Starting a travel agency in Dubai involves a tourism-services activity licence through Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), plus registration requirements tied to selling flights, tour packages and travel-related services that go beyond a standard trading licence.
Licensing and IATA considerations
A travel agency needs DET's tourism/travel-agency activity licence, and if the business intends to issue airline tickets directly, IATA (International Air Transport Association) accreditation is typically required separately from the trade licence itself — a process with its own financial-standing and staffing requirements distinct from company formation. Agencies that only sell packages through other IATA-accredited providers, rather than issuing tickets themselves, may not need this accreditation.
Mainland or free zone in Dubai
Travel agencies with a walk-in retail storefront generally need a mainland licence, while an online-only or B2B travel business without a physical retail location can often operate through a free zone licence instead. This site's Free Zone vs Mainland Tool can help you weigh this against your specific business model.
Costs and timeline
Beyond the base trade licence, budget separately for IATA accreditation costs and financial guarantee requirements if you plan to issue tickets directly — these are a meaningfully larger and slower process than the trade licence alone. Model your base licensing cost with this site's Business Setup Cost Calculator.