AL RAIS TRAVEL

What AL RAIS TRAVEL does

Al Rais Travel & Shipping Agencies L.L.C. is a Dubai-headquartered, family-owned travel and logistics conglomerate founded in 1977. The company operates across five integrated verticals: airline General Sales Agent (GSA) representation for 19 international carriers, corporate travel management, retail travel services through 27 offices across the UAE, cargo and logistics from a 20,000 sqm Jebel Ali Free Zone facility with 19,000 pallet positions, and inbound/outbound tourism including visa processing. The cargo division is ISO 9001-2015 certified, indicating formalized operational standards for the logistics arm.

The company serves a diversified client base spanning 17 government accounts, corporate clients, leisure travelers, and airline partners. Revenue is generated through multiple mechanics: GSA commissions on airline ticket sales, corporate travel management fees, retail transaction margins across the UAE office network, cargo storage and handling fees, and tourism/holiday package margins. The business model is asset-light in travel services but capital-intensive in the cargo segment, where scale and free-zone location are the primary cost drivers.

Recent strategic activity has concentrated on expanding airline GSA mandates (Air Cairo in 2023, ITA Airways in 2024), deepening tourism board partnerships with Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, and Geneva, and launching a digital B2B travel platform (Travtrips). The company employs between 101 and 250 staff, remains privately held by the founding Al Rais family, and is led by Chairman Mohamed Jassim Al Rais, who also holds the Honorary Chairman role at the Dubai Travel and Tourism Agents Group.

Name

AL RAIS TRAVEL

Legal name

Al Rais Travel & Shipping Agencies L.L.C.

Website

https://alrais.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Al Rais Travel & Shipping Agencies is a Dubai-based, family-owned travel conglomerate founded in 1977, offering airline GSA representation, corporate travel management, retail travel via 27 UAE offices, cargo logistics, and tourism services to government, corporate, and leisure clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Travel Agency Services

NAICS

Travel Agencies (561510), Tour Operators (561520), Air Transportation (481)

SIC

Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Airline GSA / Representation & Ticket Sales Offices (THAKALAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Meetings & Group Travel Management (Corporate Groups) (THAKAMAC), Online/Hybrid Corporate Travel Agencies (Self-Booking + Support) (THAKACAB), Wholesale Travel Product Aggregators (Multi-Supplier B2B Aggregation) (THAKAJAI)

Keywords

• Airline GSA services
• Corporate travel management
• Retail travel agency
• Freight forwarding logistics
• Holiday package booking

Headquarters

HQ city

Dubai

HQ country

United Arab Emirates

HQ region

Middle East

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations

Revenue model

1. Airline GSA Commissions: As General Sales Agent for airlines, Al Rais earns commissions on ticket sales for passenger and cargo airlines including China Southern, Cebu Pacific, Kenya Airways, RwandAir, Yemenia, Air Cairo, ITA Airways, Malaysia Airlines, and others.
2. Travel Agency Services: Commissions and fees from booking air tickets, hotels, car hire, travel insurance, visa arrangements, and other travel services for retail and corporate clients.
3. Holiday Packages: Sale of inbound and outbound holiday packages including airline holiday packages, cruises, safaris, honeymoon packages, Umrah packages, and customized tour packages.
4. Cargo and Freight Services: Air freight, sea freight, third-party logistics, warehousing, distribution, project cargo, packing and removals, and insurance services through ISO 9001-2015 certified operations.
5. Visa Processing Services: UAE visa processing services, particularly for inbound tourism including work remotely from Dubai program as official partner of Dubai Tourism.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Al Rais Travel is a diversified travel conglomerate providing airline General Sales Agent (GSA) representation for 19 international passenger and cargo airlines, corporate travel management, retail travel services, inbound and outbound holiday packages, and freight forwarding and logistics services. The group operates 27 offices across the UAE, a 20,000 sqm logistics center in Jebel Ali Free Zone, an ISO 9001-2015 certified cargo division, and proprietary B2B (Travtrips) and B2C (alraistravel.com) booking platforms alongside a multi-GDS Corporate Booking Tool.

Product overview

Al Rais Travel operates as a diversified travel conglomerate offering multiple interconnected products and services. The core offering includes airline General Sales Agent (GSA) representation for 19 international passenger and cargo airlines, supported by a corporate booking tool for travel management and a B2C platform for consumer bookings. The portfolio includes Travtrips (B2B online booking tool), Al Rais Tours & Holidays (inbound and outbound tourism packages), and Al Rais Cargo (freight forwarding and logistics). With 27 offices across the UAE, the company serves both corporate and retail travelers while acting as the GSA for airlines including Kenya Airways, Yemenia, Air Cairo, China Southern, RwandAir, and Cebu Pacific.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Al Rais Holidays: Provider of UAE visa and wide range of inbound & outbound tourism activities including holiday packages, cruises, safaris, honeymoon packages, Umrah packages
• Al Rais Cargo
• Al Rais Corporate
• Travtrips

