Dubai Tour Guide License

In the last few decades, Dubai has transformed itself from being a desert outpost to the ultimate business & tourist destination for people around the world. This beautiful city of high-rises and shopping malls is famous for many cultural highlights with glamorous add-ons. 

No wonder so many tourists flock to this place for sightseeing, shopping and to have a wonderful time with their families. Not just this, the government is also bringing in new strategies to sustain its presence in the tourism sector. 

Perhaps that’s the high demand for a Dubai tour guide license. Apart from this, many entrepreneurs and investors are trying to get their hands and leverage the tourism industry in Dubai.

All About Tourism License in Dubai

Every business setup in Dubai needs an authorized license. Similarly, to start a tourism business, you need to have a relevant license from the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM). You can start the tourism business only after getting your company's appropriate tourism license in Dubai. To set up a business in tourism, Dubai provides 3 main types of licenses, namely:

• Travel agency license as an operator of inbound tourism
• Travel agency license as an operator of outbound tourism
• Travel agency license as a travel agent

Travel agency license as an operator of inbound tourism

Acquiring this type of license can help a company arrange inbound tours. A company with this license can arrange trips within Dubai, and tours for foreigners to attend conferences, meetings, and events. 

They must also have an insurance policy so that risks are covered in the future during any tourism programs.

The policy's validity shall cover the total term of the license and will finish after 1 month following the license expiry date.

Travel agency license as an operator of outbound tourism

Contrary to inbound tourism, having an outbound tourism license will enable a company to arrange tours in Dubai as well as outside Dubai. Along with it, the company can also arrange conferences, meetings, events, and exhibitions internationally. 

Similar to an inbound license, acquiring an outbound license will include having an insurance policy to cover uncertainties in the future. The validity of the insurance should cover the total term of the license and will expire after a month following the license expiry date. 

Travel agency license as a travel agent

The third and final type of license is that of a travel agent. This type of license is for agents who sell air tickets outside the country, providing visa support, tourist accommodation, organizing tours, and other transportation services. 

Acquiring this license type also carries the same necessities as the other two. Still, here the agent must arrange a No Objection Certificate (NOC) on behalf of the Department of Civil Aviation of the Emirate. 

To get a NOC, a request letter in Arabic must be submitted in the local sponsor's name. They should also provide a lease contract and the blueprint of the location where the travel agency will operate.

Travel And Tourism License Cost in Dubai 

Certain businesses are promising and the tourism business in Dubai is one among them. Tourism business in Dubai The travel and tourism license cost in Dubai depends on what type of license you choose. One must spend around Dh100,000-200,000 for a tourism license fee in Dubai. Dubai tourism license for inbound tourism involves providing an irrevocable bank guarantee of Dh100,000 in the name of DTCM issued by any bank operating in the Emirate.

The security for a Travel agency license as an operator of outbound tourism is slightly more than for an inbound license. The company shall provide an irrevocable bank guarantee of Dh200,000 in the name of DTCM issued by any bank operating in the Emirate.

As a travel agent, you should deposit Dh100,000 bank security in the name of DTCM issued by any bank in the Emirate.

About the Dubai Tour Guide License

Things to know before applying for a Dubai tour guide license

• A tour guide must have a valid Dubai tour guide license badge issued by DTCM.
• To be issued a tour guide license badge, a person must complete the Tour Guide Award Program developed by DTCM.
• The tour guide license badge is valid for 1 year.
• The Dubai tour guide license renewal is done annually, provided that the tour guide attends the annual refresher course developed by DTCM.
• In case of failure to renew one’s license badge for 2 consecutive years by a tour guide, he/she will be subject to the penalty specified by DTCM.
• A tour guide must wear and prominently display one’s license badge on one’s chest while on duty for easy reference by tourists and DTCM employees.
• A tourist establishment may hire a tour guide only if he/she has a valid tour guide license badge.

Apart from this, one can also start small and become a tour operator. A tour guide is the one who performs the activities of guiding and accompanying tourists to the various tourist and archaeological sites in the Emirate and providing tourists with information about these sites. Opening a travel agency in Dubai can also be one of the best businesses.

If you need help in getting a tourism license in Dubai, do contact us we can help you with it.