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Dubai is known as a global tourist hub, and it is most popular for its desert activities. The Desert Safari Tour has a unique place among tourist attractions. It has dune bashing, camel rides, and a traditional Arabian dinner for the complete experience of amusement and culture.
If you are an entrepreneur who is interested in starting a lucrative business in the tourism industry. It is the best time to start your own desert safari tour company in Dubai. The number of tourists continues to increase, and the government is also encouraging tourism, which creates a large potential for this type of business.
In this blog, we are going to go through all the information you need to know to open your desert safari tour business in Dubai!
As per the data, more than 17 million international visitors chose Dubai as their tourist location in 2023, a number that is growing year by year. Many of these visitors are excited by the prospect of desert safaris. Here’s why the future of this business is looking bright:
Dubai's desert safari experiences run continuously throughout all seasons. This means tourists can be served 365 days a year. There are many tourists from the budget and luxury segments.
These different travelers give business owners several different options for customizing packages and more ways to earn revenue. Desert safari tours can attract:
You can start your business with some of the 4x4 vehicles and then later add:
The UAE government has a pro-tourism policy, such as Dubai Tourism Vision 2030. It aspires to attract more and more tourists. This will generate significantly more tourists and opportunities for your safari business.
Mainland: Best option if you want to work all over the city, partner with hotels, and provide transportation.
Free Zone: It will be cheaper, but you can only operate in the area of the Free Zone.
Your license should include the proper activities. For example, if you are starting a desert safari business, you will likely need the “Inbound Tourism Operator License” or the “Desert Safari Tour Operator License” for your business.
This would allow you to:
Select a name that is relevant to your business. The name of the business you have selected should be unique, and it should reflect the identity of your business and services. You have to make sure that the name you have selected is according to the:
You need a tourism license from the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) if you want to start your tourism business legally in Dubai. Documents you will need to apply for the Trade License include:
There are some additional approvals that you need from the following authorities:
To lawfully launch your business in Dubai, you need to rent or purchase a physical office and garage premises (or parking space) for your safari vehicles.
If you are looking to purchase 4x4s, you will need the following:
If you want to start a profitable business, then you need to hire a professional team for your business. Your team member should be:
If you cater to different types of customers, you have to customize different types of safari design packages, such as
Here is the estimated cost for the desert safari business starting in Dubai:
Expense
Estimated Cost (AED)
Trade License
12000* - 15000*
Office Rent & Ejari
15000* - 30000*
Vehicle Purchase (per unit)
100,000* - 150,000*
Driver Salaries
3000* - 5000*
Insurance & Modifications
5000* - 10000* per vehicle
Approvals & Permits
5000* - 10000*
Flyingcolour Business Setup has more than 20 years of experience in business setup. We have helped entrepreneurs to start businesses in the UAE. We understand the tourism segment and will make sure you have a profitable safari business set up in the UAE. Here’s why you should partner with Flyingcolour® for your safari business.
If you are passionate about adventure and tourism, you can start a desert safari tour business in Dubai. We will provide you with a complete guide about solid planning and the proper licenses, approvals, and other requirements.
If you want to start with a small investment or have ambitions to create a luxury safari brand, Flyingcolour® will be a trusted business partner from day one.
If you choose a mainland setup, you may require a local service agent. However, it is possible in certain cases to have 100% foreign ownership. We can assist you in deciding which legal structure is best for you.
Free Zones come with many benefits, but since you will be operating outside the zone (in the desert), you may need some external approvals. In general, a mainland setup is better suited to conducting a tourism business.
With our assistance, the time frame to set up your business is 5-10 working days, depending on documents and approvals being undertaken.
You will require 4x4s that have been modified for dune bashing. The most common options are the Toyota Land Cruiser and the Nissan Patrol. These vehicles should be registered and insured for commercial use.
Therefore, to learn more about How to open a Desert Safari Tour business in Dubai, Book a free consultation with one of the Flyingcolour Business Setup team advisors.
The article was published on 31/07/2025. It is important to note that the federal policies and updates mentioned may have changed since then. For the most current information, please contact our consultant!
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