B2B Travel Portal for Travel Agencies in the Middle East
Short answer: QuickOTA works with travel agencies across the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iraq, Egypt, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Jordan, that do not have IATA accreditation. You search, hold and book flights in the free B2B Panel, and QuickOTA issues the ticket. You need a registered company or a travel agency licence from your country. There is no setup fee and no minimum wallet deposit.
This page is for agency owners in the Gulf, Iraq, Egypt and the Levant who sell flights to their customers and want a partner to issue the tickets. It shows how QuickOTA works for your agency and what each country's licensing looks like at a high level.
Key takeaways
- QuickOTA does not require IATA accreditation. QuickOTA issues the ticket.
- To open an account you need a registered company or a valid travel agency (tourism) licence from your country.
- B2B Panel access is free: no setup fee, no subscription to book, no minimum deposit.
- Licensing is national (and in the UAE, emirate by emirate). Check your own regulator before you sell travel.
- Flights are live today; hotels, tours, visas and group requests are coming soon.
Can Middle East agencies without IATA accreditation work with QuickOTA?
Yes. QuickOTA works with agencies that do not have IATA accreditation. You book in the B2B Panel, pay from your prepaid wallet, and QuickOTA issues the e-ticket. You then sell to your customer at your own price, in riyals, dirhams, dinars, pounds or dollars.
IATA accreditation lets an agency issue tickets in its own name and settle with airlines through BSP. It brings fixed costs and obligations, such as financial checks, a financial guarantee and regular settlement. Many new agencies prefer a ticketing partner while they grow. You are responsible for meeting your own country's rules for selling travel. Read Can a Non-IATA Travel Agency Issue Airline Tickets?.
How are travel agencies licensed across the Middle East?
Each country has its own licensing body, and in the UAE each emirate has its own. The table gives the starting point for the markets we have checked. For every other country, ask your tourism ministry or authority before you start selling.
| Country | Who licenses travel agencies | Read more |
|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | A Ministry of Tourism licence is required, on top of the Commercial Registration (CR). Selling air tickets falls under the Travel and Tourism Agency class | Saudi Arabia page |
| UAE | Emirate by emirate. In Dubai, the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) (dubaidet.gov.ae) | UAE page |
| Iraq | Federal Iraq: the Iraqi Tourism Board. Kurdistan Region: the General Directorate of Tourism in each governorate (KRG portal) | Iraq page |
| Egypt | The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, under Law 38 of 1977 as amended. Companies are licensed in classes A (all activities), B (ticket sales and airline agency) and C (tourist transport) | Egypt page |
| Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan | Check with your national tourism ministry or authority | — |
Last checked: 3 November 2026. This is general information, not legal advice. Requirements and fees change; confirm them with the official authority before you apply.
To open a QuickOTA agency account, your company registration (for example, a Saudi CR) or your travel agency licence is enough. QuickOTA does not require IATA accreditation.
What do Middle East agencies need from a B2B flight platform?
Agencies in the region sell through busy seasons: Umrah all year, the Hajj period, Ramadan and Eid, Gulf summer holidays and visits home by expatriate families. They need ticketing without IATA, fast quotes, a way to pay that does not lock cash in deposits before the season, and clear handling of changes when plans move.
| Need | Why it matters | How QuickOTA handles it |
|---|---|---|
| Ticketing without IATA | Accreditation has fixed costs and obligations | QuickOTA issues the ticket |
| Quick quotes in local currency | Customers ask on WhatsApp and expect a fast answer | Full cost, including the itemised service fee, shown before you book; you set your markup |
| Cash flow in peak season | Deposits tie up money when you need it most | Prepaid wallet, no minimum deposit; top up per booking |
| Changes and refunds | Family and pilgrimage plans change | Request changes, cancellations and refunds from the panel and see the quote first; approved refunds go back to your wallet |
| Group and Umrah travel | Groups are a large part of the region's outbound travel | Group requests are coming soon; book individual flights in the panel today |
How does QuickOTA work for your agency?
Your agency searches flights in the QuickOTA B2B Panel, checks the fare rules and the service fee, holds the booking, pays from its prepaid wallet and downloads the e-ticket from its booking details. QuickOTA issues the ticket. You then charge your customer at your own price.
- Request agency access with your company registration or travel agency licence number.
- We review your request and ask for anything else we need, then open your panel.
- Search and compare fares. Approved agencies can search before their first top-up.
- Top up your wallet with the amount you need, online or by bank deposit. There is no minimum deposit.
- Book and ticket. QuickOTA issues the e-ticket. Sell at your price and handle after-sale requests from the panel.
Illustrative example (hypothetical numbers): an agency in Jeddah books a return flight for a family member visiting home.
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Cost in the panel (fare + itemised service fee) | USD 400 |
| Agency price to customer | SAR 1,650 |
| Agency margin | Depends on your exchange rate and markup |
Check your margin with the markup calculator before you quote.
Payments in the region: what to know
Customers in the region pay agencies in many ways. In Saudi Arabia, mada cards, SADAD bill payments and sarie instant transfers are widely used; in the UAE, Aani instant payments. How your customers pay you is between you and your bank or payment provider.
Paying QuickOTA is separate: you top up your prepaid wallet online or by bank deposit, with no minimum amount. QuickOTA does not offer credit lines.
Your own Arabic booking website
When you are ready to sell online under your own brand, the QuickOTA white-label booking website supports Arabic with a right-to-left layout. It includes a page builder, blog and your own domain, and one login manages both your B2B Panel and your website. It is a monthly plan with optional modules; contact us for a quote.
Trade events in the region
The region's travel-trade calendar is a good place to meet suppliers and partners.
- Hajj Conference & Exhibition 2026, Jeddah
- Saudi Travel Market 2027, Riyadh
- Arabian Travel Market 2027, Dubai
- More dates: Saudi Arabia · UAE · Qatar · Egypt
Checklist before you start
- [ ] Your company is registered, or you hold a travel agency licence, in your country
- [ ] You have checked your national (or emirate) licensing rules for selling travel
- [ ] You have a business bank account for wallet top-ups
- [ ] You have clear terms for customers on changes, cancellations and refunds, especially for seasonal travel
- [ ] You know your busiest routes, so you can test them in the panel
FAQs
Does QuickOTA work with travel agencies in Saudi Arabia?
Yes. QuickOTA works with Saudi travel agencies, including those without IATA accreditation. You can apply with your Commercial Registration (CR) or your tourism licence. QuickOTA issues the ticket for your bookings.
Which Middle East countries can apply?
QuickOTA works with travel agencies in any country that meet the eligibility rules: a registered company or a valid travel agency (tourism) licence from that country. That includes Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Iraq, Egypt, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, Oman and Jordan.
Is there a fee to join or a minimum deposit?
No. B2B Panel access is free, there is no setup fee and there is no minimum wallet deposit. For each booking you pay the fare and an itemised service fee, both shown before you book.
Can I book Umrah or group travel?
You can book individual flights for your travellers in the panel today. Group requests are coming soon; you can tell us about your group needs in the partnership form.
Is the panel in Arabic?
The B2B Panel is fully supported in English. The white-label booking website for your customers supports Arabic with a right-to-left layout.
How long does the review take?
We reply within one business day. If we need more information about your agency, we contact you before opening your panel.