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How to Get a DET Holiday Home Licence in Dubai (2026 Step-by-Step Guide)
Yes. Every short-term rental in Dubai needs a DET (formerly DTCM) Holiday Home permit. Below are the facts owners actually ask about, kept simple, each with where to check it. Fees and penalties are set by DET and change over time, so always confirm the current figures on the official DET Holiday Homes portal before you apply.
Quick facts
- You need a permit. Renting your Dubai property for stays under 12 months requires a DET Holiday Home permit. Source: DET Holiday Homes portal.
- It is per unit. Each apartment or villa needs its own permit. Source: DET.
- It renews every year. The permit is issued annually and must be renewed before it expires. Source: DET.
- Your property gets classified. DET grades each unit Standard or Deluxe before it can be listed. Source: DET.
- The permit number must show on every listing. Airbnb and Booking.com verify it, and delist listings without one. Source: DET, booking platforms.
- No permit is illegal. Operating without one carries significant fines, and Dubai actively enforces it. Source: DET (check the portal for current penalties).
- Fees are set by DET and vary by unit size. Check the current schedule on the DET portal. Source: DET Holiday Homes portal.
- Guests pay a nightly Tourism Dirham. It is collected from the guest, not an owner cost. Source: DET.
- Some buildings do not allow it. A few developers and communities restrict short-term rental, so check with building management first. Source: DET, building management.
- An operator can hold the permit for you. Appoint a licensed operator like Stay® and they hold it and handle compliance. Source: Stay® Group.
Confirm current fees and penalties on the official DET Holiday Homes portal: hhpermits.det.gov.ae
What Is the DET Holiday Home Licence?
The DET Holiday Home permit is issued by Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism (DET, formerly DTCM) and authorises a residential property to be rented to guests for periods under 12 months. It brings short-term rentals under a tourism-licensing framework alongside hotels and serviced accommodation. There are no exceptions: if you are charging guests to stay in your Dubai property for a short period, you need this permit.
The licence is issued per unit and is tied to both the property and the operator. When you appoint a professional management company, the licence is held in the operator's name on behalf of the owner. This is the standard arrangement for most Dubai STR properties.
Each individual unit requires its own DET Holiday Home licence, renewed annually.
Who Needs a DET Holiday Home Licence?
Any owner or operator renting a Dubai residential property for less than 12 months in exchange for payment needs a DET Holiday Home licence. This applies regardless of the channel: Airbnb, Booking.com, a direct booking website, or a private arrangement. The channel is irrelevant. The commercial activity triggers the requirement.
You do not need a Holiday Home licence for a standard 12-month tenancy registered through Ejari, or for hosting non-paying guests. Those situations are governed by separate legal frameworks.
Step-by-Step: How to Get Licensed
Check Your Building Permits STR
Before applying, confirm that your building and master community permit short-term rental. Some developers (including certain buildings in Dubai Marina, Business Bay, and JVC) have community rules that restrict or prohibit holiday home operations. Check with your building management or developer.
DET will not issue a licence for a unit in a building where short-term rental is prohibited by community rules.
Create an Account on Dubai REST or DET Portal
The Holiday Home licence application is submitted through the DET Holiday Homes portal at hhpermits.det.gov.ae or via the Dubai REST app. If you are appointing a management company, they will create the operator account and submit on your behalf.
An individual owner managing their own property must register as a "Holiday Home" operator and complete KYC (Know Your Customer) verification before submitting a unit application.
Prepare Your Documents
Have the following ready before beginning your application:
- Title deed (original, in Arabic, certified by DLD)
- Owner's passport copy (all nationalities) or Emirates ID (UAE residents)
- NOC from the building management (if required by the developer)
- DEWA account number for the unit
- Floor plan of the unit
- Photos of the furnished unit (living area, bedroom/s, bathroom/s, kitchen)
- Property management agreement (if appointing an operator)
Submit the Application and Pay Fees
Complete the online application and upload your documents. Once reviewed, DET issues a payment request for the permit fee.
There are two parts to the cost. A permit fee, set by DET and varying by unit size, and a Tourism Dirham collected from guests per night (a guest charge, not an owner cost). DET sets these and they change over time, so confirm the current figures on the official DET Holiday Homes portal at hhpermits.det.gov.ae before you apply. Professional operators managing multiple units also need a commercial trade licence; an individual owner with their own unit does not.
DET Review and Property Classification
DET will review your application and may conduct a physical inspection of the property. Properties are classified as either "Standard" or "Deluxe" based on amenities and furnishing quality. Deluxe classification allows you to charge premium nightly rates and appears more favourably in DET's own booking channels.
Processing is typically completed within a couple of weeks once documents are complete and payment is made. Properties requiring inspection or with outstanding NOC issues can take longer. Confirm current timelines on the official DET Holiday Homes portal.
Receive Your Licence and Display It
Once approved, DET issues a digital certificate with a unique licence number. This number must be displayed on all listing platforms (Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, etc.) and in any marketing materials for the property. Airbnb and Booking.com verify DET licence numbers during onboarding for Dubai properties.
