How to set up a tourism business in Dubai
1Choose the tourism activityDecide whether you run an inbound tour operator, an outbound travel agency, or a travel agent activity. Each is a distinct licence under the Department of Economy and Tourism.
2Register the company and tourism licenceRegister the entity and the tourism activity with DET, which regulates travel and tourism in Dubai. This is usually a mainland activity.
3Secure the travel approvalsTourism activities carry specific conditions and approvals from the regulator. We arrange the approvals your activity needs.
4Set up staff visasSponsor your team through the establishment card and visa quota.
5Open the corporate bank accountOpen a business account to handle bookings and supplier payments. We introduce you to the right banking officer.
Why start a tourism business in Dubai?
Dubai is one of the world's most visited cities, with year-round events, attractions and a large inbound flow, which sustains demand for tour operators, travel agencies and destination services. Tourism is a regulated activity in Dubai, licensed and overseen by the Department of Economy and Tourism, so a properly licensed operator works with the credibility the sector expects.
Tourism licence: types and cost
A tourism business runs on a DET tourism trade licence for the specific activity, whether inbound tour operator, outbound travel agency or travel agent, each with its own conditions. Because the activity and your visa quota drive the cost, we price your exact setup rather than publish a figure that would not fit it. Get your exact quote.
Documents required
Passport copies of the shareholders and the manager
The proposed trade name and tourism activity
A tenancy contract for a physical office
Any activity-specific approvals the regulator requires
Mainland vs free zone vs offshore: which fits?
How OMC helps you establish your tourism business
We have handled UAE company formation since 2007, across more than 1,400 companies. Tourism is regulated by the Department of Economy and Tourism, so we manage the licence and the activity approvals together, and set up the establishment card and visas. We also introduce you to a banking officer for bookings and supplier payments.
Frequently asked questions
You register a company with the Department of Economy and Tourism for the specific travel activity, which regulates the sector, then obtain the activity approvals. OMC files the licence and arranges the approvals and visas together.
An inbound tour operator packages and runs tours for visitors, while an outbound travel agency arranges travel for people leaving the UAE; each is a distinct licence activity. We advise on the right one for your plan.
Yes. Foreign investors can own a mainland tourism business. We confirm the ownership rule and the regulator's conditions for the specific activity before you file.
Travel and tourism serving the Dubai market is usually a mainland activity regulated by the Department of Economy and Tourism. We set it up on the mainland with the required approvals.
The trade licence is quick, but the activity approvals set the real timeline. We give you a realistic schedule once we know your specific tourism activity.
Related services
Mainland company setup
PRO and government approvals
Corporate bank account opening
Company formation in the UAE