How to Get a Short Term Rental License in Dubai: 2026 Guide
A short-term rental licence in Dubai is required for any unit let to guests under a DTCM holiday home permit, for stays from 1 day up to a year, with bills included and a manager looking after it. You classify the unit yourself as Standard or Deluxe, and the permit runs from one month up to 12 months before it is renewed. Without one, you are looking at fines of up to AED 50,000.
Beyond the licence itself, landlords must comply with the full legal requirements for Airbnb in Dubai 2026.
The licensing process for individual landlords differs from registering a holiday home company in Dubai.
How to get a short-term rental licence in Dubai
By Chris Veinbaums | Founder, Royale Stays Dubai | DTCM Licensed Operator
Published: August 2025
About our data: Figures drawn from actual booking data across Royale Stays managed properties in Dubai.
- Register on the DET Holiday Homes portal at https://hhpermits.det.gov.ae/holidayhomes/Welcome.aspx
- Submit property details: title deed, Makani number, owner passport or Emirates ID
- Owner confirms: the title deed owner receives an email from DTCM and confirms
- Pay the permit fee: AED 370 for the first bedroom plus AED 300 for each additional bedroom, capped at AED 1,270
- Collect your permit certificate and list on Airbnb, Booking.com or similar
If you’re planning to list your property on Airbnb, Booking.com, or VRBO, you need a short-term rental licence before accepting a single guest. This DET-issued permit confirms your property meets hospitality standards and is approved for holiday home operations. This is the same process people mean when they search for a DTCM permit or DTCM licence: DTCM was the old name for the licensing authority, now DET, and the Holiday Homes portal at https://hhpermits.det.gov.ae/holidayhomes/Welcome.aspx is where every application goes. This guide walks through the process, costs, and compliance requirements.
For a broader look at the Dubai short-term rental market, see our Airbnb management in Dubai complete guide.
Beyond the licence, landlords need to comply with the full legal requirements for Airbnb in Dubai 2026.
The licensing process for individuals is different from registering a holiday home company in Dubai.
In Short
You apply through the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) using the Holiday Homes portal at https://hhpermits.det.gov.ae/holidayhomes/Welcome.aspx. The operator enters the title deed details and Makani number, the owner confirms by email, and once that confirmation is in and the operator has paid, the permit can be issued within 24 hours. The licence runs from one month up to 12 months and is renewed when it ends; the permit number must appear on every booking platform listing.
Step-by-Step Guide to Getting a Short Term Rental License in Dubai
Any furnished property let to guests under a DTCM permit, from 1 day up to a year with bills included and a manager looking after it, counts as a holiday home in Dubai. The occupant is a guest, not a tenant, so there is no Ejari. That includes Airbnb, Booking.com, VRBO, and similar platforms, whether you’re listing one room or an entire villa. If you want to understand how this compares to a holiday home licence, see our Holiday Home Licence Dubai guide.
For documents, you need the title deed, the Makani number, and an Emirates ID or passport copy. Applications through a management company like Royale Stays run on the signed management contract, after which we register the unit with building management.
The application goes through the DET Holiday Homes portal. Submit your property details, upload documents, and pay the permit fee: AED 370 for the first bedroom and AED 300 for each additional bedroom, capped at AED 1,270. A two-bedroom apartment in Downtown Dubai pays AED 670, and renewal costs the same.
Once approved, your permit number must appear on every listing. Dubai law also requires all guests to be registered with Dubai Police within 24 hours of check-in. For Airbnb-specific registration, see Do you need a licence for Airbnb in Dubai?
Key Costs in 2026
The standard DTCM licence costs AED 370 for the first bedroom and AED 300 for each additional bedroom, capped at AED 1,270 per unit, and renewal costs the same. These are the same costs people search for as the DTCM fee or DTCM fees, unchanged whether you call the issuing authority DTCM or DET. Operating without a licence carries fines of up to AED 50,000 and listing removal.
