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DTCM holiday home permit fees Dubai 2026: what it costs to get approved
A DTCM holiday home permit in Dubai costs AED 1,520 to register initially, which includes the Knowledge fee. Annual renewal fees depend on property size: AED 370 for studios and one-bedroom apartments, AED 670 for two-bedrooms, AED 970 for three-bedrooms, and AED 1,270 for four-bedroom properties and villas.
By Chris Veinbaums | Founder, Royale Stays Dubai | DTCM Licensed Operator
Published: June 20, 2026
Fees verified June 2026 against the Department of Economy and Tourism official fee schedule.
The cost of a DTCM holiday home permit is one of the first things Dubai apartment owners want to pin down before deciding whether to list on Airbnb or Booking.com. The total is straightforward once you know the structure: one fixed fee to register, then a smaller annual renewal that scales with the size of your property. This guide covers the full 2026 fee schedule confirmed by the Department of Economy and Tourism, what each fee includes, and what other regulatory costs to factor into your budget alongside the permit itself.
What the DTCM registration fee covers
The Department of Economy and Tourism charges a flat registration fee of AED 1,520 to issue a new holiday home permit in Dubai. This applies to all property types eligible for a permit, regardless of size or location. The fee covers the issuance of your permit number, registration of your property in the DET holiday home database, and the Knowledge fee component described further below. You can verify the current rate on the official DTCM portal.
There is no tiered registration fee for the initial application: whether you are registering a studio in Business Bay or a four-bedroom unit in Palm Jumeirah, the starting cost is the same AED 1,520. The size-based structure applies only to annual renewals.
Annual renewal fees by property size
After your permit is issued, you renew it every 12 months. The renewal fee depends on how many bedrooms your property has:
| Property type | Annual renewal fee |
|---|---|
| Studio or 1-bedroom apartment | AED 370/year |
| 2-bedroom apartment | AED 670/year |
| 3-bedroom apartment | AED 970/year |
| 4-bedroom apartment or villa | AED 1,270/year |
The graduated structure keeps smaller properties accessible for individual landlords. A studio or one-bedroom apartment at AED 370 per year is a negligible cost relative to the rental income the property generates. Even at the highest tier, AED 1,270 per year for a four-bedroom unit or villa represents a small fraction of annual earnings on a property that size in Dubai’s short-term rental market.
These figures come from the DET fee schedule confirmed in June 2026. Always verify the current rate on the official portal before submitting payment, as fee schedules can be updated at the start of each fiscal year.
What the Knowledge fee is
The Knowledge fee is a standard Dubai government administrative charge applied to most licensing and permit transactions across all departments. It was introduced under the Smart Dubai initiative to fund digital transformation of government services across the emirate. For DTCM holiday home registration, it is already included in the AED 1,520 total. You will see it listed as a line item in the DET fee breakdown, but it is not an additional charge on top of that figure.
Other regulatory costs to factor into your budget
The permit fee is one part of the cost of operating a legal holiday home in Dubai. Two other regulatory items are worth factoring in from the start.
DTCM property inspection: Before your permit is issued, a DTCM inspector checks that your property meets the standards the DET sets for holiday homes in terms of furnishing, safety, and documentation. There is no separate published inspection fee in the standard schedule, but you will need your property to meet those standards before the permit is approved. Any corrections add to your preparation cost.
Operator licence: If you are using a property management company, they must hold a valid DTCM operator licence. This is separate from your property permit and covers the management company rather than your unit. See our detailed breakdown of DTCM operator licence requirements if you are evaluating which operator to work with. For the steps involved in applying for your property permit once you know the fees, see our guide on how to apply for a DTCM holiday home permit.
Calculating your first-year permit cost
Your first-year cost is the flat AED 1,520 registration fee. From year two onwards you pay only the annual renewal fee for your property’s size tier. There is no proration for part-year permits: if you register in October, you pay the full annual renewal fee the following October regardless of how many months you were listed in the first year.
To confirm which renewal tier applies to your property, count the bedrooms as per the DET classification. Studios and one-bedroom apartments fall in the same AED 370 tier. Two-bedroom units are AED 670. Three-bedroom units are AED 970. Four-bedroom units and villas of any bedroom count fall in the AED 1,270 tier.
One important eligibility check: hotel apartment buildings in Dubai cannot obtain an independent holiday home permit. Properties in buildings classified as hotel apartments must operate under the hotel management structure. This applies to some towers in Dubai Marina and Downtown Dubai where the building operates under a hotel licence. Confirm your building’s classification with the DET before proceeding.
What happens if you miss the renewal date?
DTCM permits expire 12 months from the issue date. Operating a holiday home after a permit has expired is treated the same as operating without a permit: it carries fines and can result in your listing being removed from Airbnb or Booking.com. The DET can notify platforms directly when a permit has lapsed, so the risk is not just a paper compliance issue.
Permit renewal is typically straightforward for properties with no complaints on record. The DET processes renewals through the same online portal used for registration. If you are working with a management company, renewal administration should be part of their service.
Royale Stays handles permit renewal as part of ongoing property management, starting from 15%. Services include pricing optimisation, guest communications, check-in, photography, and maintenance coordination. Submit your property to see whether it qualifies for our portfolio.
Frequently asked questions
1. What is the DTCM holiday home permit fee in Dubai?
The initial registration fee for a DTCM holiday home permit in Dubai is AED 1,520. This flat fee applies to all property sizes eligible for a permit and includes the Knowledge fee. Annual renewal fees are separate and scale by bedroom count: AED 370 for studios and one-bedroom units, AED 670 for two-bedrooms, AED 970 for three-bedrooms, and AED 1,270 for four-plus bedrooms and villas.
2. How much does it cost to renew a DTCM permit annually?
Annual DTCM permit renewal fees in 2026 are AED 370 for studios and one-bedroom apartments, AED 670 for two-bedroom units, AED 970 for three-bedroom units, and AED 1,270 for four-bedroom units and villas. The renewal fee is paid each year on or before the permit’s expiry date.
3. What is the Knowledge fee included in DTCM registration?
The Knowledge fee is a standard Dubai government administrative charge applied to most licensing transactions across government departments. It was introduced under the Smart Dubai digital transformation initiative. For DTCM holiday home registration, the Knowledge fee is embedded within the AED 1,520 total and is not an additional charge on top of that amount.
4. Does the DTCM permit fee vary by property size?
For initial registration, no: all eligible properties pay AED 1,520. For annual renewals, yes: the fee scales by bedroom count. Studios and one-bedroom units pay AED 370, two-bedrooms pay AED 670, three-bedrooms pay AED 970, and four-plus bedrooms and villas pay AED 1,270 per year.
5. What happens if I do not pay my annual DTCM permit fee?
If you do not renew your DTCM holiday home permit before it expires, the permit lapses and your property is no longer legally registered as a holiday home. Operating after expiry carries the same penalties as operating without a permit, including fines and potential listing removal by Airbnb or Booking.com. The DET can notify platforms directly when a permit has expired.