Being at the crossroads of the East and the West, and being one of the most well-connected countries in the world, the UAE is also home to a variety of travel agencies. They cater to the needs of over 200 nationalities in the country, and have the resources and are specialised enough to provide services throughout the year.
While some of the bigger entities like Dnata and SNTTA are owned by the major airlines or the respective authorities of various emirates, there are also major private groups that manage GSA representation for many top international brands.
With the rise of global online travel booking sites, travel agencies in the UAE too have latched on to the opportunity by having strategic tie-ups with them.
The services that a typical travel agency provides relate to air and road bookings , car rentals, cruise trips and holidays, hotel and rail reservations and also package tours. Besides the general public and tourists, business travelers too depend on the reliable and specialised the services provided travel agencies.
Pilgrim travel comprises a major chunk of travels in the region. Another specialised category of travellers in this region that needs to be increasingly catered to, is Halal travel.
Most of the well-established travel agencies in the UAE have branches across the emirates and locations to efficiently cater to the high demand. With computers and advanced CRM systems eliminating the uncertainty and guesswork related to travel, today’s agencies can cater to every need and whim of the customer. They are also best placed to recommend an itinerary or customised travel package and services that can literally start from one’s doorstep. The travel agencies here also employ a large number of multilingual staff.
With more user friendly services, one can avail of all these services through the convenience of online booking.
Dnata
Owned by the Emirates Group, dnata is one of the world’s largest air services providers offering ground handling, cargo, travel, and flight catering services across six continents. It is also one of the oldest and largest travel agencies in Dubai, having been set up in 1959, with over 200 travel outlets worldwide and handling over 7 million passengers annually.
Sharaf Travel
Sharaf Travel, established in 1991, is at the forefront of the industry constantly introducing ideas and innovations, making it one of the most recognised and respected travel houses in the region. While the outbound unit is dedicated to business and holiday travellers who wish to visit the world, the inbound unit caters exclusively to visitors coming in to the UAE and Oman. In addition to a MICE division, Sharaf Travel caters to niche travel segments such as Adventure travel, Umrah, Student travel, Trade Fair packages, among others.
Kanoo Travel
With a team of over 1000 travel specialists spread across the region, operating a network of over 100 IATA locations, and established partnerships with global travel partners; Kanoo Travel provides the most comprehensive and specialised services in the travel industry with unmatched quality. In 1947, Kanoo Travel became the first IATA agency in the Gulf. Today, Kanoo Travel is the largest Travel Company in the Middle East. Kanoo Travel has a master franchise agreement with American Express that covers North Africa, the Levant, GCC including Iraq and the CIS countries.