Products and services

• Al Rais Corporate Booking Tool

Quantifiable outcome

• 46,000+ participants at Arabian Travel Market 2024 where Al Rais served as official DMC partner
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• APG GulfcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 May 2025GSA for APG Gulf representing ITA Airways in UAE. Hosted APG Day 2025 training for 35 travel agents on IET GP-275 interline e-ticketing.
• Malaysia Tourism BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025Strategic collaboration announced February 2025 to promote Kuala Lumpur as top destination for UAE travelers. Includes blogger trips, exclusive packages, and influencer promotions.
• ITA AirwayscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 October 2024GSA for APG Gulf - ITA Airways commenced daily Dubai-Rome flights October 2024. Al Rais provides GSA services in UAE.
• Air France-KLM Group (ITA Airways parent)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 October 2024ITA Airways, majority owned by Air France-KLM, launched Dubai-Rome routes. Al Rais provides GSA support through APG Gulf.
• Geneva Tourism / Switzerland Tourism BoardcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 September 2024VIP dinner event hosted for Geneva tourism targeting high-net-worth Emirati clients. Partnership with Switzerland Tourism Board for destination promotion.
• Saudi Tourism AuthoritycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Marketing partnership for promoting Saudi Arabia as tourist destination. Awarded Best Trade Offer 2024. Active trade partner across international markets.
• Air CairocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 October 2023Appointed as GSA in October 2023 for UAE market with Cairo-Sharjah routes. Air Cairo operates 31 aircraft to 50 destinations.
• DTTAG (Dubai Travel Trade Association Group)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2022Mohamed Jassim Al Rais appointed as Honorary Chairman of DTTAG. Collaborative partnership for travel trade development in Dubai.
• Dubai TourismcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 April 2020Official processing partner for Dubai Tourism's Work Remotely from Dubai program. Handles applications, medical typing, and passport stamping for approved applicants.
• Cebu PacificcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 October 2013GSA partnership since October 2013 - celebrated 10 years in 2023. Connecting Dubai travelers to Philippines with AED 1,950 Manila fares.
• RwandAircoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 March 2011GSA partnership since March 2011 for both passenger and cargo operations. Al Rais serves as GSA in UAE for RwandAir including freighter operations from Dubai World Central.
• China Southern AirlinescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 June 2005GSA partnership since June 2005 for sales and representation in UAE market.
• Yemenia AirwayscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 November 1981GSA partnership since November 1981. Al Rais represents Yemenia Airways for passenger sales in UAE.
• Kenya AirwayscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 March 1978GSA partnership since March 1978 - one of the longest-standing airline partnerships. Al Rais provides sales and marketing support for Kenya Airways in UAE market.
• Malaysia AirlinescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGSA partnership since 1979 for Malaysia Airlines in UAE. Al Rais established Malaysian Tourism Office in UAE.
• Aegean AirlinesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGSA partnership for airline representation in UAE market.
• Xiamen AirminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGSA partnership for airline representation in UAE market.
• Precision AirminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGSA partnership for airline representation in UAE market.
• Kam AirminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGSA partnership for airline representation in UAE market.
• Iran Aseman AirlinesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGSA partnership for airline representation in UAE market.
• Air MalawiminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGSA for Air Malawi cargo operations.
• Air SerbiaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGSA partnership for airline representation in UAE market.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Direct peers

• dnata Travel: dnata is part of the Emirates Group and operates one of the largest travel agency networks in the UAE with corporate, leisure, and airline representation businesses — directly comparable to Al Rais on GSA, retail, and corporate travel in the same geography.
• Al Tayer Travel: Al Tayer Travel is a UAE-based travel agency network offering corporate, leisure, and MICE services across the Emirates — directly comparable to Al Rais's diversified travel offering and government/corporate client base.
• Sharaf Travel: Sharaf Travel is a UAE-headquartered full-service travel agency with corporate, leisure, and airline GSA activities — comparable to Al Rais on GSA representation, corporate travel management, and regional retail presence.
• Musafir: Musafir is a UAE-based online and offline travel agency offering flights, hotels, holidays, and corporate travel — directly comparable to Al Rais on B2C booking platform, holiday packages, and UAE market focus.
• Jazeera Travels: Jazeera Travels is a Dubai-based travel management company serving corporate and leisure clients in the UAE — comparable to Al Rais on corporate travel management, retail distribution, and regional customer segments.
• American Express Global Business Travel: Amex GBT is a global leader in corporate travel management — directly comparable to Al Rais Corporate on B2B managed travel, policy compliance, and reporting for enterprise clients competing for the same UAE-based multinational accounts.
• BCD Travel: BCD Travel is a global corporate travel management company — comparable to Al Rais Corporate on enterprise travel management, negotiated rates, and travel policy implementation for corporate accounts.
• FCM Travel: FCM is a global corporate travel management brand under Flight Centre Travel Group — comparable to Al Rais Corporate on enterprise booking tools, duty-of-care, and corporate travel program delivery.
• Agility Logistics (DSV): Agility (now part of DSV) is a major Middle East-headquartered freight forwarder with significant JAFZA operations — comparable to Al Rais Cargo on UAE-anchored air/sea freight forwarding, warehousing, and third-party logistics.

Broad incumbents

• Lufthansa City Center: Lufthansa City Center is a global franchise network of independent travel agencies — comparable to Al Rais as a broader incumbent in the multi-GDS corporate/retail travel agency category that competes in adjacent Middle East markets.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/alraisholidays
• Facebookfacebook.com/AlRaisTravel

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AL RAIS TRAVEL