Standard vs Deluxe: which classification applies to your property?
Every holiday home is registered as either Standard or Deluxe. You choose the classification yourself when you register; DET does not assess it.
Standard covers most apartments and townhouses. Deluxe applies to properties with private pools, beach access, or dedicated concierge services. Villas on Palm Jumeirah, for example, almost always fall under Deluxe.
The classification sets your Tourism Dirham rate (AED 10 or AED 15 per night) and shapes guest expectations. Deluxe units should be furnished to match, and they pull higher nightly rates on Airbnb and Booking.com.
If your property sits on the borderline, you make the call at registration and can change it at renewal. Properties managed through a licensed operator like Royale Stays (from 15% management fee) are furnished to a Deluxe standard where the property supports it, because higher classification directly means higher rental income.
How to renew your short-term rental licence
Your DTCM licence runs for the period you registered, from one month up to 12 months. You renew through the same Holiday Homes portal at https://hhpermits.det.gov.ae/holidayhomes/Welcome.aspx when it ends.
The renewal fee is the same as the original permit fee: AED 370 for the first bedroom and AED 300 for each additional bedroom, capped at AED 1,270. There is no separate registration charge.
If your permit lapses, your listing is deactivated on Airbnb and Booking.com and you register again before relisting.
We track renewal dates for every property we manage and submit the paperwork before the deadline. That’s included in the management service (from 15% fee), so landlords don’t need to watch expiry dates themselves.
Common mistakes that delay your licence approval
Most licence delays come from paperwork errors, not property issues. These are the ones DTCM rejects most often.
The title deed must match the applicant name exactly. If the property is jointly owned or held through a company, you need additional authorisation letters. Submitting a deed with a different name than the applicant is the most common rejection reason we see.
Expired Emirates IDs cause automatic rejection. DTCM validates your ID against the Federal Authority database in real time, so an ID that expired even one day before submission gets flagged.
Photos submitted during the application must show the property in its current furnished state. DTCM rejects stock photos and renders.
Working with an experienced operator avoids most of these delays. Royale Stays handles the full licence application and document prep as part of onboarding, from 15% management fee.
Conclusion
A short-term rental licence in Dubai is what makes your Airbnb or Booking.com listing legal. With the title deed and Makani number to hand, the DET process is straightforward and the permit can be issued within 24 hours once the deed owner has confirmed by email. We handle the full licence application, renewals, and ongoing DTCM compliance as part of our management service. For the full market overview, see our Airbnb management in Dubai complete guide.
For the per-property application process, see our Dubai holiday home permit guide. If you hold more than 2 units, DET treats you as an operator: you need a holiday home operator license from DET and office space, the same credential a management company holds.
Most property owners use a Dubai holiday home management company that handles your licence application to manage the application and renewal, avoiding compliance delays.
FAQ’s
Is a short-term rental licence different from a holiday home licence in Dubai?
Same thing, different name. Both refer to the DET-issued permit required for any listing on Airbnb, Booking.com, or VRBO. See our Holiday home licence Dubai guide for the full breakdown.
Can I operate multiple units under one short-term rental licence?
No. Each property needs its own permit. You can register up to 2 units without a trade licence; beyond 2 you count as an operator and need a licence and office space. Learn more in our guide to Airbnb licensing in Dubai.
How long does it take to get a short-term rental licence in Dubai?
The permit can be issued within 24 hours once the title deed owner has confirmed by email and the operator has paid.
Is an Airbnb business licence the same as a short-term rental licence in Dubai?
Yes. Airbnb business licence, short-term rental licence, and holiday home licence are used interchangeably: they all mean the same DET-issued permit covered in this guide, applied for through the Holiday Homes portal at https://hhpermits.det.gov.ae/holidayhomes/Welcome.aspx.
What are the penalties for operating without a licence?
Fines of up to AED 50,000, plus listing removal or account suspension on booking platforms.