Question 1

What does a Dubai DMC actually do that we can't do from our own office?

Accepted Answer

Ground handling, under local licences you can't hold from overseas. In Dubai the work is regulated activity by activity: Regulation No. 6 of 2006 licenses "inbound tour operator" as a distinct category with its own manager, staffing and insurance conditions; the Tour Guide Bylaw of 2000 requires a guide to hold a valid licence badge issued by the emirate's tourism department; and Executive Council Resolution No. 107 of 2023 requires tourist transport to be run by an operator authorised by the RTA. A DMC holds those permissions and is accountable on the ground. You keep the client.

Source: Dubai Legislation Portal · 1 August 2026

Question 2

How do we check a UAE ground partner is genuinely licensed?

Accepted Answer

Ask for the trade licence, then verify it independently rather than taking a PDF at face value. The UAE federal portal lists the channels: the National Economic Register and the commercial-companies licence enquiry, both run by the Ministry of Economy and Tourism, plus the Department of Economic Development in each emirate — Dubai Economy and Tourism and Invest in Dubai for Dubai, TAMM for Abu Dhabi, and equivalent services in Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah. Guiding and tourist transport carry separate permissions in Dubai, so confirm those too instead of assuming the trade licence covers them.

Question 3

Who sponsors the visa when our client books a Dubai land package?

Accepted Answer

For Dubai, GDRFA issues the single-entry tourism visa and states the sponsor or host must be an accredited establishment working in tourism in Dubai — which is why the file is normally opened by the ground operator, not by an overseas agent. For the other emirates, ICP issues the federal visit visa. The UAE federal portal separately names airlines, hotels and travel agents as channels through which a tourist visa can be applied for. GDRFA states a 48-hour processing time; ICP states two days. Both are stated targets, not guarantees.

Question 4

What are allotments and release periods, and who sets them?

Accepted Answer

They're contract terms, not regulation. An allotment is a block of rooms or seats a supplier agrees to hold for an operator over a defined period. A release period — sometimes called the cut-off — is the deadline in that same contract by which anything unsold goes back to the supplier. Both are negotiated property by property and season by season; no UAE authority publishes a standard and there is no city-wide norm to quote. Treat any figure you're given as specific to that contract, get it in writing, and diarise the release date against your own selling deadlines.

Question 5

When are rooming lists and final names normally due?

Accepted Answer

A rooming list — names, room types, sharing and bedding, arrival and departure dates — is what converts a held block into named reservations. In the trade the deadline is set in the individual hotel or supplier contract and usually sits ahead of the release date, so the working rule is that the list is due before release rather than after it. Airlines and timed-entry attractions run their own, often earlier, name deadlines. Ask for every deadline in writing at contracting, not at the point you need it.

Question 6

How do amendment and cancellation windows usually work?

Accepted Answer

They're contractual and they stack. A group typically sits under the hotel's group terms, each ground supplier carries its own, and airlines and timed-entry attractions are usually stricter than the hotels. That means one date rarely governs the whole file: a change that costs nothing at the hotel can still be non-refundable on a flight or a park ticket. Ask for the amendment and cancellation schedule component by component at contracting, then reconcile it against the terms you've given your own customer — the gap between the two is where margin disappears.

Question 7

What changes when a booking becomes a group rather than FIT?

Accepted Answer

The mechanics, mostly. FIT bookings are generally confirmed one at a time against live availability. Groups run on a held block with a release date, a rooming-list deadline, a staged deposit schedule and a written amendment schedule — and guiding, coach capacity and restaurant covers all have to be sized in advance rather than added on the day. Series departures add contracting the same pattern repeatedly across a season. None of this is UAE-specific; it's how group inventory is contracted anywhere. What is UAE-specific is the licensing behind the coach and the guide.

Question 8

How do meetings, incentives and corporate events get handled in Dubai?

Accepted Answer

Two things run in parallel. Dubai Business Events is the city's official convention bureau and part of the Department of Economy and Tourism; it works with hotels, venues, PCOs and DMCs and supports bids for association and corporate events. Separately, the event itself is regulated: Decree No. 25 of 2013 requires any public or private entity organising an event, or holding a venue licensed for events, to subscribe to Dubai's Event eLicensing and eTicketing System, administered by the tourism department. Build permit lead time into the critical path rather than treating it as paperwork at the end.

Question 9

When should we schedule site inspections, fam trips and MICE dates?

