How to Start a Tourism Company in Dubai: License, Cost & Requirements 2026

Dubai is one of the world’s major tourism destinations, creating opportunities for businesses offering tours, travel services, destination experiences, excursions and tourist transportation. However, the exact licensing requirements depend heavily on what type of tourism activity you intend to operate.

A tourism business must obtain the appropriate Dubai business licence and any external approvals required for its selected activities. Dubai’s official trade-licensing service confirms that external government approvals are required where applicable and that licence fees vary by activity.

This guide explains how to start a tourism company in Dubai, licensing requirements, approvals, costs and the main steps involved in 2026.

What Is a Tourism Company in Dubai?

A tourism company can operate in several different areas of the travel and tourism industry.

Depending on the approved licence activities, the business model may involve:

• Inbound tourism services
• Tour organisation
• Sightseeing tours
• Excursions
• Destination management
• Tourism packages
• Travel-related services
• Desert safari activities
• Tourist transportation
• Airport and hotel transfers
• Online tourism booking services

It is important to define your exact activities before applying for the licence, because a tour operator, travel agency and tourist transport company may have different regulatory requirements.

What License Do You Need to Start a Tourism Company in Dubai?

The licence depends on the activities you intend to provide.

Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) regulates economic activities and business licensing in Dubai. Businesses must hold an appropriate licence for the activities they conduct.

A tourism business may also require approvals from other authorities depending on its activities.

For example, if the company intends to transport tourists using its own tourist vehicles, the activity falls within the tourist transport framework regulated by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

Therefore:

Tourism Company Licence ≠ Automatic Permission for Every Tourism Activity

The licence and approvals must match your actual services.

How to Start a Tourism Company in Dubai

Step 1: Choose Your Tourism Business Activity

Start by deciding exactly what your company will offer.

For example:

Tour Operator: Organising tours and experiences.

Inbound Tourism: Providing tourism services to visitors arriving in Dubai and the UAE.

Travel Services: Travel-related bookings and services subject to the applicable licensed activities.

Desert Safari: Organising desert experiences, potentially involving additional transport and driver requirements.

Tourist Transportation: Transporting tourists between airports, hotels, resorts and tourist attractions.

This decision affects almost every subsequent licensing requirement.

Step 2: Choose a Company Name

Select a suitable trade name for your tourism business and reserve it through the applicable Dubai licensing process.

For a tourism company, consider a name that also works effectively for:

Google Search + Google Maps + Instagram + Booking Platforms + Website + International Customers

A memorable tourism brand can become an important customer-acquisition asset.

Step 3: Determine the Legal Structure

Choose the appropriate legal structure for your business.

The correct structure depends on factors such as:

• Number of shareholders
• Business activities
• Operational requirements
• Location
• Employees
• Future expansion plans

Dubai’s official business portal provides different legal forms for companies established in the emirate.

Step 4: Obtain Initial Approval

Complete the applicable initial business-approval process.

At this stage, your proposed:

Company → Shareholders → Trade Name → Tourism Activities

should be clearly established.

Additional approvals may then be required depending on the tourism activities selected.

Step 5: Obtain Tourism-Related Approvals

This is where a tourism company differs from many ordinary service businesses.

The exact external approvals depend on what the company intends to do.

For example, a business that only organises certain tourism services has different requirements from one operating its own tourist-transport fleet.

Verify the approval requirements for each selected activity before signing expensive leases, purchasing vehicles or investing heavily in the operation.

Step 6: Arrange Suitable Office Premises

For a normal Dubai trade licence, the official Invest in Dubai service identifies a site lease contract as part of the licensing route.

Your premises should suit your operational model.

Consider:

• Customer accessibility
• Office size
• Rent
• Parking
• Staff requirements
• Tourist meeting points
• Transport operations
• Storage where applicable

The required premises can vary considerably depending on the business activity.

Step 7: Obtain the Trade License

Once the applicable company-formation procedures and external approvals have been completed, proceed with issuance of the trade licence.

Dubai’s official licensing portal states that fees vary according to the type of licence and specific activities.

Dubai Trade Licence Service

Step 8: Complete Immigration and Employee Requirements

If your company will employ tourism staff, salespeople, administrative personnel, guides or drivers, you will need to complete the applicable establishment and employment-related processes.

Staff requirements depend on the tourism activities being conducted.

Tourist Transport Company Requirements in Dubai

If your tourism company intends to operate its own tourist vehicles, additional RTA regulation applies.

RTA defines Passenger Transport by Tourist Vehicles as transporting passengers by tourist vehicles to and from places including:

• Airports
• Hotels
• Tourist resorts
• Heritage sites
• Archaeological sites
• Tourist landmarks

The activity can cover transport within and outside Dubai, subject to the applicable regulatory framework.

