How to open a travel agency in Dubai?

Dubai ranks among the most popular tourist destinations in the world. Its breathtaking architecture, luxurious stay, and delectable food separate it from the rest. Therefore, launching a travel agency business in Dubai is a smart business choice. The best part is that opening such a venture in the UAE is pretty easy as all you need is a valid license alongside other additional approvals.

New-age investors and entrepreneurs prefer to set up their business in the Emirates because of the tax-friendly laws, supportive government, hassle-free resource availability, and a lot more. However, it can be hectic for an ex-pat to manage everything on his own. Therefore, the business experts at Shuraa help you open your tourism business in the UAE by providing end-to-end business assistance.

Steps to set up a travel agency in Dubai

Setting up a tourism company in the UAE is straightforward and pretty convenient. All the laws are well-defined, and you can get done with the process in a quick time if you have all the resources and documents ready. Here’s a stepwise breakdown of the procedure:

1. Decide your company’s structure

You need to decide your company’s structure before getting started with the actual process of establishing your travel agency business in Dubai. You can open an LLC (limited liability company) in the mainland region to explore the world-famous local marketplace of Dubai. Otherwise, you can set up your company in any of the free trading zones to enjoy 100% business ownership. Several other structures like joint venture, shareholding company, branch or representative office, etc., are also among the available options. Therefore, you need to choose the one that best suits your business requirements.

2. List the business activities

You should know all the business activities that you wish to carry out on a daily basis once you form your tourism business in the UAE. The DED maintains a list of more than 2,000 permissible business activities, and all you need to do is pick the ones that match your requirements. You can always apply for external approvals for all the activities that aren’t mentioned in the list maintained by the concerned economic department. It’s better to make a list of all these activities beforehand to avoid any last-minute hassle.

3. Reserve a trading name

What’s the name you have in mind for your travel agency business in Dubai? All business entities in the UAE need to have a legal trading name irrespective of their niche and business category. Therefore, it’s no different for the tourism business too. Always choose a name that’s indicative of your business sector and isn’t a gimmick of some other brand’s name. Never use derogatory terms or words that are controversial or insulting in any sense. Moreover, ensure to use the full name of a person if you wish to keep it as your company’s official name.

4. Apply for your business license

Once you’re done with the steps mentioned above, you can apply for your business license. Companies established in the mainland region need to get in touch with the DED, while those in the free zones should approach their respective jurisdiction. Furthermore, don’t forget to submit all the mandatory documents alongside your business application and pay the required fee within the specified timeframe. You need to approach DTCM (Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing) in case you need any additional approvals for your business license.

5. Obtain the permit for travel agency tourism company

Investors looking to open a travel agency business in Dubai must obtain this permit from the DTCM to carry out their business activities without any compliance issues in the UAE. There are several tourism license permits, and you need to select the one that matches your business activities. They include:

• Inbound tour operator: the travel agents who acquire this tourism license deal with incentive tours for expats who’re visiting the UAE to be a part of a meeting, seminar, conference, etc. You’re allowed to manage visa, stay, and transport for the foreigner once you get the inbound tour operator permit.
• Outbound tour operator: this license is for travel agents looking for international collaborations. The primary business activity associated with the permit is to sell tourism packages abroad.
• Travel agent: the travel agent license includes numerous permissible activities like selling tickets, managing hotel reservations, providing car rental services, etc. Apply to the DTCM if you wish to obtain a travel license in the UAE.

You can connect with Shuraa’s legal advisors if you don’t know which one’s the best for you, and we’ll ensure that you choose the right one.

6. Manage visas and open a bank account

Applicants can manage visas for themselves, their families, domestic staff, etc., once they have all the required licenses and permits. You need to follow the standard visa application process to procure visas for your relatives and dependents. Moreover, you also need to open a corporate bank account for your tourism business in the UAE to monitor all the monetary transactions. Always choose a bank that’s secure, reliable, and offers long-term benefits. That’s it. You’re set to launch your travel agency business in Dubai.

Benefits of setting up your travel agency in Dubai

Doing business in Dubai is highly profitable, thanks to the business-friendly laws maintained by the government. Listed below of some of the key benefits of launching a travel agency business in Dubai:

1. Dubai’s tourism industry is on the rise and continues to unfurl unprecedented numbers each year. People from different cultures, languages, and ethnicities visit the UAE and have a ball time in the country. Therefore, setting up a tourism business in the UAE becomes risk-free, thanks to the booming tourism industry.
2. You can organize several events under MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) when you get a travel agency license in the UAE. This helps you raise brand awareness for your company while also getting a chance to engage with your target audience.
3. You don’t need to pay any corporate taxes in the UAE. Therefore, you’re able to make sizable profits from your tourism venture right from the start. Moreover, the government allows complete repatriation of profits and capital gains too.

What paperwork goes into a travel agency opening a tourism business in the UAE?

You need to submit all the required documents to legitimize your travel agency business in Dubai. Here’s a summarized list of documents that you must have and submit:

• Duly filled application form
• Passport copies of the applicants and the manager
• Copy of identification documents for the UAE nationals and a family record called the Khulasat Al Qaid
• A notarized copy of the manager’s certificate of experience
• Certificates of good conduct of the owner and the manager
• NOC issued by the Civil Aviation Authority

Consult with Shuraa

The UAE is the land of opportunities where businesses belonging to various industries and genres find a place for themselves. The same is also the case for a travel agency business in Dubai as the lucrative investment options make it a no-brainer to launch such a venture in this part of the world. All you need to do is get in touch with Shuraa Business Setup, and we’ll handle the rest. Our business consultants take care of documentation, licensing, banking, and everything else you need for opening a tourism business in the UAE. So, what’s the wait for? Connect with Shuraa today to turn your dream into reality!

Click here to book a free consultation with us or call us at +971 44081900. You can also reach out to us on WhatsApp by dropping

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