Kurban Tours - DMC Arabia
Kurban Tours is a family-owned Middle East destination management company operating across UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Lebanon, serving global tour operators and travel agents with FIT packages, hotel bookings, owned-fleet ground transportation, excursions, MICE, and Umrah spiritual packages.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1952
- HeadquartersDubai, United Arab Emirates
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Kurban Tours - DMC Arabia does
Kurban Tours - DMC Arabia is a family-owned destination management company founded in 1952 by Halim Kurban in Beirut, Lebanon, now operating across the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Lebanon. The company functions exclusively as a B2B intermediary for international tour operators, travel agents, and other travel professionals, delivering ground operations rather than selling directly to consumers. Its service portfolio spans FIT packages with guaranteed departures, escorted group tours, hotel bookings, owned-fleet ground transportation, daily seat-in-coach excursions, attraction ticketing, MICE and corporate events, and Umrah/spiritual packages. The company operates through 6 offices (Dubai, Muscat, Riyadh, Jeddah, AlUla, Beirut) and deploys 100+ professionals including multilingual guides covering 15+ languages, supported by a fleet of 70+ owned vehicles ranging from luxury 4x4s to 50-seater coaches.
Technology consists of an online reservation platform with XML/API exchange capabilities for integration with medium and large tour operators, plus a connected attractions ticketing system that provides one-stop-shop access to attractions across the UAE. The business is structured around multiple sub-brands: Gray Line UAE and Oman (licensed sightseeing network operator in the global Gray Line system of 700+ locations), Trips Discovery / Saudi Discovery (an online B2C and B2B travel marketplace for the Saudi market), and Desert Point Tourism (a licensed Saudi adventure and event operator). The core technology is conventional reservation and distribution integration rather than proprietary algorithmic capability.
The revenue model combines transaction-fee streams (hotel commissions, attraction ticket sales), package-tour pricing (FIT and Umrah packages), and professional-services pricing (group travel organization, MICE, ground handling) on a quote-based, pay-as-you-go cadence. Go-to-market is channel-partner-led with seven international sales representative offices in India, France, Italy, Spain, Russia, Poland, and Southeast Asia, supplemented by distribution through global OTAs and Lufthansa City Center. Kurban Tours holds no external funding and is entirely family-owned, with the website also listing unrelated IOMI smart home product distribution as a non-core retail activity.
Kurban Tours - DMC Arabia firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Kurban Tours - DMC Arabia
- Legal name
- Kurban Tours
- Website
- https://kurbantours.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1952
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Kurban Tours is a family-owned Middle East destination management company operating across UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Lebanon, serving global tour operators and travel agents with FIT packages, hotel bookings, owned-fleet ground transportation, excursions, MICE, and Umrah spiritual packages.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Kurban Tours - DMC Arabia industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Destination Management Services
- NAICS
- Tour Operators (56152), Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Land (48711)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Desert & Dune Adventure Tour Operators (Camel treks, sandboarding) (THAAADAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Photography & Scenic Viewpoint Tours (THAJAAAI)
Keywords
Where Kurban Tours - DMC Arabia is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dubai
- HQ country
- United Arab Emirates
- HQ region
- Middle East
Offices6 records
Markets served
Kurban Tours - DMC Arabia business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- FIT Packages & Escorted Tours: Fully independent travel packages with guaranteed departures, designed for tour operators and travel agents
- Hotel Bookings: Commission-based hotel accommodation bookings through their online reservation platform
- Ground Services: Transportation services using company-owned fleet with drivers, including competitive pricing for transfers and logistics
- Excursions & Attractions: Daily sightseeing tours operating on seat-in-coach basis in 15 languages, plus private tours and attraction ticket sales
- Spiritual Packages & Umrah: Pilgrimage travel packages including visa assistance, transfers, hotels, and sightseeing for Saudi Arabia
- Leisure Groups & MICE: Group travel organization including meetings, incentive trips, special events, and corporate travel
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Group discounts available for larger party bookings |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels4 records
Kurban Tours - DMC Arabia product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Kurban Tours is a B2B Destination Management Company providing end-to-end ground services across UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Lebanon. Its core offerings include FIT packages and escorted group tours, hotel bookings via XML/API reservations, ground transportation with an owned fleet of 70+ vehicles, multilingual excursions and attraction ticketing, Umrah/spiritual packages, and MICE/corporate event services. The company also operates sub-brands including Gray Line UAE & Oman (sightseeing tours), Trips Discovery/Saudi Discovery (Saudi online travel platform), and Desert Point Tourism (Saudi adventure tourism).
