Key Highlights

1. Dubai surpassed 2 million overnight visitors in a single month for the first time ever in December 2025.
2. DET is the single authority that licenses and regulates all desert safari and camp businesses in Dubai.
3. Every commercial safari driver must complete DCT training and hold a valid RTA Safari Driver Permit before operating.
4. A desert camp permit requires at least 10 registered vehicles, 5 direct-employee guides, and NOCs from two government authorities.

Dubai welcomed 19.59 million overnight visitors in 2025, up 5% over 2024’s 18.72 million, per DET’s Annual Tourism Performance Report. December 2025 became the first-ever single month to surpass 2 million visitors, recording 2.04 million arrivals, up 6% year-on-year. 

January 2026 maintained that momentum with 2.00 million overnight visitors, up 3% versus January 2025. The opportunity is real. But the licensing process is built around a precise sequence that’ll catch you off guard if you don’t know it going in.

Disclaimer: Government fees, license costs, and permit charges are subject to change. Verify current fees directly with the relevant UAE authority before making financial decisions.

Where Most Entrepreneurs Get Stuck

The mistake you’re most likely to make isn’t submitting the wrong form. It’s assuming a standard trade license gives you the right to take paying tourists into the desert. It doesn’t.

Your desert safari operation has its own licensing category in Dubai. Before your first commercial run, you’ll need to complete multiple DET-required steps: securing a Tourism Trade License, registering your company on the ePermit portal, and obtaining a safari permit with certified drivers and registered vehicles. 

If you’re adding a camp, there’s a separate permit with its own conditions on top of that. Jump any step and you’ll face delays that push your launch back by weeks.

Who Regulates Desert Safari Businesses in Dubai?

The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) is the single authority that licenses and regulates all tourism businesses in Dubai, including desert safaris and camps. DET is your primary point of contact from day one through to permit renewals.

DET’s ePermit portal handles everything digitally. You can apply for permits, register vehicles and drivers, issue electronic safari certificates, and manage renewals without visiting an office. 

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is separately responsible for driver permits. Dubai Civil Defence and Dubai Municipality only come into play when you add a desert camp. They’re not required for your base tourism trade license.

Mainland or Free Zone: Which Structure Works for a Desert Safari?

For your safari business, this decision is clear once you understand the operational difference.

A mainland license gives you unrestricted access to pick up tourists from any hotel in Dubai, run city-to-desert routes, and contract with accommodation providers anywhere in the emirate. A mainland structure is the standard setup for safari businesses in Dubai, precisely because the business model depends on operating freely across the entire emirate.

A free zone can lower startup costs, but transporting tourists outside the zone’s jurisdiction requires additional approvals. For your safari operation, that creates friction every single day. On foreign ownership: the UAE permits 100% ownership in many mainland business activities. 

Separately, the October 2025 amendments to the UAE Commercial Companies Law also allow your company to move its registration between free zones and the mainland if your needs change. Whether your tourism activity qualifies for full foreign ownership should be confirmed with DET directly before structuring your company.

Also Read: Dual License UAE 2026: The Smartest Way to Run a Free Zone + Mainland Business

Step-by-Step: How to Get Your Desert Safari Business Licensed

Step 1. Reserve Your Trade Name and Obtain Initial Approval

Reserve your trade name through DET’s portal. If you’re a foreign investor, you’ll first need clearance from the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners’ Affairs (GDRFA) before completing this step. Initial approval confirms there’s no government objection to your business setup. It doesn’t authorize you to operate.

Step 2. Apply for Your Tourism Trade License

A desert safari business requires a Tourism Trade License from DET, one of six official license types in the UAE. You’ll need these documents ready:

• Passport copies of all shareholders and the company manager
• Emirates ID for UAE residents
• Trade name reservation certificate
• Initial approval receipt
• Ejari-registered lease agreement for your Dubai business address

Once DET issues your payment voucher, you have 30 days to pay it. A missed deadline cancels your application.