Tip: If you appoint Stay® as your management company, we handle the entire DET licensing process on your behalf, including document collation, portal submission, fee payment, and annual renewal. Most owners never need to log in to the portal themselves.
Annual Renewal and Ongoing Compliance
The DET Holiday Home licence renews annually. As an operator or owner, you are required to:
- Renew the licence before its expiry date (DET sends renewal reminders)
- Collect the Tourism Dirham from guests per night (the rate is set by DET and is a guest charge, not an owner cost)
- Submit the Tourism Dirham returns to DET on the schedule DET sets (including for months with zero occupancy)
- Maintain a guest register with passport copies for all stays
- Ensure the unit continues to meet DET's minimum furnishing and safety standards
- Notify DET if the property is sold, transferred, or taken off the market
Ongoing DET compliance, including Tourism Dirham collection and monthly reporting, is managed by the operator in a professionally managed STR.
What Happens If You Operate Without a Licence?
DET actively monitors listing platforms and works with building management companies to identify unlicensed short-term rental activity. Enforcement has increased significantly since 2023. Consequences include:
- Significant fines (DET sets the amounts, and they are not trivial; check the DET portal for current penalties)
- Forced delisting from Airbnb, Booking.com, and Vrbo
- Difficulty obtaining a licence in the future once a violation is on record
This is not a theoretical risk. DET cross-references platform listings against its licence database regularly. Properties operating without a valid licence are flagged and actioned. If you are currently running an unlicensed property, the cost of getting compliant is far lower than the cost of a fine.
Does Every Owner Need Their Own Licence?
Not necessarily. When you appoint a licensed Holiday Home operator (like Stay®), the operator holds the DET licence for your unit as part of their operating licence portfolio. The unit is listed under the operator's DET account. This is the standard arrangement for owners who do not want to manage the compliance obligations themselves.
Individual owners who want to manage their own property directly can apply for a licence as a "self-managed" Holiday Home host. This requires more administrative involvement but is entirely viable for owners with 1-2 units and the time to manage them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to get a DET Holiday Home licence in Dubai?
With a complete document pack, a DET Holiday Home permit is usually issued within a couple of weeks. Properties that require a physical inspection, or where there is an outstanding building NOC, can take longer. Using a licensed operator with an established DET relationship tends to be faster. Stay® manages the DET permit process for every property in its portfolio. Confirm current timelines on the official DET Holiday Homes portal.
How much does the DET Holiday Home licence cost in Dubai?
DET sets the permit fee and it varies by unit size. Separately, a Tourism Dirham is collected from guests per night, which is not an owner cost, it is passed through to the guest. DET sets these and they change over time, so check the current schedule on the official DET Holiday Homes portal at hhpermits.det.gov.ae. If you appoint a licensed operator such as Stay®, they handle the fees and the annual renewal for you.
Can I get a DET Holiday Home licence for any building in Dubai?
No. Buildings where the developer or master community rules prohibit short-term rental cannot be licensed. DET will not issue a licence for a unit in a restricted building. Before applying, verify with your building management whether STR is permitted. Some buildings in Dubai Marina, Business Bay, and JVC have such restrictions.
Can I rent my Dubai property short-term without a DET licence?
No. Renting short-term in Dubai without a valid DET Holiday Home permit is illegal and carries significant fines, and Dubai actively enforces it. All listings on Airbnb, Booking.com, and other platforms must display a valid DET permit number, and platforms will delist properties that cannot provide one. Check the official DET Holiday Homes portal for current penalties.
What is the difference between Standard and Deluxe classification in Dubai's Holiday Home programme?
DET classifies Holiday Homes as either Standard or Deluxe based on amenities, furnishing quality, and service level. Deluxe classification allows higher nightly rates and better visibility on DET-affiliated booking channels. A professional operator will guide you on which classification your unit qualifies for based on its current fit-out.
Stay® Group
The Stay® portfolio has grown 23x in five months.
Stay® Group is a DET-licensed property management firm based in Dubai. We handle the full stack: DET licensing, guest operations, dynamic pricing, housekeeping, maintenance, and monthly owner payouts with full reporting. Owners keep visibility; we handle execution. If your property is sitting underperforming or unmanaged, the gap between what it earns and what it could earn is the conversation worth having. staygroup.ae
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Stay® manages the full licensing process for every property we take on. Message us with the keyword OWNER and we will walk you through what is required for your specific unit.
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Sources
- Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), Holiday Homes Permit Portal (permit requirement, per-unit basis, annual renewal, classification, fees, penalties). hhpermits.det.gov.ae. Accessed 24 June 2026.
- Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) / Visit Dubai, Holiday Homes Services. visitdubai.com. Accessed 24 June 2026.
Fees and penalties are set by DET and change over time. This page states the regulatory mechanism, not specific figures. Always confirm the current fee schedule and penalties on the official DET Holiday Homes portal at hhpermits.det.gov.ae before submitting an application. Last reviewed 24 June 2026.