Accepted Answer

Around the UAE working week, which surprises people. Since 1 January 2022 the federal government works Monday to Thursday 07:30–15:30 and Friday 07:30–12:00, with Saturday and Sunday as the weekend; Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah follow the same structure, while the Government of Sharjah works Monday to Thursday with a three-day Friday-to-Sunday weekend. Under UAE labour law, working hours drop by two per day during Ramadan. Islamic public holidays are set by moon sighting and confirmed only shortly beforehand, so avoid hard-committing group dates against them.

Question 10

What should we ask about the vehicles and guides on the ground?

Accepted Answer

Ask for the permissions, not the fleet photos. Under Executive Council Resolution No. 107 of 2023, tourist transport in Dubai — carrying passengers to and from airports, hotels, resorts and tourist landmarks — may only be conducted by an operator authorised by the RTA and licensed by the commercial licensing authority. Drivers hold RTA tourist-vehicle permits, valid one year and renewable, and must complete RTA-prescribed training; operators must keep trip records and fit tracking devices. Guides must hold a valid tour guide licence badge issued by the tourism department and display it while on duty.

Question 11

What's the position on travel insurance and medical cover?

Accepted Answer

Treat it as mandatory rather than advisable. GDRFA Dubai's tourist-visa service card lists medical insurance valid in the UAE as a condition, and ICP states a valid UAE health insurance policy is mandatory for most visa categories. The UK FCDO states healthcare facilities in the UAE are similar to those in the UK, but that you may be stopped from using them without travel insurance or without the means to pay medical fees — and that you may be prevented from leaving the UAE if you're unable to pay a medical bill. Emergency ambulance is 998.

Question 12

We're a UK or EU organiser — what does a UAE ground package mean for us?

Accepted Answer

Your regulator follows the client, not the destination. Under the UK's Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018, the organiser is liable for performance of the travel services making up the package regardless of who actually provides them, and must arrange security covering the foreseeable cost of refunding payments for services not performed and of prompt repatriation. GOV.UK notes the ATOL scheme, administered by the Civil Aviation Authority, fulfils that obligation for packages including a flight. A ground handler is your supplier; the consumer-facing duties stay with you.

Question 13

Does my client need a UAE visa?

Accepted Answer

It depends entirely on the passport, and the answer changes. The UAE federal portal states GCC citizens don't need a visa to enter; some other nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival; the rest must arrange one in advance. The portal doesn't publish the visa-on-arrival nationality list itself — it links out to an eligibility check. The Abu Dhabi Residents Office describes the baseline as an entry visa issued automatically on arrival, valid 30 days with a 10-day extension window, and stresses the list is subject to change. Confirm per passport before ticketing.

Question 14

How much passport validity is required?

Accepted Answer

Six months for visitors. The UAE federal portal, GDRFA Dubai's tourist-visa service card and ICP's service card all require a passport valid for at least six months from entry. The UK FCDO states the same six-month rule for visitors, three months from arrival for holders of a UAE residence permit, and three months from the date of transit for passengers transiting. GDRFA additionally requires a travel ticket to continue the journey or leave the UAE, and medical insurance valid in the UAE. Missing onward-travel evidence is a common cause of rejection.

Question 15

How long can a visitor stay?

Accepted Answer

It depends which authority issues the visa, and the two differ. GDRFA Dubai issues its single-entry tourism visa for 30 or 60 days. ICP, the federal authority, issues visit visas for 30, 60 or 90 days, states the holder must enter within the entry permit's 60-day validity from issue, and may extend once or more provided total stay in the UAE doesn't exceed 120 days. There's also a five-year multiple-entry tourist visa allowing a 90-day stay per visit, extendable by a further 90. Don't promise a Dubai client 90 days from GDRFA.

Question 16

What documents does a Dubai tourist visa application need?

Accepted Answer

GDRFA Dubai's service card lists one personal photo, a copy of the passport with validity of not less than six months, and — for some nationalities, specifically Iraq, Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan — an identity card for the country of origin. Its conditions add a valid travel document allowing return to the country of residence, a travel ticket to continue the journey or leave the UAE, and medical insurance valid in the UAE. The sponsor must be an accredited Dubai tourism establishment. Stated processing time is 48 hours. ICP's federal list differs by visa sub-category.

Question 17

Where do applications actually go?