Product overview
Kurban Tours operates as a multi-brand Destination Management Company offering a portfolio of travel services across the Middle East. The core KTDMC/DMC Arabia brand provides FIT packages, group tours, hotel bookings, ground services, excursions, attractions, and MICE services. Subsidiary brands include Gray Line (sightseeing tours in UAE & Oman), Trips Discovery (Saudi-focused online B2C/B2B travel platform), and Desert Point (Saudi adventure tourism). The company also sells IOMI smart home products through its retail channel. Services are delivered through 6 offices across Dubai, Muscat, Riyadh, Jeddah, AlUla, and Beirut, with a fleet of owned vehicles and trained guides operating in multiple languages.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Gray Line UAE and Oman: Premier travel and tourism brand providing sightseeing tours, day tours, airport transfers, hop-on hop-off tours, multi-day packages, and walking tours in UAE and Oman. Part of the global Gray Line network with over 100 years of experience.
- Saudi Discovery
- Trips Discovery
- Desert Point Tourism
Products and services
- DMC Arabia - Kurban Tours (Core DMC Brand) The primary Destination Management Company brand offering FIT packages, group tours, hotel bookings, ground services, excursions, attractions, and MICE services across UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Lebanon, serving tour operators, travel agents, and OTAs worldwide.
- Gray Line UAE & Oman Sightseeing tour operations offering daily seat-in-coach tours, private tours, airport transfers, and multi-day packages in UAE and Oman, operating in 15 languages.
- Trips Discovery (Saudi Discovery) Online travel platform for Saudi locals to book hotels, flights, trains, excursions, transfers, tour packages, and car rentals for domestic and international travel, serving both B2C and B2B markets.
- Desert Point Tourism Licensed Saudi tour operator specializing in transportation, ground handling, guided tours, event management, and adventure excursions across Saudi Arabia.
- FIT Packages & Escorted Tours Flexible independent travel packages and escorted group tours with guaranteed departures, designed for tour operators and travel agents, published annually in a FIT packages manual.
- Hotel Bookings Hotel reservation services using online booking technology with XML/API exchange capabilities for medium and large tour operators.
- Ground Services Own fleet of vehicles with drivers and guides across all destinations, providing competitive pricing for transportation and ground handling.
- Excursions & Attractions Daily sightseeing programs in UAE and Oman with seat-in-coach buses operating in 15 languages, plus private tours and attraction ticket sales.
- Spiritual Packages & Umrah Pilgrimage packages to Saudi Arabia including Umrah visas, transfers, hotels, and sightseeing, including Umrah Plus leisure products.
- Leisure Groups Group travel planning services including routing, scheduling, detailed itineraries, and budget planning for tour groups.
- Special Projects, MICE & Events Corporate meetings, incentive trips, special event management, and wedding organization services across all Middle East destinations.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100+ professionals across 6 offices serving clients worldwide
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Kurban Tours - DMC Arabia
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Kurban Tours - DMC Arabia technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Kurban Tours - DMC Arabia partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Gray Line WorldwideflagshipGray Line is the world's largest provider of sightseeing tours with over 100 years of experience and operations in 700+ locations across six continents. Kurban Tours operates Gray Line UAE and Oman as a premier brand, benefiting from global brand recognition and distribution network access.
- Saudi DiscoveryflagshipOnline travel platform designed specifically for Saudi locals to book travel experiences worldwide. Part of the Kurban Organization, offering B2C and B2B solutions for the Saudi market.
- Desert Point TourismcoreLicensed Saudi tour operator and member of Kurban Organization, specializing in transportation, ground handling, guided tours, event management, and adventure excursions across Saudi Arabia.
- Lufthansa City CentercoreInternational network of travel agencies with DMC destination expert designation for Kurban Tours, providing global distribution reach.
- USTOAcoreUnited States Tour Operators Association membership providing industry credibility and network access to US travel market.
- Tourism CaresminorSustainable tourism organization that Kurban Tours actively participates in, demonstrating commitment to responsible tourism practices.
- Saudi Tourism AuthoritycoreOfficial Saudi government tourism body providing destination marketing support and preferential access for tour operators.
- Royal Commission for AlUlacoreGovernment entity overseeing AlUla heritage destination development, partnering with DMC for tourism development.
- Abu Dhabi Culture & TourismcoreOfficial tourism authority for Abu Dhabi providing destination marketing and support for tourism operations.
- Dubai Economy & TourismcoreOfficial Dubai tourism authority supporting destination marketing and tourism business operations.
- IATAminorInternational Air Transport Association membership providing industry standard compliance and airline ticketing capabilities.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Kurban Tours - DMC Arabia competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Arabian Adventures: Middle East DMC owned by the Emirates Group, offering FIT packages, group tours, MICE, and ground services across UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and other regional destinations. Closest direct competitor to Kurban Tours' core DMC business with similar B2B go-to-market and multi-country coverage.
