Selling Tickets in Dubai: Ticket Configuration and DET Approval
Why ticket categories, prices and quantities need to match your DET approval, how to configure them before submission, and how to change them safely once sales are live.
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In Dubai, a ticketed event's ticket setup is part of what gets approved, not just a setting in your ticketing tool. Categories, prices and quantities are submitted to the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), and what you sell should match what was approved.
What goes into a ticket configuration
| Field | Example |
|---|---|
| Category | Early Bird, General Admission, VIP, Table for 10 |
| Price (AED, VAT-inclusive) | 150 / 250 / 750 / 7,500 |
| Quantity | 500 / 2,000 / 200 / 20 tables |
| Sale window | On-sale and off-sale dates for each category |
| Restrictions | Age limits, ID requirements, accessibility seats |
Getting it right first time
- Model your capacity before pricing. Your category quantities should add up to no more than the venue's approved capacity.
- Include every category you might want to sell, including complimentary and media tickets if they count towards capacity.
- Decide on early-bird logic now. Is it time-limited, quantity-limited or both?
- Show prices VAT-inclusive. UAE consumer prices should include the 5% VAT. See VAT on event tickets.
- Write terms and conditions covering refunds, transfers, entry rules and age limits.
Changing tickets after approval
Changes such as adding a category, increasing quantities or changing prices may need to be submitted again. Plan your price steps in advance so you're not asking for changes in the middle of a sales campaign.
How the platform should help
Your ticketing system should lock sales to the approved setup. That means no category that wasn't approved, no quantity above the approved number, and a clear audit trail. Pyalm Events & Ticketing configures ticket inventory to match your approval and coordinates the submission with you.
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