Accepted Answer

To ICP or, for Dubai, GDRFA. The UAE federal portal states a tourist visa can be applied for through airlines, hotels and travel agents, or online through ICP or GDRFA Dubai. It separately names the Abu Dhabi Residents Office, Etihad Airways, Emirates, flydubai and Sharjah Airport among the channels through which a visa can be arranged. GDRFA's requirement that the sponsor be an accredited Dubai tourism establishment is the reason a Dubai package is usually filed locally. Fees are published on each authority's own service card, not in one consolidated table.

Question 18

Can a visa be extended, and what happens on overstay?

Accepted Answer

Extensions exist but are bounded, and the rules exclude some travellers. The Abu Dhabi Residents Office states visas can be extended for 30 days on two separate occasions without leaving the country, and that tourist and visit visa holders have a 10-day grace period after expiry to obtain an extension, after which daily fines accumulate — but excludes GCC visitors and residents, special-permit holders and holders of 96-hour mission permits. ICP allows extension provided total stay doesn't exceed 120 days, and publishes an overstay fine of AED 50 per day. ICP figure, checked 1 August 2026; fees change.

Question 19

Can a visitor work, and what could stop someone leaving?

Accepted Answer

No, and several things can. The UK FCDO states that if you entered on a visit visa and want to work in Dubai you must obtain a probationary work permit, valid up to three months, from the Ministry of Labour — and that being caught working on a visit visa can bring a fine or a prison sentence, with a risk of deportation. It also states you may be prevented from leaving the UAE if you're subject to a travel ban, involved in legal proceedings, have unpaid debt, are a child subject to a custody dispute, or are unable to pay a medical bill.

Question 20

When is the best time to visit Dubai?

Accepted Answer

November to March, on the numbers. Average daytime maxima run 25°C in January, 26°C in February, 28°C in March, 31°C in November and 27°C in December — comfortable enough for full-day outdoor programmes, desert overnights and walking itineraries. January is both the coolest month and the wettest, at around 19 mm, and carries the year's highest relative humidity at 65%. These are 1991–2020 climate normals from a secondary republisher rather than the UAE National Center of Meteorology, so treat them as long-run averages, not a forecast.

Question 21

How hot does summer actually get?

Accepted Answer

August is the hottest month, averaging 41°C by day and 31°C at night; July averages 40°C. May (37°C), June and September (39°C) and October (36°C) are hot too, but only July and August average at or above 40°C — the commonly repeated "40 degrees from May to October" is wrong. June is the driest month at about 0.2 mm and May the sunniest, at up to 11.7 hours of sun a day. In practice summer means indoor-led daytime programmes, door-to-door air conditioning, and outdoor activity at sunrise or after dark.

Question 22

Does it rain in Dubai?

Accepted Answer

Very little, and unevenly. Average annual rainfall is around 77 mm, concentrated in the cooler months — January is the wettest at roughly 19 mm, June the driest at about 0.2 mm. Total annual sunshine is about 3,577 hours, lowest in February at around 242 hours. Heavy rain is rare but can be disruptive when it arrives; the UK FCDO advises checking forecasts from the UAE National Centre of Meteorology and following local authority advice. Worth building a wet-weather alternative into outdoor programmes in January and February.

Question 23

What are the shoulder months like?

Accepted Answer

April, May and October are the transition, and they behave differently from each other. April averages 32°C, October 36°C and May 37°C — hot enough that midday walking itineraries stop working, but fine for early-morning and post-sunset activity, and at their best for pools and beaches. October is when desert programmes typically restart as evenings cool. Coastal humidity makes the reading feel higher than the number suggests. Again, these are long-run averages from a secondary republisher of climate normals, not a forecast for a specific date.

Question 24

How do Ramadan and public holidays affect when we travel?

Accepted Answer

They move every year, so you can't plan them off a fixed calendar. Ramadan begins at the first sighting of the new crescent moon and lasts 29 or 30 days, so its Gregorian dates shift annually; under UAE labour law working hours are reduced by two per day during it. The UAE's Islamic public holidays — Eid Al Fitr, Arafah Day, Eid Al Adha, Hijri New Year and the Prophet Mohammed's birthday — are all determined by moon sighting and confirmed only shortly beforehand. The fixed-date holidays are 1 January and National Day on 2–3 December.

Question 25

What are the metro, tram and bus hours?