Step 3. Register on DET’s ePermit Portal

Your trade license must be active before any permit can be processed. Register your company on the ePermit portal by uploading your license, company profile, manager details, and shareholder information. Your annual portal subscription is AED 300, plus an AED 10 knowledge fee and AED 10 innovation fee.

Step 4. Apply for Your Safari Permit

All safari drivers must complete DET-mandated training through Dubai College of Tourism (DCT) and hold a valid RTA Safari Driver Permit. All vehicles must be officially registered under your company’s name through DET’s portal. Once your permit is active, all driver registrations, vehicle renewals, and electronic certificate management run through this same portal.

Adding a Desert Camp: Additional Approvals Required

A desert camp is a separate permit. DET won’t accept your application until you already hold a valid safari permit.

Here’s how this typically plays out: your safari permit is active and you’re ready to launch a sunset dinner camp. You apply, only to find your guide count is short and two of your guides are on freelance contracts. 

Your launch gets pushed back by two months while you hire direct employees and register additional vehicles. Meeting these conditions before you apply is what prevents that delay.

Before submitting, your company needs:

• At least 10 company-registered vehicles, or 5 vehicles plus a bus with a minimum of 45 seats
• At least 5 tour guides employed directly by your company
• A No Objection Certificate from Dubai Civil Defence
• Approval from Dubai Municipality for location and food service compliance

Your drivers and guides must be direct employees on your company visa. Freelance arrangements are not accepted by DET for either permit.

Safari Driver Certification: Your Ongoing Operational Cost

Every driver you hire must be certified before legally operating a commercial safari vehicle. Dubai College of Tourism (DCT), under DET, is the only authorized provider, and over 3,000 safari drivers have been certified through the program to date.

Training is fully online, covering safety standards, UAE heritage, and desert operations. Completing it is a requirement before your driver can get an RTA Safari Driver Permit, which is a separate credential from a standard tour guide license.

And it’s not a one-time expense. Your drivers renew their permits every year through a half-day refresher course and a final assessment. Budget for this annually across your entire roster.

Also Read: Is Dubai Still Worth It for Entrepreneurs in 2026? Honest Insights

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What type of license do I need to run a desert safari business in Dubai?

You need a Tourism Trade License from DET, one of six official license types in the UAE. Your registered activities must specifically include desert safari or adventure tourism. This is separate from a general commercial or professional license.

2. What are the minimum vehicle and staff requirements for a safari permit in Dubai?

For the base safari permit, all vehicles must be registered under your company’s name through DET’s portal. For a camp permit, you need at least 10 registered vehicles, or 5 plus a 45-seat minimum bus, and at least 5 directly employed tour guides.

3. Can a foreigner own 100% of a desert safari company on the Dubai mainland?

The UAE allows 100% foreign ownership in many mainland business activities. Whether your specific tourism activity qualifies depends on your exact activity classification. Confirm this with DET or a licensed setup advisor before structuring your company.

4. Can I use freelance guides and drivers to meet the safari permit requirements?

No. DET requires all drivers and guides to be direct employees of your company under your company visa. Freelance arrangements aren’t accepted for either the safari permit or the camp permit.

5. Do I need a separate permit to run overnight desert camp experiences?

Yes. A camp permit is a separate application through DET’s ePermit portal and requires an active safari permit first. You’ll also need approvals from Dubai Civil Defence and Dubai Municipality, plus the vehicle and guide minimums.

Start Your Desert Safari Business the Right Way With JSB

You now have the full licensing roadmap for a desert safari business in Dubai. But knowing the steps and running through them without costly delays are two very different things. A wrong activity code, a missing document, or a step submitted out of sequence can push your launch back by weeks.

JSB Incorporation, based in Business Bay, Dubai, handles end-to-end business setup across 24-plus UAE jurisdictions. From your tourism trade license through to safari permits and driver registrations, JSB manages every step with transparent pricing and no hidden fees. 

You get a higher success rate, a setup timeline measured in weeks, not months, and dedicated support at every stage. Whether you’re starting fresh or recovering a stalled application, JSB gives you a clear and supported path forward.

Book your free consultation call today with the experts of JSB Incorporation to learn more