How to Become a Travel Agent in Dubai

It’s no secret that touristry is a huge business in the UAE. It is one of the biggest revenue-generators, owing to the mind-boggling architecture, popular shopping avenues, world-class dining, and other exotic attractions the UAE houses.

This begs the question: how hard is it to become a travel agent in Dubai and start your own travel agency?

Short answer: It’s not hard at all.

Matter of fact, there are professionals like Cross Link International that can furnish your travel agency setup, right from the beginning, all the way to the end, so you don’t have to move a muscle for your business setup in Dubai!

Nonetheless, we would like to walk you through the process of how to setup a travel agency in Dubai.

Activities Permitted Under Travel Agency License in Dubai

The first step that goes into tourism business setup in Dubai is listing out the type of activities you will provide. Doing so will narrow down the type of business license you will need to procure.

The list of activities relating to tourism that are permitted in Dubai:

Renting out accommodations
Selling tourist packages online
Travel insurance issuance
Providing assistance during visa issuance
Selling plane tickets
Creating and marketing tourist packages

How to get a Travel Agency License in Dubai

A new business setup in Dubai is no cinch, and requires laborious efforts to complete it. Most business owners and entrepreneurs take the help of business setup professionals like Cross Link International for their Dubai business setup. Taking the help of business setup professionals guarantees you an expedited process, a smaller margin of error, and more importantly, the connections the average Joe lacks with the government entities.

With that in mind, let us take a look at the steps involved for a travel agency business setup in Dubai:

Deciding the type of Travel Agency License

Currently, there are three types of travel agency licenses you can procure. You must choose the license that best matches your tourism activities. They are:

Travel Agent: If you want to sell air tickets outside the country and want to provide visa assistance, this is the license you must go for. With this license, you can also book hotels and rent cars.
Inbound Tour Operator: If arranging local tours and trips within the UAE is what you would like to carry out, then you must procure an Inbound Tour Operator license. This license also allows you to arrange international exhibitions and conferences.
Outbound Tour Operator: This license allows you to host international conferences, but more importantly, enables you to sell tourist services both inside and outside the country.

Documents Required for Tourism License:

After deciding the type of license your business requires, you will have to gather a set of documents. Following is the set of documents you will need for a tourism license:

A copy of your passport
No Objection Letter from Civil Aviation Authority
Police Clearance Certificate
An Application Form
Economic and Technical feasibility report for the project
Work Experience Certificate or Certificate of Professional Qualification

ALSO SEE: How to Obtain a DED Professional License in Dubai

Other Requirements

Along with the documents, there are some requirements/conditions to be met before carrying out a tourism business setup in Dubai:

The manager of the tourism company must exhibit an experience letter of no less than three years with a bachelor’s degree, or an experience letter of five years if the manager holds a secondary certificate.
A travel agency must be started as an LLC. When you carry out a Dubai business setup as an LLC, you will have to find a local sponsor. This step cannot be skipped. A local sponsor is a UAE national who will have 51% of the shares of your company to their name. However, they will play no role in the managerial decisions taken in your company.

Scouring for a local partner is one of the most arduous parts of the whole process. But with our help, you can rest assured, as we have various tie-ups that will guarantee you a local sponsor.

A feasibility study report will be required if you’re applying for an Inbound/Outbound Tour Operator License.
If you’re applying for a Travel Agent License, then you will need an approval from the Department of Civil Aviation of the Emirate you’re applying in.
Inbound Tour Operator License applicants have to procure an irrevocable bank guarantee in the name of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing by any bank in Dubai.
As for Outbound Tour Operator License application, an irrevocable bank guarantee of Dh 200,000 in the name of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing has to be taken from any Dubai Bank.
For Travel Agent License, Dh 100,000 of irrevocable bank guarantee in the name of the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing has to be issued by a bank in Dubai.
If you’re looking to carry out all the three activities, then a total bank guarantee of Dh 400,000 will have to be given.

The Process

After having gathered all the prerequisites, you will have to complete the following procedure:

Submit the name of your company to the Department of Economic Development (DED).
For the initial approval, you will have to procure the Initial Approval Form from DED. Then, you will be required to sign the form along with all the partners of the company before submitting it back to DED.
After submitting the initial approval form, you will be handed a site inspection form by the DED. Here, you will have to provide all the details pertaining to your location and get the site inspected.
You will then have to notarize the Memorandum of Association (MOA).
After this, all the partners will have to get the Court Agreement signed.
Sign the tenancy contract.
After the final payment and documents submission, you will be given your license.

Cross Link International

If you are dreaming of starting your own company and carrying it forward with a team of employees under your wing, then consider that dream accomplished. We, Cross Link International, will start your company for you, so you don’t have to!

Cross Link International is one of the best business setup consultants in Dubai and will assist you in company formation, PRO Services, Visa Services, Business License renewal, Trade Licenses, free zone company formation, LLC company formation and many more services that entail business formation. Reach out to us through + 971 4321 6631 / + 971 55 744 6445 or fill-in this form to get a free consultation from us.