DET vs DTCM in Dubai: which authority regulates your holiday home?

DTCM was merged into DET in 2021. For holiday home owners, the permit is still commonly referred to as the DTCM permit. Applications, fees, and inspections are now processed through DET. The permit requirement, fee structure, and enforcement rules are unchanged.

By Chris Veinbaums | Founder, Royale Stays Dubai | DTCM Licensed Operator
Published: June 21, 2026

About our data: Regulatory references drawn from the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism official portal, confirmed June 2026. Fee figures from the DTCM official fee schedule confirmed June 2026.

Owners researching Dubai holiday home regulations often find references to both DTCM and DET and are not certain which authority to deal with. The distinction matters when you are submitting a permit application, booking an inspection, or handling a renewal. For the full picture of how Dubai regulates holiday homes in 2026, see the complete Dubai holiday home regulations guide. This article explains the relationship between the two bodies and what it means for your permit.

The short version: DTCM was absorbed into DET in 2021, and the two names now refer to the same regulatory authority. Existing permits remain valid and the application process is unchanged.

Table of Contents

In short

DTCM and DET are the same authority. In 2021, the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) was merged into the new Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). Holiday home permit applications, inspections, and renewals now go through DET, though the permits are still commonly called DTCM permits in guides and forms. The DTCM holiday home permit application process is unchanged in substance.

What is DET and how does it relate to DTCM?

The Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) was formed when the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) was consolidated with the Dubai Economy department under a restructuring in 2021. DTCM did not simply rebrand. It was absorbed into a broader department covering both economic development and tourism regulation. The tourism and holiday home licensing functions that DTCM previously handled now sit within DET.

For property owners, the practical effect was minimal. The same permit, the same application portal, and the same inspection process were all carried over. DET continues to issue what the market still calls a DTCM holiday home permit. Correspondence from the authority may now carry the DET name rather than DTCM, but the process is the same.

What the merger means for your holiday home permit

For property owners, the DET merger changed very little. The permit fee structure was not modified. The furnishing inspection requirements were not altered. The annual renewal process stayed the same. The most visible change is that official correspondence and portal references now use the DET name rather than DTCM. Some forms and guides written before 2021 may still reference DTCM, and these remain accurate in substance even if the authority name has changed.

Where do you apply for a holiday home permit now?

Applications are submitted through the Dubai Tourism portal (visit.dubai.com), which is now operated by DET. When owners ask about the DTCM permit application, they are referring to this portal. The portal requires your title deed, passport or Emirates ID, and the full property address. The initial registration fee of AED 1,520 covers the Knowledge fee and the first-year permit. Full fees are listed at our guide to current DTCM permit fees.

What about the holiday home operator licence?

A holiday home operator licence is separate from the holiday home permit. The permit is issued to the property and allows the individual owner to list it for short-term rental. The operator licence is issued to a company or individual that manages holiday homes commercially on behalf of multiple owners. A management company must hold a valid holiday home operator licence. Individual owners managing only their own property apply for a permit, not an operator licence. Both are now issued through DET.

Is my existing DTCM permit still valid after the DET merger?

Yes. Permits issued under the DTCM name before the DET merger remain valid and are renewed through the same portal under DET administration. There was no requirement to reapply or obtain a new permit after the merger. Your renewal notices will come from DET, and the fee structure for renewal is unchanged: AED 370 per year for studio or one-bedroom units, AED 670 for two-bedroom, AED 970 for three-bedroom, and AED 1,270 for four-bedroom and larger units.

Conclusion

For Dubai holiday home owners, the DET and DTCM distinction is mainly one of administrative naming. The authority regulating your property is DET, which absorbed DTCM in 2021. The permit you need is issued through the DET-administered Dubai Tourism portal. Requirements, fees, and inspections are unchanged from the DTCM era. To see what a fully licensed management company can do for your property, submit your property and we will follow up directly.

Frequently asked questions

1. What is the difference between DET and DTCM in Dubai?
DET (Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism) absorbed DTCM (Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing) in 2021. They are now the same authority. The holiday home permit functions previously handled by DTCM are now administered by DET through the same application portal.

2. Do I apply to DET or DTCM for a holiday home permit?
You apply through the Dubai Tourism portal, which is operated by DET. In practice, both names are still used interchangeably in guides and application forms. The portal and the permit are the same product they were under DTCM. The process, fees, and inspection requirements are unchanged.

3. Did the DTCM merger affect holiday home permit requirements?
No. The DET merger in 2021 did not change permit fees, furnishing inspection standards, or the annual renewal process. The same requirements apply. The main change is that official correspondence now carries the DET name rather than DTCM.

4. Where do I contact DET about my holiday home permit?
The Dubai Tourism portal (visit.dubai.com) is the main channel for permit applications, inspections, and renewals. DET also has a call centre and physical service centres in Dubai. For operator licence queries, the process is the same portal and the same team that handled DTCM operator licences before 2021.

5. Is my existing DTCM permit still valid after the DET merger?
Yes. Permits issued under the DTCM name remain valid and renew through the same portal under DET administration. There was no requirement to reapply after the merger. Your renewal notices will come from DET and the fee structure is unchanged.