Dubai has evolved from a desert city to the ultimate business and tourist destination for people from all over the world in the last few decades. After London, Paris, and Bangkok, Dubai is said to be the world's fourth most visited country. This stunning city of high-rises and shopping malls is known for a variety of cultural attractions with glittering amenities. It's no surprise that so many visitors come here to sight-see, shop, and spend quality time with their families. The government is also implementing new policies to maintain its tourism presence, which is why Dubai's travel and tourism industry is booming at such a rapid pace. Several entrepreneurs and investors are attempting to gain a foothold in Dubai's tourism industry.
How to Start a Tourism Company in Dubai?
A valid license from the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing is required to start a travel and tourism business in Dubai (DTCM). Only after you have obtained a Dubai tourism license for your company can you begin your tourism business. Dubai offers 3 different types of licenses for starting a tourism business:
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
This license allows a company to organize trips inside Dubai, as well as tours for foreigners attending conferences, meetings, and events. To obtain a Dubai tourism license for inbound tourism, you must first obtain an irrevocable bank guarantee of Dh100,000 in the name of DTCM from any bank in the Emirate. They must also have an insurance plan to cover risks that could arise during future tourism projects. The policy's validity will last for the duration of the license and will expire one month after the license expires.
Travel agency license as an operator of outbound tourism
In contrast to inbound tourism, an outbound tourism license allows a company to organize tours both within and outside of Dubai. Besides, the organization will organize international conferences, meetings, festivals, and exhibitions. Getting an outbound license would require obtaining an insurance policy to cover future risks. The insurance should be valid for the entire duration of the license and will expire one month after the license expires. In Dubai, the protection fee for this form of tourism license fee is marginally higher than the fee for an inbound license. Any bank operating in the Emirate must issue an irrevocable bank guarantee in the name of DTCM.
Travel agency license as a travel agent
The third and final form of license is a travel agent's license. This license is for agents who sell air tickets outside of the country, provide visa assistance, provide tourist lodging, organize tours, and provide other transportation services. The requirements for obtaining this form of license are the same as for the other two, but the agent must arrange for a No Objection Certificate (NOC) on behalf of the Emirate's Department of Civil Aviation. A request letter in Arabic must be sent in the name of the local sponsor to obtain a NOC. It entails depositing Dh100,000 bank protection in the name of DTCM with any Emirate bank. A lease contract and a blueprint of the location where the travel agency will work should also be included.
Documents Required:
An application form
Copy of foreign passport of the applicants
A certificate approving the manager's qualifications as well as a certificate confirming the manager's experience.
Clean criminal record certificate of the manager and the owner of the company
NOC issued by the Civil Aviation Authority
Each activity requires a 30 square meter office room, according to the document.
Apart from that, one can start small and work as a tour guide. A tour guide is a person who is responsible for guiding and accompanying tourists to the Emirate's various tourist and archaeological sites, as well as providing information about these sites. To do so, you'll need a new driver's license. The application for a Dubai tour guide license entails a set of steps, as well as terms and conditions, as listed below:
A tour guide must have a valid Dubai tour guide license badge issued by DTCM.
An individual must complete the Tour Guide Award Program established by DTCM to receive a tour guide license badge.
The tour guide license badge is valid for 1 year.
The license of a Dubai tour guide is renewed every year if the tour guide attends a DTCM-developed annual refresher course.
If a tour guide fails to renew his or her license badge for two years in a row, he or she will be subject to the DTCM penalty.
When on duty, a tour guide must wear and display his or her license badge on the chest for visitors and DTCM employees to see.
Only a tour guide with a valid tour guide license badge can be hired by a tourist destination.
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