RTA Tourist Transport Permit Cost

RTA’s published activity card currently lists:

These are RTA permit fees for the relevant tourist transport activity—not the complete cost of establishing a tourism company.

Tourist Transport Manager Requirements

RTA’s current implementing regulations also specify qualifications for an establishment manager in the regulated tourist transport activity.

Among the stated requirements are a Tourism Expert certificate, at least two years of managerial experience, and completion of tourism-activity-related training.

This is another reason to distinguish a general tourism company from a business operating regulated tourist transportation.

Desert Safari Company Setup in Dubai

Desert safari businesses can involve additional regulatory requirements, particularly when the company operates vehicles and employs safari drivers.

RTA provides a dedicated service for driving permits for safari drivers working for tourist companies. Current requirements include a valid Emirates ID, police clearance certificate and valid eye test for the driver.

Therefore, don’t assume that obtaining a general tourism licence automatically allows a company to operate desert safari vehicles.

Tourism Company Setup Cost in Dubai

There is no universal fixed cost for opening a tourism company.

The investment depends on your exact activities and operational model.

Dubai’s official business portal provides a cost calculator because company setup costs depend on the individual business structure and activities.

What Makes a Tourism Business More Expensive?

Operating Your Own Vehicles

A tour company that outsources transportation can have a very different cost structure from a company owning and operating a fleet.

Premium Office Location

Office rent varies significantly by location.

Large Staff

More guides, sales personnel, drivers and administrative staff increase both startup and operating costs.

Online Booking Platform

A professional website with real-time availability, payment processing, CRM and booking-management functionality can require additional investment.

Marketing

Tourism is competitive.

Customer acquisition may require investment in:

Google Ads + SEO + Google Business Profile + Instagram + TikTok + Hotel Partnerships + Travel Agents + OTAs

Tourism Company vs Tourist Transport Company

This distinction is particularly important.

A tourism company may organise and sell tourism-related services according to its licensed activities.

A tourist transport company operating tourist vehicles falls under additional RTA regulation.

RTA currently requires companies conducting commercial transport activities to obtain the appropriate NOC and activity permit. Its NOC service states that activities requiring approval can take approximately 3–15 days, depending on the activity.

Don’t purchase a fleet until you have confirmed which activity and regulatory structure your business requires.

Documents Required to Start a Tourism Company

The exact documents vary according to activity and legal structure but can include:

• Passport copies of shareholders
• Emirates ID where applicable
• Visa/residency documents where applicable
• Trade name reservation
• Initial approval
• Company incorporation documents
• Office lease documentation
• External approvals
• Tourism-activity documents
• RTA documents where transport activities are involved

Additional requirements can apply to specific tourism activities.

How Long Does It Take to Start a Tourism Company?

There is no single timeline applicable to every tourism business.

A straightforward business licence application can move relatively quickly once all requirements are satisfied, but external approvals can extend the process.

For example, RTA currently states 3–15 days for activities requiring approvals under its NOC for New Trade Licence service.

The complete timeline depends on:

Activity Selection → Initial Approval → External Approval → Office → Trade Licence → Operational Permits → Staffing → Launch

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I start a tourism company in Dubai?

Determine your tourism activities, choose the legal structure, reserve the trade name, obtain initial approval, complete applicable tourism/external approvals, arrange premises and obtain the appropriate Dubai business licence.

How much does a tourism license cost in Dubai?

There is no single universal cost. Dubai’s official licensing portal states that fees vary according to licence type and specific activities. Tourism businesses may also incur additional costs for premises, employees and external approvals.

Do I need RTA approval for a tourism company?

Not every tourism business requires the same RTA approval. However, if your company conducts regulated commercial transport activities such as passenger transport by tourist vehicles, RTA requirements apply.

Can a tourism company operate its own vehicles?

Potentially, but the company must satisfy the applicable tourist transport licensing, vehicle, driver and RTA permit requirements.

Can I start a desert safari company in Dubai?

Yes, subject to the appropriate tourism and operational approvals. If the business operates safari vehicles and drivers, additional RTA requirements apply, including safari driver permits.

Can foreigners start a tourism company in Dubai?

Foreign investors can establish businesses in Dubai subject to the ownership, legal-form and activity-specific requirements applicable to the proposed company.

Is a tourism company profitable in Dubai?

Profitability depends on factors such as customer volume, tour margins, seasonality, hotel/travel-agent partnerships, vehicle costs, staffing and customer-acquisition expenses. A strong tourism business should calculate profitability by tour or booking, rather than relying only on revenue.

Start Your Tourism Company in Dubai

Starting a tourism company requires more than obtaining a general business licence. The correct setup depends on whether you plan to provide tour operations, destination services, desert safaris, tourist transportation or other travel-related activities.