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Overview
Dubai is one of the world’s top travel destinations, and for Indian entrepreneurs, it’s also one of the best places to start a travel and tourism business. Whether you want to run a luxury tour company, a visa service agency or an international travel booking firm, Dubai offers a business friendly environment backed by world class infrastructure and global travelers.
In this complete guide we break down everything Indian entrepreneurs need to know about starting a tourism business in Dubai, including licensing, costs, regulations and setup steps—all in simple English.
Dubai attracted over 18 million visitors in 2024 and is consistently among the top 5 most visited cities globally. The government is investing in tourism infrastructure including luxury hotels, theme parks and cultural attractions.
Dubai’s tourism sector is regulated by the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). It offers streamlined business licensing and initiatives like Dubai Tourism Strategy 2031 to attract 40 million hotel guests annually by 2031.
Indian tourists top the list of visitors to Dubai every year. This gives Indian entrepreneurs a natural market advantage in offering tailored services, visa assistance, language based packages and regional tours.
Dubai offers 0% personal income tax and corporate tax is applied at 9% only for businesses with annual profits above AED 375,000 (as per Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022).
As of 2023, most business activities in Dubai (including travel and tourism) allow 100% foreign ownership—no local sponsor needed. Entrepreneurs can also apply for Golden Visas or investor visas.
Depending on your business model you can choose from the following tourism licenses:
Allows you to organize tours for tourists coming into Dubai, including hotel bookings, sightseeing, desert safaris, cultural tours etc.
Enables you to offer travel packages from the UAE to international destinations.
To operate a fully digital travel portal (ideal for e-commerce travel models).
Mainland (via Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism)
Mainland allows direct B2C dealings in the UAE. Free Zones are best for international travel operators or OTAs.
Sole Proprietorship
Submit 3 proposed trade names for approval. Ensure the name complies with UAE naming rules, avoid abbreviations and religious references.
Include:
For mainland setups, DET will review your qualifications (or appoint a manager with relevant tourism experience).
Once documents are approved, make the necessary payment and receive your license within 3–7 working days.
Required for all transactions. Banks include Emirates NBD, RAKBANK, Mashreq and ADCB.
You can sponsor staff under your trade license. Investor visa or employee visas can be issued based on company size and business type.
Whether you’re opening a walk-in travel office, a call center or a mobile app, ensure you have proper branding, website and sales funnel in place.
Passport copy of shareholder(s) and manager
Federal Law No. 2 of 2015 (Commercial Companies Law)Dubai Tourism Business Setup
UAE VAT Law (Decree-Law No. 8 of 2017) – 5% VAT applies to most travel services
Federal Decree-Law No. 47 of 2022 – Corporate Tax applicability
Expo City Dubai, new hotel launches, theme parks
Huge demand from Indian tourists
Flyingcolour is one of the most trusted names in Dubai for helping Indians and expats launch their travel and tourism companies in the UAE. Here’s what we offer:
We simplify the process so you can focus on building your brand and selling dream travel experiences.
Yes, but for certain DET-regulated activities, you may need to appoint a manager with tourism qualifications.
Yes. With Flyingcolour, you can complete most of the setup remotely and visit Dubai later.
Yes, both mainland and free zone setups allow 100% foreign ownership.
You need an Online Travel Agency (OTA) license available through various Free Zones.
Most Free Zone setups take 3–5 working days. Mainland may take 5–10 days, depending on DET approvals.
Our Success lies in honestly and integrity which are used as motivational factors to inspire us to arrive at success as well as prosperity for the company plus our customers.
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