. Founders also sell packaged excursions before their subcontracted operators' insurance and permits are verified — liability lands on the seller. And the bank guarantee catches out thin-capital startups: it must stay untouched, so revenue-based financing against it does not work.
Recommended free zones
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is a tourism licence in Dubai?+
A travel agency licence starts from around AED 20,000, or about AED 24,900 including one visa. A refundable bank guarantee of AED 100,000–200,000 is also held by the tourism authority.
Do I need tourism authority approval?+
Yes. Travel and tour operations require approval from the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) in Dubai, plus a bank guarantee before the licence is issued.
Can I run a travel agency from a free zone?+
Some free zones license travel and tourism marketing, but selling regulated inbound/outbound tour packages in Dubai generally requires DET approval and often a mainland licence.
How long does a tourism licence take?+
Expect 2–4 weeks, as approval depends on tourism authority clearance and lodging the required bank guarantee.