Who is eligible to apply for tour operator registration in Dubai?

Any company established in Dubai and holding a valid commercial trade licence may apply for registration as a tour operator in the UAE. To qualify, the business must appoint a qualified manager with recognised academic credentials and experience in tourism, maintain office premises and provide the required bank guarantee. EGSH verifies eligibility, reviews the application, and submits it directly through DET's system to ensure the licence is secured without procedural errors.

What are the requirements for obtaining a tour operator licence in the UAE?

To obtain a tour operator licence in the UAE, a company must comply with DET regulations. The key requirements include: maintaining office premises of at least 30 m², a qualified manager with verified tourism-related education and experience, providing recent good conduct certificates, holding a valid tenancy contract, and submitting a bank guarantee issued by a UAE bank — AED 100,000 for inbound tourism activities or AED 200,000 for outbound operations.

How long does it take to obtain a tourism business licence in Dubai?

The timeframe depends on compliance with DET requirements and the accuracy of the submitted documents. In practice, the application is processed once DET completes its review and confirms that all conditions are met. EGSH prepares and verifies the documents, which minimises the risk of rejection and supports the timely issuance of the tourism business licence in Dubai.

What are the government fees for registering a tourism company in Dubai?

The Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) applies official fees for processing applications, issuing licences, and renewing them upon expiry. The exact fee structure depends on the scope of activities, such as inbound or outbound tour operations, and is published by DET in its schedule of charges. In addition, a refundable bank guarantee of AED 100,000 for inbound tourism or AED 200,000 for outbound tourism is required from a UAE bank. EGSH provides clients with a full breakdown of DET fees and related charges before applying.

Can a foreign investor apply for a travel agency licence in Dubai?

Foreign investors may establish a company in Dubai and apply for a travel agency licence in Dubai or a tour operator licence through the DET. The investor must complete the standard company formation process, obtain a trade licence, and meet DET requirements for tourism licensing.

How long is a tourism licence valid for?

In Dubai, a tourism licence issued by the DET is valid for one year. To remain active, the licence must be renewed annually via the official DET system.

How can a tourism company in Dubai renew its licence?

A tour company in Dubai must renew its licence with the DET every year. The renewal process involves submitting updated company documents, confirming office premises, providing proof of the appointed manager's credentials and presenting a valid bank guarantee. Government fees must be paid in full before the DET issues the renewed licence.

Can a tourism company be registered in the Dubai Free Zone?

According to UAE tourism regulations, tour companies can be established in Dubai's free zones, provided they are permitted to conduct tourism activities. However, to operate as a licensed tour operator or travel agency in the emirate, a tourism licence from the DET is required. Registration in a free zone alone does not authorise the provision of inbound or outbound tourism services without DET approval. EGSH advises on the correct corporate structure, coordinates between the free zone authority and DET, and completes the licensing procedure in compliance with UAE tourism regulations.

Tour Operator Registration in Dubai, UAE – DED & DTCM Licensing with EGSH

Name: Tour Operator Registration
Brand: Emirates Government Services Hub

What Is Tour Operator Registration in the UAE

Licensing of Tourism Establishments by the Department of Economy and Tourism

Tour operator registration is the official licensing procedure for companies conducting inbound or outbound tourism activities in Dubai. The licence is issued by the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), the authority responsible for regulating all tourism establishments in the emirate.

Any company engaged in organising tours, selling travel packages, or providing travel agency services must obtain this licence before commencing operations. The requirement applies equally to UAE-registered businesses and foreign investors establishing tourism companies in Dubai.

EGSH, as a government-authorised centre, submits applications directly through DET's system in full compliance with regulatory requirements. Clients are issued a valid tourism licence confirming their registration as licensed tour operators.

Licensing of Tourism Establishments by the Department of Economy and Tourism

Visit Our Centre

Meet with an EGSH specialist to confirm eligibility, activity type, and DET requirements for tour operator licensing.

Submit the Documents

Provide the completed application, corporate licence papers, manager credentials, and the mandatory bank guarantee.

Pay the Service Fee

Pay the DET licensing and registration fees through authorised channels during the application process.

Receive the Licence

Once approved, receive the DET-issued tourism licence, which confirms your registration as a licensed tour operator.

Visit EGSH for VIP Service Without Queues

You can stop by EGSH during working hours without an appointment or book your visit at a time that suits you best.

