Holiday Home Permit Dubai: 2026 Costs Explained

Holiday home permit Dubai: what it covers

A holiday home permit is the legal authorisation from DET (formerly DTCM) that allows a property owner or licensed operator to list a residential unit for short-term rental. The permit is property-specific: each apartment or villa needs its own permit. An owner can register up to 2 units without a trade licence; beyond 2 units the owner counts as an operator and needs a licence and office space. The permit confirms the unit is registered with DET for short-term letting. You'll also see this called a DTCM licence or DTCM permit: it's the same authorisation covered throughout this guide, just under its older name.

The permit system exists to regulate Dubai’s holiday home market, which now includes over 22,000 licensed units. It protects guests and property owners by setting minimum accommodation quality standards. For a full overview of the licensing process, see our holiday home licence Dubai guide.

Detailed cost breakdown for 2026

DET charges the permit fee when you first register, payable through the Holiday Homes portal: AED 370 for the first bedroom and AED 300 for each additional bedroom, capped at AED 1,270. So a 1-bed is AED 370, a 2-bed AED 670, a 3-bed AED 970, and 4 bedrooms or more AED 1,270. There is no separate registration or application charge, and renewal costs the same as the first registration.

Worked example: a 2-bed apartment in Downtown Dubai holiday home management pays AED 670 for the permit (AED 370 for the first bedroom plus AED 300 for the second), and the same AED 670 each time it is renewed.

Beyond DET fees, budget for:

• Furnishing to holiday home standards: AED 25,000 to AED 80,000 depending on property size and spec
• Professional photography for listing images: AED 1,500 to AED 3,000
• Fire safety equipment (extinguishers, smoke detectors, first aid kit): AED 500 to AED 1,500
• Building insurance or holiday home insurance policy: AED 1,000 to AED 3,000 per year (Royale Stays, 2025)
• Professional management fees if using a company like Royale Stays: from 15% of gross rental revenue

Required documentation checklist

Have these ready when you register your holiday home permit; DET works from the title deed, the Makani number and the owner's ID and email confirmation. Missing or expired documents are the most common cause of delays, so have everything ready before starting the online submission.

• Title deed (original or certified copy) proving property ownership
• Valid passport copy of the property owner
• Emirates ID copy (for UAE residents) or valid visa copy (for non-residents)
• Signed contract between the owner and the operator, followed by registration of the unit with building management by email or through the developer's portal. DET itself does not require an NOC.
• Floor plan showing bedroom layout and total area
• Proof of holiday home insurance covering guest liability
• Recent photographs of the property (interior and exterior)
• Signed operator agreement if using a licensed management company

Non-resident owners need a local operator, who registers the permit on their behalf. This is the route for international investors who own property in Dubai but do not hold a UAE residence visa. For details on starting without a property, see our guide on starting an Airbnb business in Dubai without owning property. See also: legal requirements for Airbnb in Dubai.

DTCM classification standards: Standard and Deluxe

Holiday homes are registered in one of two tiers, Standard or Deluxe. You choose the tier yourself when you register; DET does not assess it. The tier sets your Tourism Dirham rate and shapes guest expectations.

Standard covers baseline requirements: clean, functional furnishing, basic kitchen equipment, fresh linen, towels, and essential toiletries. Most 1-bed apartments in areas like JBR or Business Bay fall here when furnished to a comfortable but not luxury standard.

Deluxe means higher-quality furnishing, branded toiletries, premium kitchen appliances, and a more curated interior. Properties in Dubai Marina holiday home management with marina views and modern fit-outs typically qualify for Deluxe.

You set the classification yourself at registration and can change it when you renew.

Penalties and fines for non-compliance

Dubai takes holiday home regulation seriously. Operating without a valid permit, or continuing to list a property after your permit has expired, carries steep financial penalties under Decree No. 41 of 2013.

The fine for operating without a valid permit is up to AED 50,000. Persistent non-compliance can also block future permit applications.

Beyond fines, unlicensed properties can be reported by neighbours or guests, which triggers DET enforcement. Booking platforms including Airbnb now cross-reference Dubai listings against the DET permit database, and unlicensed listings are being removed proactively. The financial risk of operating without a permit far outweighs the cost of getting one.

If you’ve already received a fine from DET for operating without a valid holiday home permit, stop accepting new bookings immediately. Continuing to operate after a fine has been issued triggers escalated penalties and may result in permanent blacklisting from the DET system. For a full breakdown of what enforcement involves, see what DTCM enforcement looks like.

To resolve an existing fine, contact the DET enforcement department through the Holiday Homes portal or visit the DET offices in person. You’ll need to pay the outstanding fine in full before any new permit application can be processed for the same property or owner.

After paying the fine, apply for a permit through the standard process. DET doesn’t impose additional waiting periods for first-time offenders, so you can submit your application immediately after clearing the fine. For repeat offenders, DET may impose additional conditions or require a compliance review.

The most common reason landlords get fined isn’t deliberate evasion but simple unawareness. Many property owners who bought apartments as investments listed them on Airbnb without realising a DET permit was required. If this applies to you, acting quickly to get a permit and resolve any fines is the fastest route back to legal operation. A licensed operator can manage the entire process and keep you compliant going forward.

Tourism Dirham and tax obligations

Every holiday home booking in Dubai is subject to the Tourism Dirham fee, a government levy collected per room per night and remitted to DET. The rate depends on your property classification (Standard or Deluxe):

• Standard holiday homes: AED 10 per room per night
• Deluxe holiday homes: AED 15 per room per night

This fee is collected from the guest at booking (most platforms add it automatically) and must be reported and remitted through the DET’s Tourism Dirham portal monthly. Failing to collect or remit the Tourism Dirham carries its own penalties.

On top of the Tourism Dirham, holiday home operators must be VAT-registered if annual taxable revenue exceeds AED 375,000. The standard UAE VAT rate is 5%, applied to the nightly rate. Many owners don’t reach this threshold with a single unit, but landlords running multiple properties often do. For a detailed breakdown of management costs and revenue splits, see our guide on how much Airbnb management costs in Dubai.