Holiday home management in Dubai
How holiday home management works in Dubai, what it costs, the permit you need, and the companies to talk to, starting with our pick, fäm Living.
The short answer
Holiday home management in Dubai means a licensed company runs your apartment or villa as a short-stay rental: permit, furnishing, listings, pricing, guests, cleaning and maintenance. Published fees range from about 12% to 20% of rental income. Our pick is fäm Living, the publisher of this guide.
How it works
Six steps from empty flat to paid owner
Check the building
The company confirms your tower allows holiday homes and that the home suits short stays.
Register the permit
The home is registered as a holiday home with Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism, usually under the company's operator licence.
Furnish and photograph
It is brought up to the standard guests expect, then professionally photographed and listed.
List and price
It goes live on Airbnb, Booking.com and direct channels, with prices that move with season, events and demand.
Run every stay
Guests are screened and checked in, the home is cleaned and restocked between stays, and repairs are handled.
Pay the owner
The owner is paid with a statement of every booking and every charge, and can block dates for personal use.
Our pick
fäm Living: holiday home management in Dubai
fäm Living runs apartments and villas as licensed holiday homes across Dubai, with its own team for check-in, cleaning and maintenance, an owner portal, and terms agreed per property in writing. Part of the fäm Properties group.
Get an estimate for your property- Licensed holiday home operator in Dubai
- Permit, furnishing and photos handled
- Pricing, guests and cleaning by our own team
- Every booking and payout in the owner portal
Companies
Holiday home management companies in Dubai
Our pick first, then other well-known companies A to Z, as described on their own websites. For the full comparison with sources, see holiday home companies in Dubai.
- fäm Living: our pick and the publisher of this guide. Licensed operator, own team, owner portal.
- AirDXB: fees 16.75% incl. vat (plus onboarding fee stated on site)
- bnbme Holiday Homes: fees not published
- Driven Holiday Homes: fees not published
- Elite LUX Holiday Homes: fees not published
- First Class Property Management: fees not published
- Frank Porter: fees full management fee 17%
- GuestReady: fees from 18% commission (dubai page)
- HiGuests: fees not published
- Homevy: fees 20% fee
- Houst: fees 12% for full-time and 18% for part-time management
- Kennedy Towers: fees not published
- Key One Holiday Homes: fees not published
Costs
What holiday home management costs in Dubai
Companies that publish their fee charge a share of rental income, from about 12% to 20%. Most quote per property. The percentage matters less than what it is calculated on and what is billed on top: cleaning between stays, linen, consumables, repairs, furnishing and photography.
See every published fee side by side on our Dubai holiday home management fees page, and ask any company for its full fee in writing before you sign.
Before you sign
- Ask for the operator licence number and who will hold your permit.
- Ask who does check-in, cleaning and maintenance: own team or subcontractors.
- Get the fee and every extra charge in writing.
- Check the minimum term and how you leave.
- Ask for a sample owner statement and portal access.
Read more: the Dubai holiday home permit and holiday home or yearly lease.
Questions
Holiday home management: common questions
What is holiday home management in Dubai?
It is a company running your apartment or villa as a licensed short-stay rental on your behalf: the permit, furnishing, listings, pricing, guests, cleaning and maintenance. You keep the property and receive the income after the company's fee.
How much does holiday home management cost in Dubai?
Companies that publish a fee charge a share of rental income, from about 12% to 20%. Most quote per property. Check what the percentage is calculated on and what is charged on top, such as cleaning and linen.
Is holiday home management worth it in Dubai?
For owners who do not want to run guests, cleaning and the permit themselves, a licensed company turns the home into an income without the daily work. Compare it with a yearly lease on the same home before deciding.
Who is the best holiday home management company in Dubai?
It depends on your building and what you want. Our pick is fäm Living, which publishes this guide. Compare any company on its licence, its own team, the written fee, the contract and the owner portal.
Do I need a licence to rent my apartment short term in Dubai?
Yes. Every holiday home needs a permit from the Department of Economy and Tourism. A licensed management company normally registers your home under its own operator licence.