- Abercrombie & Kent: Global luxury DMC and tour operator operating in 100+ countries, including dedicated Middle East programs. Comparable on premium FIT packages, escorted tours, MICE, and ground-handling depth across multiple destinations.
- Musafir.com: UAE-headquartered online and offline travel agency offering holiday packages, hotel bookings, visa services, and corporate travel. Comparable on multi-country Middle East coverage, package holiday tour offerings, and B2C/B2B hybrid distribution model.
- Sharaf Travel: UAE-based travel management company offering leisure, corporate, and MICE services across the Middle East. Comparable multi-country DMC profile with both B2B and B2C channels and similar regional headquarters positioning.
- Cox & Kings: Heritage tour operator (founded 1758) with established Middle East programs and DMC capabilities in Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Oman. Comparable on escorted tours, FIT packages, and inbound tour operator partnerships.
- Almosafer: Saudi Arabia-focused travel platform (part of Seera Group) offering flights, hotels, packages, and visa services. Most directly comparable to Kurban Tours' Trips Discovery subsidiary, with similar Saudi-local targeting and growing pan-Middle East ambition.
- Desert Adventures Tourism LLC: UAE-based DMC and inbound tour operator providing desert safaris, city tours, hotel bookings, and MICE services across the UAE. Directly comparable on desert adventure offerings, hotel reservation capabilities, and B2B tour operator distribution.
- City Sightseeing Worldwide: Global hop-on hop-off sightseeing tour brand operating in 100+ cities, including UAE. Comparable as a sister sightseeing brand ecosystem to Gray Line (Kurban Tours' affiliate), with similar seat-in-coach operations and B2B distribution model.
Broad incumbents
- TUI Musement: Global tours, activities, and experiences provider owned by TUI Group, offering Middle East destination services including UAE and Saudi Arabia. Comparable as a large incumbent DMC/experiences aggregator competing for the same B2B tour operator and OTA partnerships.
- Viator (Tripadvisor): Global experiences marketplace aggregating tours, attractions, and activities from thousands of suppliers including Middle East DMCs. Comparable as a major B2B distribution channel for Kurban Tours' Gray Line products, though Viator is a much larger platform rather than a direct operator competitor.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks3 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Kurban Tours - DMC Arabia social profiles
Digital presenceKurban Tours - DMC Arabia financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Kurban Tours - DMC Arabia leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Kurban Tours - DMC Arabia subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
Kurban Tours - DMC Arabia funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Kurban Tours - DMC Arabia M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Kurban Tours - DMC Arabia
What does Kurban Tours - DMC Arabia do?
Kurban Tours is a B2B Destination Management Company providing end-to-end ground services across UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Lebanon. Its core offerings include FIT packages and escorted group tours, hotel bookings via XML/API reservations, ground transportation with an owned fleet of 70+ vehicles, multilingual excursions and attraction ticketing, Umrah/spiritual packages, and MICE/corporate event services. The company also operates sub-brands including Gray Line UAE & Oman (sightseeing tours), Trips Discovery/Saudi Discovery (Saudi online travel platform), and Desert Point Tourism (Saudi adventure tourism).
Is Kurban Tours - DMC Arabia a public or private company?
Kurban Tours - DMC Arabia is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Kurban Tours - DMC Arabia founded?
Kurban Tours - DMC Arabia was founded in 1952. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Kurban Tours - DMC Arabia based?
Kurban Tours - DMC Arabia is headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in the Middle East region.
How does Kurban Tours - DMC Arabia make money?
Six revenue lines are on record. FIT Packages & Escorted Tours are the primary driver. The others are hotel Bookings, ground Services, excursions & Attractions, spiritual Packages & Umrah and leisure Groups & MICE.
Who are Kurban Tours - DMC Arabia's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Arabian Adventures, Abercrombie & Kent, Musafir.com, Sharaf Travel, Cox & Kings, Almosafer, Desert Adventures Tourism LLC and City Sightseeing Worldwide. Broad incumbents are TUI Musement and Viator (Tripadvisor).
Does Kurban Tours - DMC Arabia have an API?
No public API is recorded for Kurban Tours - DMC Arabia.
What industry is Kurban Tours - DMC Arabia in?
Kurban Tours - DMC Arabia's product category is Destination Management Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAAADAG, Desert & Dune Adventure Tour Operators (Camel treks, sandboarding), with a secondary code of THAJAAAI, Photography & Scenic Viewpoint Tours. Its NAICS code is 56152.