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United Arab Emirates
Do you need a licence for a holiday home in Dubai?
Yes. Short-term letting in Dubai is legal and explicitly regulated: every holiday home must be registered with Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism, operated under a valid permit, and each guest stay must be reported through the official system. Unpermitted short-term letting is not allowed.
Who the rules apply to
Owners letting a residential unit to guests on a nightly or short-stay basis, whether directly or through an operator. Individual owners and licensed holiday-home operating companies register under different categories. Developer and community rules, plus owners' association regulations, may add further conditions in specific buildings and communities.
What you must do to comply in Dubai
- 01Confirm the building or community permits holiday-home use, and obtain any owners' association or developer approval required.
- 02Register the unit with the Department of Economy and Tourism and obtain the holiday home permit, renewing it before expiry.
- 03Provide the required documents: title deed or tenancy proof, owner identification, DEWA account details and unit photographs.
- 04Meet the classification standards for furnishing, amenities, safety equipment and cleanliness applicable to your permit category.
- 05Register every guest stay through the official system and collect the Tourism Dirham fee per occupied night.
- 06Appoint a licensed operator if you do not intend to manage the permit, reporting and guest obligations yourself.
Penalties for non-compliance
Operating a holiday home without a valid permit, or failing to report guest stays and remit the Tourism Dirham, can result in fines, permit suspension or cancellation, and removal of listings. Repeat breaches carry escalating penalties.
Official sources
Not legal advice
This page is general information for property owners, not legal or tax advice. Short-term rental rules change frequently and vary by building, lease and district. Verify the current position with the official authority or a qualified local adviser before you list, and treat the review date above as the point at which this summary was last checked.
Guides for Dubai
How each part of short-term rental management works in Dubai, written for owners deciding what to hand over.
Rules in other markets
Let us handle compliance in Dubai
We run licensing, guest registration and reporting as part of management, so the paperwork does not sit with you.