Saudi Travel Agency License 2026: Financial Guarantee Starts at 50,000 Riyals
To open a travel and tourism office in Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Tourism now requires a financial guarantee starting at 50,000 riyals. For agencies arranging visitor visas, the amount rises to 800,000 riyals under the general travel and tourism services category. The decision took effect immediately, according to Okaz newspaper on September 27, 2026. (Source: China Securities expands regionally through an office in DIFC | Al Khaleej)
A travel and tourism license is the official authorization issued by the Ministry of Tourism to organize trips and book tourism services inside the Kingdom. The decision draws on Article thirteen of the Travel and Tourism Services Regulations, which allows the minister or a delegate to set the financial guarantee amount — capped at two million riyals — along with insurance document types and the categories requiring either or both for licensing, Okaz reported. (Source: Travel agent license PDF)
How much is the financial guarantee for a Saudi travel agency license?
The required guarantee depends on the services your office will provide. The ministry set two main amounts for the general travel and tourism services category.
| Licensed service type | Financial guarantee |
|---|---|
| General travel and tourism services (standard format) | 50,000 riyals |
| General travel and tourism services including visa arrangement for visitors to Saudi Arabia | 800,000 riyals |
Article thirteen of the regulations caps the maximum financial guarantee or insurance document at two million riyals, according to the Okaz report. Define your service scope precisely before applying so you know the exact amount required.
What are the new travel license categories in Saudi Arabia?
The Ministry of Tourism consolidated its licenses into two main categories: "travel and tourism agency" and "general travel and tourism services." This merger is part of amendments to the Travel and Tourism Services Regulations designed to simplify procedures and unify regulatory paths for investors.
The previous guide divided the activity into four separate categories: general travel and tourism services, tour organization, travel and tourism agency, and hospitality unit booking. Under the new structure, the general category serves as the broadest umbrella covering most operational activities.
What are the steps to get a travel and tourism license?
The Ministry of Tourism manages the licensing process through an electronic portal. Follow these sequential steps:
- Obtain a valid commercial registration that includes travel and tourism services activity.
- Log in to the ministry's Tourism Activities Licenses Portal.
- Complete the license application form and select the category matching your activity.
- Wait for the ministry to verify your requirements and documents.
- Submit the original financial guarantee once you receive preliminary approval.
- Pay the prescribed fee through the portal to issue the license.
The portal handles multiple services, including initial issuance, sub-licensing, renewal, ownership transfer, data modification, and cancellation.
What documents do you need to apply for a travel agency license?
Your application file must prove your legal and operational eligibility. According to the ministry's Travel and Tourism Regulations Services Guide, prepare the following:
- A valid commercial registration including travel and tourism services activity.
- A valid license from the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and Housing or the relevant authority, such as the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, if you operate from a physical headquarters.
- Proof of trademark usage rights certified by the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property, if the office uses a trademark.
- The financial guarantee corresponding to your selected category.
- Acceptance of the required pledges when submitting the application through the portal.
The financial guarantee must be a bank guarantee — final and unconditional — issued in favor of the Ministry of Tourism by a licensed Saudi bank. The ministry may deduct fines, tourist rights, and compensation from this guarantee when necessary, and the licensee must cover any shortfall.
Do you need a physical office for a travel agency in Saudi Arabia?
The ministry requires a physical headquarters for the "general travel and tourism services" category, while other categories are exempt. For example, travel agencies and hospitality unit booking services can operate without a physical office if their electronic platform is documented in the commercial registration.
If a physical office is required, the guide mandates basic fittings: an exterior sign bearing the office name, service desks, customer seating, air conditioning, and compliance with cleanliness and safety standards. With the 2026 category merger, verify the updated requirements on the portal before signing any lease.
Why did the financial guarantee change and how does it affect the sector?
The adjustment follows powers granted to the minister under the Travel and Tourism Services Regulations. Travel expert and agency owner Ahmed Al-Zahrani told Okaz that travel and tourism services help arrange, organize, and deliver tourism activities and hospitality bookings.
Al-Zahrani added that the sector's regulation has advanced significantly, drawing on international best practices. He said the framework addresses current challenges while anticipating future tourism models, noting that tourism investment remains a pillar of Vision 2030 and that the system builds trust among investors, tourists, and authorities.
What is the deadline to comply with the new travel agency rules?
The Ministry of Tourism gave operating investors a 180-day grace period to align with the amended regulations. This covers the reclassification and the updated financial guarantee amounts. Existing offices must review their legal and financial standing within this window to avoid violations.
Key figures
- Standard format financial guarantee: 50,000 riyals (Okaz)
- Financial guarantee for visa arrangement: 800,000 riyals (Okaz)
- Maximum guarantee or insurance cap: two million riyals (Okaz)
- Compliance grace period: 180 days (regulation amendments)
- Main license categories: two after the merger (regulation amendments)
What should applicants keep in mind?
Identify your exact activity category before applying. If your office limits itself to general travel and tourism services without arranging visas, the required guarantee is fifty thousand riyals. If your work includes arranging entry visas for visitors to Saudi Arabia, the amount rises to eight hundred thousand riyals. Monitor the Ministry of Tourism's Tourism Activities Licenses Portal for updates to application forms or requirements during the 180-day compliance period.