Accepted Answer

RTA runs the Dubai Metro's Red and Green lines on a single timetable: Monday to Thursday and Saturday from 05:00 to midnight, Friday 05:00 to 01:00 the next day, and Sunday from 08:00 to midnight. The tram runs 06:00 to 01:00 Monday to Saturday and 09:00 to 01:00 on Sunday. Buses run 04:00 to 01:00, with route C01 operating 24 hours. The Sunday late start is the one that catches people out — an early Sunday airport run or excursion can't rely on the metro. RTA timetable, checked 1 August 2026; subject to change.

Question 26

How do nol cards work, and do they work outside Dubai?

Accepted Answer

nol is RTA's smart card for metro, tram and bus, and it's accepted in Dubai taxis. RTA publishes four types: a paper Red Ticket good for up to 10 single trips, the Silver Card that RTA calls the starter card, the Gold Card which gives access to the metro's Gold Class cabins, and the Blue or Personal Card, which carries a photo and customer details. It does not work in the other emirates — Abu Dhabi uses the Hafilat card and Sharjah the Sayer card. RTA doesn't publish validity periods for any of them.

Question 27

How do taxis and ride-hailing work?

Accepted Answer

RTA regulates Dubai taxis and lists five vehicle categories: Regular, Family, Female, People of Determination and Safe Hands. Booking is through RTA's own S'hail app or its partner apps — Careem (Hala Taxi), Bolt, Zed and YANGO — plus street hailing and ranks at Dubai International Terminals 1, 2 and 3, Al Maktoum International and Port Rashid. Payment options include cash, credit card, nol, Careem Pay, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Alipay, QR and American Express. RTA states fares are subject to change during published rush hours and that Salik toll crossings are charged on.

Question 28

Can visitors drive themselves?

Accepted Answer

Check it per nationality rather than assuming. The UAE federal portal states some visitors may drive on their national licence under the Markhoos initiative, but doesn't publish the list of qualifying countries — so confirm with RTA or the rental supplier. Visitors driving into the UAE from Oman or Saudi Arabia need an international driving permit and valid vehicle insurance; GCC residents may drive on the licence of their country of residence. The UK FCDO warns of a high rate of traffic accidents and states it's illegal to drink and drive in any amount, likely invalidating insurance after an accident.

Question 29

How do people move between the emirates?

Accepted Answer

RTA operates intercity buses and sells tickets at bustickets.rta.ae, but publishes no route table, route numbers or journey times on its intercity page — so don't plan a connection off a timing you found elsewhere. By air, the UAE federal portal notes Etihad operates from Abu Dhabi, Emirates and flydubai from Dubai International, Air Arabia serves Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah, and Wizz Air flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Private inter-emirate transfers are licensed activity: in Dubai the operator must be RTA-authorised under Executive Council Resolution No. 107 of 2023.

Question 30

What's the dress code?

Accepted Answer

Modest in public, relaxed at resorts. The UAE federal portal states visitors should dress modestly, particularly in conservative areas and public places like shopping malls; that clothing must not be transparent, expose body parts indecently or carry offensive imagery; and that loose-fitting clothing covering shoulders, arms and legs is recommended. It states any form of nudity is strictly forbidden, including topless sunbathing. At mosques, women must wear an abaya and a head covering, typically provided on site. The UK FCDO adds that in malls women should cover shoulders and knees and underwear should not be visible.

Question 31

Can we travel during Ramadan?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and non-Muslims aren't required to fast. The UAE federal portal states amusement parks, restaurants, cultural and tourist sites remain open throughout the day, allowing visitors to enjoy their usual activities. The UK FCDO advises that during Ramadan it may cause offence to eat, drink, smoke or chew gum in public during daylight hours — including in your car — or to play loud music, dance or swear in public. Note these are framed as causing offence, not as criminal offences. Working hours drop by two per day, which affects supplier availability and scheduling.

Question 32

What are the rules on alcohol?

Accepted Answer

Available in most of the country, but not uniformly. The UK FCDO states the legal age for purchasing and drinking alcohol is 21 in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and all the Northern Emirates except Sharjah, where drinking or possessing alcohol is illegal outright. Dubai residents buying alcohol to drink at home need a liquor licence; outside licensed venues, alcohol can only be bought with a licence from the two official distributors, MMI and African & Eastern, and tourists can obtain a temporary licence valid for one month from either. Any Sharjah stay or transfer needs briefing.