Address
Art of Living Mall, Al Barsha 2, Dubai

Operating hours
Monday–Thursday, Saturday: 9:00 am–5:00 pm
Friday: 9:00 am–12:00 pm, 2:00 pm–5:00 pm
Sunday: Closed

Call +971 4 612 1810 WhatsApp

Company Documents

Valid trade licence, commercial registration papers, and tenancy contract for office premises.

Manager Credentials

Attested academic qualifications, proof of required experience, and a recent Good Conduct Certificate.

Bank Guarantee

Financial guarantee issued by a UAE bank: AED 100,000 for inbound, AED 200,000 for outbound operators.

Application Forms

Completed DET application and undertakings for compliance, client information accuracy, and complaint handling.

About EGSH

Government-Authorised Centre for Tourism Licensing in Dubai

EGSH is a government-authorised service centre accredited by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) to process registrations for tour operators. The centre is fully integrated with DET systems, allowing for the direct submission of applications and the issuance of tourism licences.

All documents are verified for compliance with DET regulations, reducing the risk of rejection or delay. The entire process is managed under one roof, with applications submitted to the DET system in accordance with UAE tourism licensing requirements.

Government-Authorised Centre for Tourism Licensing in Dubai

Why EGSH

EGSH makes all public services available in one place—fast, transparent, and compliant. We deliver convenience, personalised support, and priority processing for every client, focusing on innovation and sustainability.

Our Mission

To simplify life in Dubai by providing secure, seamless access to all government and real estate services from a single centre.

Our Vision

To set the benchmark for integrated government solutions, delivering efficiency and exceptional client care across the UAE.

Our Values

Transparency, efficiency, innovation, and complete client satisfaction.

Business Licence

Get your Dubai business licence with EGSH.

From AED 130

Company Registration

Start your business in Dubai with EGSH’s expert company registration services.

From AED 2,200

All Services

View all Business Registration and Licensing Services

Still have any questions?

Dubai Economy & Tourism (DET) Services Consultant at EGSH

Explained by

Shaimaa Sayed Awais

Dubai Economy & Tourism (DET) Services Consultant at EGSH

Shaimaa Sayed Awais is a consultant specialising in Dubai Economy & Tourism (DET) services and business setup procedures. She supports entrepreneurs, investors, and companies in completing commercial licensing processes in compliance with UAE regulations.

About the Expert

Government Authorisation

EGSH is an authorised Dubai Economy and Tourism centre providing official business registration services in full compliance with local regulations.

One-Stop Service

All procedures, document submissions, and payments are handled in one place, eliminating the need to contact multiple offices.

Confidentiality Guaranteed

All personal data and documents are processed securely and confidentially in accordance with UAE law.

Multilingual Support

Our team speaks several languages, ensuring clear communication for clients of almost all backgrounds.

Personalised Assistance

Each client is assigned a dedicated consultant for individual support throughout the process.

Flexible Appointment Scheduling

Book your visit at a convenient time. Our office is open Monday to Saturday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Best service ever. Special thanks to Mirabelle — she is extremely efficient with property transfers and always makes the process smooth and hassle-free.

Big thanks to ZARA for her amazing support! She was extremely helpful when my employee approval got stuck in the Amer system. She went the extra mile to sort it out quickly. Her responsiveness made all the difference, greatly appreciated!!!

Very professional and friendly. They made the property transfer easy and smooth. Golden visa process seamless and thanks to Maya that all the staff (In particular to Maya!!!).

Zara was very helpful and professional. All the documents were submitted very fast by her and the service we received were very efficient. Highly recommend!

Natalia was very professional, she was a pleasure to deal with. Answering my questions, always responsive to phone calls and very prompt at providing updates at each stage of golden visa application which was very quick to process.

had an excellent experience with EGSH. They truly live up to their promise of one-stop government services, handling everything with efficiency and professionalism from start to finish.

I had a wonderful experience. She provided outstanding service with great professionalism and care. Everything was handled smoothly and efficiently. I truly appreciate her dedication and would definitely recommend her services to others

Zara helped to get my Ejari completed. I recommend service here

Maria Claudia garcia helped me to renew my kids Emirates id. She went the extra mile to help me and she was so efficient and her communication skills are amazing. I would recommend the ESGH Emirates government services in barsha anytime. Thank you Maria for your help

Such a great service with an amazing and friendly environment and i would like to specially thank zara for her exceptional professionalism and support.

