Tourism & Hospitality on Dubai Mainland

Why Dubai

Crucially, government and semi-government tenders in Dubai require a mainland licence and Chamber of Commerce membership, both of which GoldenKey arranges. Dubai mainland licences are issued by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), which currently processes most standard files in around 4 working days (Monday to Friday). Dubai is a sensible home for tourism & hospitality because holiday homes, hotel management, desert safaris, yacht charters and tour experiences is a well-understood activity there and the approvals are routine.

How Dubai works with GoldenKey

1. 
   Step 1

   Activity and legal form

   In practice, we pick the precise activity codes from the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) list and settle on the legal form — normally a LLC, or a sole establishment for individual professionals. We keep a written record of this step so your file for tourism & hospitality on Dubai mainland is audit-ready.

2. 
   Step 2

   Trade name and initial approval

   GoldenKey files the name reservation and initial-approval request with the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and obtains sector approvals where needed.

3. 
   Step 3

   Office, MOA and submission

   For most clients, the memorandum of association is signed (online or before the notary), your tenancy is registered and the complete file is submitted to the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). Expect clear updates from your GoldenKey consultant while this step runs for tourism & hospitality on Dubai mainland.

4. 
   Step 4

   Licence, Chamber and immigration

   With the licence in hand we register with the Chamber of Commerce and open the immigration and MOHRE files for your visas.

Documents required

Here is what you will need for tourism & hospitality on Dubai mainland; GoldenKey checks every item before submission.

• Unit ownership or landlord NOC for holiday homes
• Passport photographs on a white background
• Attested parent-company documents for corporate shareholders
• An attested degree for professional activities such as engineering or healthcare
• The existing visa copy and NOC if a shareholder is on another UAE visa
• External approvals where the activity requires them, for example from the health authority, RERA or the municipality

Pricing

The figures below for tourism & hospitality on Dubai mainland are updated by GoldenKey whenever the authority changes its fees, so the price you see is the current one. Just as important, all prices for tourism & hospitality on Dubai mainland are indicative, shown in AED and confirmed in writing before a single dirham changes hands.

Why the UAE

Day to day, since 2021, most mainland activities have allowed 100% foreign ownership, and free zones have always offered it, so tourism & hospitality on Dubai mainland no longer requires a local partner. Crucially, the dirham has been pegged to the US dollar since 1997, which removes currency risk for tourism & hospitality on Dubai mainland and makes international pricing simple.

Why GoldenKey

GoldenKey's consultants have handled tourism & hospitality on Dubai mainland for traders, consultants, tech founders and family offices, which gives us a realistic view of what each authority approves quickly. Our office is a short drive from the Ajman Free Zone, Ajman DED and the immigration centre, so physical submissions for tourism & hospitality on Dubai mainland happen the same day they are ready. GoldenKey is based in Ajman Free Zone and has helped founders from more than 60 countries with tourism & hospitality on Dubai mainland, so the paperwork, approvals and timing hold no surprises for us.

Frequently asked questions