Question 33

What should visitors know about public conduct and the law?

Accepted Answer

The threshold is different from home, and the consequences are real. The UAE federal portal states public displays of affection should be minimal — holding hands is acceptable, kissing and hugging in public is not — and that noise disruption, bad language, obscene gestures and disrespect towards the UAE, its leaders or religion are forbidden and may lead to legal trouble and deportation. The UK FCDO states swearing and rude gestures are illegal, including online, and can bring jail or deportation, and that you can be arrested for kissing in public. Drug rules are strict, including drugs detected in the bloodstream.

Question 34

What are the rules on photography, filming and drones?

Accepted Answer

Ask before you shoot. The UK FCDO states it's illegal to photograph some government buildings and military installations, and that you shouldn't photograph people without their permission — the UAE federal portal says the same. Carrying out media activity requires the appropriate permissions, and equipment such as satellite phones, recording devices, radio transmitters, powerful cameras or binoculars may need a licence. Drones must be registered with the General Civil Aviation Authority before flying, stay within line of sight and below 400 feet, and keep 5 km clear of airport perimeters, heliports and controlled zones.

Question 35

How should a group behave at a majlis or a hosted visit?

Accepted Answer

Brief them beforehand, not on the doorstep. The UAE federal portal advises removing your shoes at the entrance to a majlis, and notes males and females will probably be escorted to different sections. Guests should stand for new arrivals and for high-ranking people, avoid crossing their legs in front of important guests, and not point with a finger. When greeting a Muslim of the opposite gender, don't offer to shake hands unless they extend theirs first. For corporate and incentive groups this is a five-minute briefing that prevents an awkward hour.

Question 36

Who awards hotel star ratings in Dubai?

Accepted Answer

The emirate's tourism department — now the Department of Economy and Tourism — not a booking site. Administrative Resolution No. 1 of 2018 applies classification criteria to both the licensing and the operation of hotel establishments in Dubai, and requires the Classification Directorate of the Tourism Activities and Classification Sector to publish those criteria on the department's official website. So a Dubai star rating is a government classification with published criteria behind it. We don't restate the bands here because we haven't read the published criteria table itself — check the department's site for the current version.

Question 37

What appears on a UAE hotel bill beyond the room rate?

Accepted Answer

Government and municipal charges that sit outside a ground quote. The UAE federal portal states Dubai levies a Tourism Dirham Fee per room per night of occupancy, for a maximum of 30 consecutive nights, ranging from AED 7 to AED 20 depending on the category or grade of the hotel, and that Ras Al Khaimah hotels charge an AED 15 tourism fee per room per night. It also notes tourist facilities may apply a combination of 10% room tax, 10% service charge, 10% municipality fees, 6–10% city tax and 6% tourism fee. VAT is 5%. UAE government figures, checked 1 August 2026 — fees change.

Question 38

What happens at check-in, and are there rules about who can stay?

Accepted Answer

Expect an ID check and passport handling. The UK FCDO states it's normal practice for hotels in the UAE to take a photocopy of your passport or Emirates ID, and that you can't stay in a hotel if you're under 18 and not accompanied by an adult. Standard check-in and check-out times are not set by any UAE authority — they're property policy and vary, as do early check-in and late check-out, which are requests rather than entitlements. Confirm them in writing per hotel rather than assuming a city-wide norm exists.

Question 39

How do families, connecting rooms and extra beds work?

Accepted Answer

Property by property, and there's no shortcut. Maximum occupancy, the child ages that stay free, cot and rollaway availability, and whether connecting rooms exist at all are set by each hotel and by room type — no UAE authority publishes a standard, so anyone quoting you a city-wide rule is guessing. Connecting rooms are almost always a request rather than a guarantee and are often only confirmable at check-in. If two connecting rooms are essential to the booking, raise it at contracting and get the hotel's written position, not a note on the reservation.

Question 40

What kinds of accommodation are there beyond hotels?

Accepted Answer

The UAE federal portal frames the choice as ranging from modest accommodation to opulent hotels, and names hotel apartments and resorts alongside hotels as booking categories. Hotel apartments are usually the practical answer for families and longer stays — kitchen, separate living space, more beds per key. In Dubai, hotel establishments are classified against government criteria published by the emirate's tourism department under Administrative Resolution No. 1 of 2018, so the category on the classification record is more reliable than whatever label a booking site applies. Ask which classified category a property actually holds.

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