The holiday home permit in Dubai
Every short-stay home in Dubai needs a holiday home permit from the Department of Economy and Tourism. Here is what owners need to know, in plain words.
The short answer
To rent your apartment or villa by the night in Dubai, it must be registered as a holiday home with the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET, formerly DTCM). Most owners let a licensed holiday home management company register it under the company's operator licence and run it for them. Check the exact current requirements on the DET website before you start, as they change.
What the permit covers
The permit allows the home to be let to guests for short stays. It comes with standards for the home itself and obligations for whoever runs it, such as registering every guest. The home is classified and can be inspected.
Doing it yourself or through a company
An owner can register a home personally. The permit is usually the easy part; the work is everything after it: guests at all hours, cleaning between stays, repairs and keeping the registration current. That is why most owners use a licensed company.
Building rules come first
Some buildings restrict short stays in their own rules. Confirm with the building and your management company before you spend on furnishing.
Our pick
Let fäm Living handle the permit
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.
Holiday home management by fäm Living- 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
Questions
Permit questions owners ask
Who issues the holiday home permit in Dubai?
Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), formerly known as DTCM. Holiday homes are registered with DET, and companies that run homes for owners hold a holiday home operator licence.
Can I get the permit myself?
Owners can register a home themselves, and some do. Most owners who hand the home to a management company let the company register it under the company's licence, which also moves the day-to-day obligations to the company.
Does my building have to allow holiday homes?
Yes, in practice. Some towers restrict short stays in their own rules. Check with the building and the management company before you furnish or list.
What happens to the permit if I change company?
Ask before you sign. The permit is tied to the home and the operator registering it, so a clean handover needs to be agreed in the contract.