Had a great experience at Emirates Government Service Hub. Zara Moshiri truly went above and beyond to help me with my visa. I was facing a few issues during the process, and she handled everything patiently and professionally until it was sorted. Really grateful for her support — definitely ask for her when you visit this branch.

I would like to recognize the exceptional service I received from Umida at EGSH. From the very first minute, she made me feel genuinely welcome and at ease. Navigating the documentation required for a Golden Visa can be complex, yet Umida went far beyond what is typically expected — guiding me through every requirement with clarity, professionalism, and patience.

We are extremely pleased with the excellent visa services provided by EGSH in Dubai. From start to finish, their team demonstrated professionalism, efficiency, and deep expertise in handling visa applications for our workforce.

Ms. Zara Moshiri is extremely professional, patient, and supportive. She provided clear and thorough guidance and took the time to answer all my questions. I truly appreciate her help and highly recommend working with her.

Outstanding Service and Professionalism My wife and I recently applied for and obtained our 5-year Golden Visa (Retiree) in an exceptionally short time — mine in three days and my wife’s in just one day. We are extremely satisfied with the service provided by EGSH Emirates Government Service Hub.

Exceptional service every step of the way For showing your great example of services Remarkable dedication of consultant mrs Maria Garcia regalado. Thank you EGSH service Hub team

Amazing service! They went above and beyond to assist and resolved my concern there and then! Highly recommended anyone to visit this centre, the ladies are very helpful

Went there for a consulting. Booked an appointment in advance thro their website. Came early — no line — which is good. Very pleasant interior. My consultant Rachel, was polite. Answered all my questions. Can’t judge regarding the process once applied for an exact service, but consulting went well.

Amazing support and communication during the whole process. Rachel, Yara and Maria were super well organized and assisted in record time. We finished the whole process from star to end in 4 business days for 10 year Golden Visa!

I had an excellent experience with the wonderful help of Maria Claudia Garcia. Her professionalism and attention to detail made the whole process easy.

They are really very amazing very kind I was having problem with my residency and my license miss Zara and miss Amna they really help me from start to end and they are really very kind and professional highly recommend if any wants to setup there business go with egsh and thanks miss Zara 🙏 you are really very amazing person

I had a pleasure being assistanced by Ms. Natalia today and her support throughout the process. Everything was smooth, super professional, efficient and high level service was exceptional. Highly recommended for anyone looking for reliable and smooth government-related services.

I had such a great experience with EGSH (Emirates Government Services Hub)! Everything went super smoothly, and the team was really helpful. A big shout‑out to Ms. Zara Moshiri—she was kind and supportive the whole way through. Truly appreciate it!

Super quick and efficient service. Maria was available via WhatsApp and responded very quickly to all messages.

I got a delightful service from them to upgrade my visa category half of the expected timeline. Compared with my previous place, this the best and I would like to recommend any of visa service for all of you. * reasonable fair (I was asked twice my previous what I paid). * fast service and delivering before timeline. * Authentic service. Thank you so much Maria for your dedicated service.!

An exceptional service from Zara at EGSH. She guided us perfectly through the process and managed to get us even more than we had anticipated. A world class service center with exceptional staff. Would recommend them to anyone who wants to get sorted for government services

Hello, My Name is Kelvin it was my first time to hear EGSH Emirates Govt from my sponsor. I was assisted By Mrs Maria Claudia Garcia the experience was amazing from the beginning to the End she has been supporting and guiding me through all the process. I am grateful to her and the entire team for the help. I trust and believe EGSH is a place to recommend to family members and friends.

A very hassle free experience from EGSH. Special mention of Ms.Zara who was most helpfull. Her quick response to queries and swift action are much appeciated.

We had the pleasure of being assisted by the lovely Ms Maria and Ms Randa. They were clear concise and super professional throughout our whole process of renewing our Ejari and business licence. Maria provided continued support while we were waiting for our business Ejari to come through and made it a simple seamless process.

