Short-Term Rental Regulations in Dubai (2026)

Running a holiday home in Dubai legally requires a DTCM-issued license, property registration, and compliance with a specific set of operational rules. Skip any step and you face fines up to AED 50,000.

Step 1 — Apply for Holiday Home License

Apply online via the DTCM portal (now Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism). Costs:

• License fee — AED 1,520 per year
• Operator fee — AED 370
• Inspection fee — AED 700
• Knowledge dirham — AED 10
• Innovation dirham — AED 10

Step 2 — Property inspection

DTCM inspects for: fire safety compliance, required amenities (kitchen, laundry, toilet, bedding), building NOC, and layout compliance. Typically scheduled within 5–10 days.

Step 3 — Register each property

Each unit needs its own registration. If you own 3 studios in Marina, you need 3 registrations. Fee per property: AED 300/year.

Step 4 — Collect Tourism Dirham

Holiday homes must charge guests a "Tourism Dirham" of AED 10–20 per night (tiered by star rating) and remit monthly to government.

Step 5 — Operator registration

You either self-operate (requires DED license) or use a licensed operator. Operators charge 20–25% of revenue but handle cleaning, check-in, guest comms, and compliance.

Top mistakes

• Running Airbnb without license — AED 20,000 fine per property, per inspection.
• Not collecting Tourism Dirham — Penalty + back-dated dirham liability.
• Skipping annual renewal — License lapses → listing blocked on platforms.
• Ignoring building NOC — Some buildings prohibit short-term. Check JOP documents.

Can you really make money?

Yes — if you pick the right area and unit. Use the STR calculator to model revenue vs long-term rental for any specific unit.