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DTCM travel agency licence in Dubai by category

For outbound agencies and inbound tour operators, licensed through DET on the Dubai mainland.

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Wind towers and palm-lined waterways of a Dubai resort with the Burj Al Arab beyond
Licence
DET tourism, mainland
Categories
Inbound, outbound, travel agent
Outbound work
IATA, if it applies
Sell travel
Once the licence issues
At a glance

A travel agency licence in Dubai is a mainland tourism licence from DET (formerly DTCM) for one or more tourist activities. They include travel and tourism agent, inbound tour operator and outbound tour operator, and many agencies need more than one. Agencies that organise tours insure their tourists for the licence term plus one month.

DTCM travel agency licence requirements

  • DET tourism, mainland

    Tourist transport sits with the RTA, which permits the vehicles and drivers an operator uses.

  • Inbound, outbound, travel agent

    DET expects dedicated office space for each tourist activity, so a second one can mean more space.

  • IATA, if it applies

    Selling airline tickets yourself brings IATA accreditation into the plan.

  • Office, visas, corporate account

    The owner and the managing director each need a good conduct certificate, and the manager's qualifications are attested.

Tours, charters and car hire

Each of these runs on its own permit beside the travel licence.

Matching the category to the work

Outbound holidays and inbound tours need separate permissions, and fixing the wrong one usually takes a fresh application.

  1. Read the business

    We start from what you sell and who buys it, inbound visitors or UAE residents travelling abroad.

  2. Confirm the category

    Inbound tour operator, outbound tour operator, travel and tourism agent, or a combination, plus IATA accreditation if outbound applies.

  3. Check the guarantee

    We confirm the current bank-guarantee position for your category.

  4. File, then sell

    The licence is issued first. Guides then need their own DET licence before they lead a group.

Travel assumptions that stall a launch

  • Can the simplest category be fixed later?

    Only by going back to DET. Until the new category issues, that work stays outside your permission.

  • Does a free zone licence cover travel?

    Not for trips in Dubai. They run under a DET licence, through a branch with DET's tourism approval or a mainland company. A free zone licence alone suits trade-facing work.

  • Is taking early bookings harmless?

    No. Selling travel before the licence issues is a regulatory exposure.

Each tourist activity is licensed on its own, so an agency that sells trips abroad and runs tours in Dubai holds both.

We check each part of your plan against those activities before the application goes in.

What travel founders ask us

A question about your own setup? Send it on WhatsApp and an advisor answers it directly.

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Which licence do I need to start a travel agency in Dubai?

A tourism trade licence from DET (formerly DTCM), usually on the mainland. Travel is licensed by category, such as inbound tours, outbound travel and tour operating, and yours must match the business you run.

How much does a travel agency licence cost in Dubai?

It depends on the categories you take, the office DET expects and how many staff visas you sponsor. Selling airline tickets directly brings IATA accreditation and its financial criteria into the plan.

How do I open a travel agency in Dubai?

Start with the category: inbound, outbound, tour operating or a mix. That sets the DET licence, the office expected and whether IATA ticketing comes in, and adding a category later means going back to DET.

What is the difference between a travel agency and a tour operator licence in Dubai?

They are separate categories. Inbound brings visitors to the UAE, outbound sells trips abroad to UAE customers and tour operating runs tours here. An agency selling holidays abroad and desert tours at home holds two.

Can a travel agency be set up in a UAE free zone, or must it be mainland?

Usually mainland, because regulated travel is licensed by the tourism authority. Travel technology or a booking platform with no licensed travel services can sit in a free zone.

What is IATA accreditation, and does a travel agency in Dubai need it?

It lets an agency issue airline tickets directly through IATA's settlement system. An agency booking flights through a consolidator can trade without it, so it mainly suits outbound agencies with steady ticket volume.

Is a DTCM licence the same as a DET tourism licence?

Yes. DTCM became part of the Department of Economy and Tourism, so tourism licences are now issued and renewed by DET. A DTCM-era licence renews with DET under the same category.

Map your travel setup

Match the licence to what you sell

We confirm which DET tourism activities fit what you sell, and the current bank guarantee position.

Book a 15-minute callMessage us on WhatsApp

On the call

  1. The travel business you are building: inbound, outbound or both
  2. Which category fits, and the guarantee position
  3. The structure, confirmed before you file

Replies within two business hours, Monday to Saturday. About the firm

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