Tourism Support
DET helped a traveller secure a refund from Atlantis The Palm after disrupted travel plans.
Department of Economy & Tourism
Trade Centre
The Department of Economy & Tourism is a government office in Trade Centre where visitors and businesses can seek help with consumer complaints, tourism disputes and licensing matters. Reviews highlight successful refunds involving hotels, travel agencies and car rentals, alongside support for resolving a holiday home licence issue.
Reputation Score
4.0
★★★★☆
256 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Refund Assistance
Several reviews describe successful help recovering withheld refunds, including a visa-agency payment and a car-rental deposit.
On-site Resolution
One visitor says an in-person visit to the One Central office resolved a holiday home licence problem after a month of chasing.
Case Follow-through
Some customers report prompt, fair handling, with one review praising support that worked toward a fair resolution.
Business Guidance
A review of an innovation project describes approachable guidance and help exploring new opportunities in Dubai.
Tips for a Better Visit
Try In Person. If online follow-ups stall, consider visiting the One Central office early; one reviewer says this resolved a month-old complaint.
Check Jurisdiction. Before waiting for a consumer case, confirm whether the company is in a free zone, as one case was redirected there after nine days.
Track Promises. Keep written records of promised callbacks and deadlines; one customer repeatedly heard that someone would respond within 48 hours.
Save Case Details. Keep your complaint number and supporting paperwork together so every follow-up can refer to the same file.
Plan the visit
Practical details
One Central Building - 2 4th floor
Trade Center Second, Dubai
| Mon | 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Tue | 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Wed | 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Thu | 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Fri | Closed |
| Sat | Closed |
| Sun | Closed |
Popular Mentions
Consumer Protection
The department’s consumer protection channel is used for disputes involving retailers, online platforms, vehicles and service providers, though outcomes vary.
Trade License Renewal
Business visitors mention using DET for trade licence renewal, including questions about previous fees and centre procedures.
Common Concerns
Long Delays
Some complaints remain pending for months despite repeated calls and emails promising a response within 48 hours.
Jurisdiction Gaps
One consumer waited nine days before being told the company fell under free-zone authority instead.
Licensing Confusion
A licence-renewal visitor reported being redirected between centres and leaving without a solution.
Weak Follow-up
A complaint was reportedly closed after brief missed calls, despite a request for a suitable callback time.
Customer-reported prices
These are customer-reported mentions, not a current price list. Prices may have changed.
4,000 AED
trade license renewal
“I was charged an additional 4,000 AED for my trade license renewal, with the explanation that I also need to pay last year’s fees, even though it wasn’t applied at that time”Google review · July 2025
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
The Department of Economy & Tourism in Trade Centre is a government office for consumer complaints, tourism-related disputes and business licensing matters. Reviews show people using it to pursue hotel refunds, recover withheld deposits and payments, and sort out licensing problems such as a holiday home licence. The strongest experiences involve active case handling.
One traveller received help obtaining a refund from Atlantis The Palm after disrupted plans, while another says a visit to the One Central office resolved a complaint that had dragged on for a month. Other reviewers describe successful assistance with a visa-agency refund, a car-rental deposit and a Zomato refund. Service is notably inconsistent.
Some customers praise prompt, fair support, but others report months without resolution, repeated “within 48 hours” messages, missed calls and complaints closed without proper investigation. Online shopping, vehicle defects and damaged goods feature among the unresolved cases. Businesses should also expect licensing frustrations: one review mentions an additional 4,000 AED charged for trade licence renewal and confusion over which centre could help.
Keep documents and case numbers, confirm free-zone jurisdiction early, and consider an in-person visit if email follow-ups go nowhere.