Tourism License
Dubai is an important tourism hub in the Middle East and Asia, with over 15 million tourists visiting it every year. Dubai has over 200 hotels with a capacity of over 130,000 rooms. It is also home to the world’s tallest building – Burj Khalifa, which attracts millions of tourists every year.
Dubai is one of the most preferred tourist destinations in Asia. Dubai’s geographical location serves greatly 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.
Tourism has become one of the main income generating sectors in Dubai. It contributes more than 30% to Dubai’s GDP and employs more than 80% of its workforce. To set up a tourism business in Dubai, one needs to get the business registered with the department of economic development as well as with the department of Dubai tourism and commerce marketing.
The demand for tourism licenses has been increasing year by year. The issuance of travel and tourism licenses is managed by the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM).if you want to start your own travel tourism Company, there are three types of tourism license available:
INBOUND TOURSIM LICENSE
Businesses planning to conduct Inbound Tourism activities must possess an Inbound Tourism operation license.
- They can conduct tour and sightseeing activities within the limits of Dubai.
- They can arrange tour programs associated with events and conferences.
- Another compulsory requirement is to have an insurance policy for inbound tourism
TRAVEL AGENCY LICENSE
Travel Agents who will be taking care of visa processing, airline ticket reservation & booking, they are required to have the travel agency or agent license. The Department of Civil Aviation’s NOC or No Objection Certificate is compulsory for the license issuance. In order to apply for a NOC, a request letter in Arabic on behalf of the local sponsor is needed.
- ticketing services for flight, railway, bus, hotel,
- car rental services
OUTBOUND TOURSIM LICENSE
Inbound and Outbound tour operation in Dubai shall be possible with an Outbound Tour License.
- This means that the tour programs can be conducted beyond the limits of Dubai – which is not in the case of Inbound License.
- They have the added advantage of conducting international meetings and conferences.
- Another compulsory requirement is to have an insurance policy for outbound tourism
- The bank guarantee amount of Outbound Tour License is higher than Inbound Tour License amount.
Below are just some of the Activities permitted under a Tourism License:
Travel firms
Hotels
Restaurants
Car rental firms
Travel agents
Documents Required for Tourism License:
- 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.
- Office space document, minimum of 30sq.m
