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Limousine licence, and the RTA franchise

A DET or free zone licence comes first, then an RTA franchise that sets how many chauffeured cars you may run.

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A chauffeur in a suit drives while a passenger reads in the back seat
Usual route
Usually mainland
Extra approval
RTA franchise
Timeline
Months
AML
Not a DNFBP activity
At a glance

A limousine licence in Dubai starts with a trade licence from DET or a free zone, then a franchise agreement with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). The RTA sets how many cars you may run, takes a deposit or bank guarantee, and permits each car and chauffeur. Free zones fall under the same rules, so cars are bought after the franchise.

Covers
Chauffeur-driven luxury cars booked in advance, by trip, hour or day
Not covered
Cars without a driver, metered taxis, buses and tourist coaches
Premises
An office the RTA accepts for running and dispatching the fleet
Timeline
Months, set by the franchise review and the fleet permits

What a chauffeur service covers

Two edges matter here. Hand over the car without a chauffeur and it becomes car rental, while a bus or coach is another activity.

Covered

Not covered

  • Covered by Car rental
  • Covered by Taxi franchise (RTA)
  • Covered by Bus rental or passenger transport
  • Covered by Used car trading

Classic cars and chauffeur hire through a rental company sit under related RTA rules, so we confirm which regime your model falls under before filing.

Where a limousine company is licensed

The RTA franchise is the same on both routes, so the choice rests on where your trips start and who books them.

Likely route by where most of your clients are
If most of your clients areLikely routeWhy
Hotel, home and office pick-ups across DubaiMainland (DET)Daily work on Dubai's streets and at hotels points to a DET licence
Corporate accounts booked under contractEither routeThe contract can sit on either licence, and the franchise covers the cars
Visitors booked through travel partners abroadEither routeThe booking can come from anywhere, yet every trip runs under the franchise

A free zone company can serve the mainland through a DET branch licence or permit (Executive Council Resolution 11 of 2025). The RTA franchise still applies, and mainland income can affect QFZP status.

Several free zones license this activity; we match the zone to your visas, office and banking. Compare free zones

RTA limousine licence approvals

DET or the free zone authority issues the trade licence first. The RTA's Public Transport Agency then reviews a feasibility study and signs a franchise agreement, and each car and chauffeur is permitted after that.

  1. Before the licence

    • Trade name and initial approvalDET or the free zone authority

  2. The licence

    • Trade licence for luxury transportDET or the free zone authority

  3. After the licence

    • Feasibility study and fleet planRTA Public Transport Agency
    • Deposit or bank guaranteeA UAE bank, in the RTA's favour
    • Franchise agreement and authorisationRTA
    • Cars to RTA specificationRTA
    • Chauffeur tests and permitsRTA Public Transport Agency

We order the cars once the franchise sets the fleet size.

Clocks that run before the first chauffeured trip

The company and franchise clocks run once, while the car and chauffeur clocks restart each time you add to the fleet.

The RTA caps how many cars each company runs and how long each stays in service, so we size the fleet to the franchise.

The company

  1. Trade licence issuedDays
  2. Corporate bank accountWeeks

The RTA franchise

  1. Feasibility study reviewedWeeks
  2. Deposit or guarantee lodgedDays
  3. Franchise agreement signedWeeks

Each car

  1. Model meets RTA specificationBefore purchase
  2. Registered and permittedDays

Each chauffeur

  1. RTA tests passedWeeks
  2. Driver permit issuedDays

The bank file for a chauffeur fleet

Bank viewAccount needed early for the RTA deposit or bank guarantee

Banks come in earlier than founders expect, because the RTA asks for a cash deposit or a guarantee from a UAE bank before the franchise is signed. Fleets are often financed, and receipts arrive by card, corporate invoice and booking platforms. Chauffeur payroll is the largest monthly outflow. We put the feasibility study, the fleet funding and the franchise terms into one account file, so the review sees a business that adds up.

AMLNot a DNFBP activity; the bank's own customer checks still apply.

Where limousine plans stall

  1. Cars bought before the franchise sets numbers

    The RTA decides how many luxury cars a company may run and which categories qualify. A fleet ordered first can exceed that cap or miss the specification, and the extra cars sit idle on finance.

  2. Chauffeurs hired with no permit plan

    Each chauffeur passes RTA tests before the driver permit issues, and the rules set an upper age of 65. Recruiting abroad without checking that route leaves cars ready and nobody permitted to drive them.

  3. A booking app the RTA cannot see

    Luxury transport bookings have to link to the RTA's electronic platform, and fares must sit above taxi rates. An app built without that link needs rework before the first paid trip.

Questions about a limousine licence

A question about your plan? Describe your limousine plan and an advisor replies on WhatsApp.

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How to get a limousine licence in Dubai?

You need a trade licence first, from DET or a free zone, naming luxury passenger transport. An RTA franchise agreement follows, once the regulator has reviewed your feasibility study and holds a deposit or bank guarantee. Each car and chauffeur is permitted after that, so the trade licence alone puts no car on the road.

Can a limousine company operate from a free zone in Dubai?

Yes, with the same RTA franchise. Dubai's passenger transport rules apply in free zones as well, so the zone licence covers the company and the RTA covers the cars. Daily pick-ups across the mainland may also need a DET branch licence or permit, which we confirm against where your trips start.

Do limousine drivers need an RTA permit in Dubai?

Yes. Each chauffeur needs a UAE driving licence, a good conduct record and medical fitness. They then pass tests accredited by the RTA's Public Transport Agency before the driver permit issues. Drivers work for the company holding the franchise, and the rules set an upper age limit of 65.

Can a car rental company add chauffeur-driven luxury cars?

Yes, through the RTA's Takamul permit, introduced in 2025. A limousine company and a rental company sharing a partner on their licences can use rented luxury cars with a chauffeur. Hires run for up to one month, and each company keeps its own RTA permit or franchise.

How long does it take to start a limousine business in Dubai?

Months, in most cases. The trade licence comes within days, while the bank account and the RTA franchise review take longer. Cars and chauffeurs are permitted after the franchise is signed, so the first trip depends on the fleet and the driver tests. We plan that order before any car is bought.

Related pages

How many cars will the RTA let you run? Settle it before the fleet order

Thirty minutes on your fleet plan, your chauffeurs and where trips start. You leave with the activity wording, the route and the order of the DET and RTA steps.

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On the call

  1. The activity wording that fits your plan
  2. The route, and the approvals in order
  3. A written scope, agreed before any work starts
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