EGSH in art of living is the best Hub center for every thing that you want in dubai Specially Ms.ZARA MOSHIRI is the advisor and assistance and she is beside you in every step Thank you Ms.ZARA MOSHIRI and EGSH

I recently visited this institution had an exceptional experience! Ms. Maria Claudia took the time to understand my needs and preferences. I really appreciate her support and services.

Good morning, I needed to apply for the Golden Visa and went to this EGSH Emirates office. I was very impressed by their facilities and the peaceful atmosphere. We were fortunate to be assisted by María Claudia García, who provided exceptional service. She advised and helped us every step of the way, guiding us through the entire process until we obtained the Golden Visa.

I would like to express my appreciation to Ray from EGSH for his outstanding assistance in handling the transfer of our property at Rove Hotel. He was very helpful, accommodating, and patient throughout the entire process, from addressing transaction concerns and verifying documents to the actual property transfer and ensuring the new owner received the title deed…

I worked with Amir and Zara, they took care of everything, I only had to send the mandatory information. In a very short time, everything was completed. I was amazed, considering how difficult it had seemed before. Not to mention, the fees were the same or even lower than those of the other companies I mentioned. For me, it was a 10/10 experience, the quickest and smoothest process someone could have in this journey. Strongly recommend them.

Zara assisted me with my Ejari registration, and she was absolutely amazing. She demonstrated exceptional professionalism, efficiency, and delivered everything promptly. Truly a pleasure to work with!

THE BEST!!! Zara you are as always star

Thanks to EGSH and to Zara for Excellent service — professional, attentive, and truly pleasant experience. Highly recommended!

Had an amazing service for the transfer of property there, specially Rachel Rahmat she was very helpfull throughout the process, looking forward to work more.

Visited for the first time for a property transfer and had an amazing experience with Jessieca! She was professional, helpful, and made the entire process smooth and stress-free. Highly recommended for all government services excellent customer service!

Personally, I find this the best centre in Dubai. They always go the extra mile. Especially Maria Garcia has help out so much in such an efficient way! Thank you!

Went there for ejari cancellation. Excellent place. Staff was so cooperative. Ms Maria and Ms Fatima assist me and it was a fast process.

This is probably the best government service hub in Dubai. You come in, asked to be seated, and the staff will come to you instead of standing on the reception and on queue. They will offer you tea and water are available at each table. Really embodies the Emirati hospitality and what seamstresses Dubai is known for.

I was here the morning of this post. The concierge like service with a contact person arranging for you all the difeerent interactions is making the interactuon as smooth as possible. A truly delightful experience and a true commitment to service excellence, thank you for the great experience and for the initiative to present government interactions in this way!

Outstanding service — fast, friendly, and highly professional. Thank you very much!

I’ve been here for the first time and I can say that this organization definitely worth to come here and make all proceeds with their help! We were changing the owner and such difficult process was really easy for us with your help and most of the time it was done online. So I’m very grateful to Mrs Zara and her support during all the process❤️

I had an excellent experience with Natalia Baiamonte from EGSH while getting Ejari certificate. From the very beginning, she was professional, attentive, and extremely helpful. Natalia guided me through the process clearly, answered all my questions with patience, and made task feel simple and stress-free. Highly recommend Natalia for her outstanding customer service and dedication!

We had great experience with Amal She is so helpful and awesome She stayed with us over her duty today just to finish her work Thanks Amal

I had a really good experience with EGSH (Emirates Government Services Hub). Everything went smoothly and the team was super helpful. Special thanks to Zara and Amal. they were so supportive and kind throughout the process. Really appreciate it!

I had a great experience with this office. They handle everything related to company setup, residency, Golden Visa, DLD, and more. The office is very clean, modern, and welcoming, and the staff are extremely professional and polite. A special thank to Ms. Zara for her kindness and guidance throughout the process so smoothly and professionally, and to Ms. Amal for managing the administrative registration.

Zara is the best always attentive to every requests and helping with a solving problems without delay thank you Zara❤️🌸 …

Absolutely stunning office, i am awestruck. No one can beat Dubai for the kind of hospitality you get in a government office… Its mind-blowing 😍 i wish i could give a 10 star rating (double) on 5 🤩

I had a great experience with EGHS. I was assisted by Sarah Almeida and she delivered an amazing service. Very attentive, promptly responded my messages and guided me throughout the process. It was all very smooth and done very quickly. I highly recommend and I’ll definitely use their services again.