How do I get a DET permit?

Permits can be attained by registering and sending the required documents to the DET for approval. The DET will then review the application, typically within one business day. If approved, you will need to self-classify your property, pay the relevant fees and display the certificate in your property.

What is Tourism Dirham?

This is a fee charged to short-term rental guests by the government of Dubai. Tourism Dirham is calculated based on the number of bedrooms occupied in your property each night, collected for up to 30 nights of consecutive stay. This should be listed as a separate fee in guest cost breakdowns and submitted monthly to the DET.

I own multiple properties. Can I register each of them?

You can only register one property as an individual homeowner or tenant. If you want to list multiple properties, you need to set up a company and fulfill the relevant obligations. However, if you go through a property manager like Frank Porter, you can list several without setting up a company — because we’re a fully licensed holiday homes operator in Dubai.

The DET requires permit holders to have a comprehensive insurance policy in place that covers both home contents and personal possessions. This safeguards you and the occupants of your property in the event of an accident.

Do I need a travel and tourism license?

You don’t need a travel and tourism license if you are only listing one property as an individual homeowner or tenant, but you will require one if you are operating as a company — for example, if you have multiple properties to list.

Airbnb Dubai requirements and fees (DET)

Once upon a time, Dubai’s short term rental industry was run entirely by big-name hoteliers — but this is no longer the case. Thanks to the popularity of Airbnb and similar platforms, homeowners and tenants are now able to apply for a holiday home license to list their properties for lucrative guest stays.

However, this is not a simple process: it involves gathering many required documents, registering with the DET and paying monthly fees. Here’s what you need to do to meet the legal requirements and list on Airbnb in Dubai.

What is the DET?

The DET (formerly the DTCM) is the Department of Economy and Tourism in Dubai, which acts as the principal authority for short-term property rental in the city. This body is responsible for the provision of all event, holiday home and tour guide permits, as well as hotel classification.

In order to lease your property as a holiday home, you’ll first need to provide all of your important documentation to the DET for approval. Permits are issued on an annual basis and will need to be renewed each year.

How to get your holiday home license in Dubai for Airbnb

To start leasing your property, you’ll need a holiday home permit. This is the certification that states that your property meets the technical specifications and legal requirements for short-term rental.

To start this process, the host looking to lease (this being the holiday home operator, homeowner or tenant) needs to submit an application to the DET for processing and approval.

Firstly, you should register for an account on the portal. Next, add your unit (property) and provide the required information — such as the unit type, number of bedrooms, and area. Then, supply copies of the required documents. These include:

The title deed or sales purchase agreement and payment completion certificate
The landlord’s signed passport or Emirates ID
The property management letter
A recent Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) bill
If unit landlord is a company: The trade license and an Emirates ID or passport of the authorized signatory
If host is a tenant: The tenancy contract

The DET will then review your application, typically within one business day. If approved, you will receive email confirmation and the unit will be added to your portal dashboard.

From here, you need to self-classify your property by the kind of facilities it offers, in accordance with the Holiday Home Regulation Guide. You then need to pay the relevant charges — the DET imposes a one-time application fee of AED 1,500, in addition to an AED 10 knowledge fee and AED 10 innovation fee.

How to keep your listing fully compliant

As a permit-holder, it is your responsibility to ensure that your property follows Dubai’s rules and regulations for short-term rentals, subject to regular inspections from the DET.

To keep your listing compliant, your property must satisfy the technical requirements and be equipped with the fittings stipulated by the Holiday Home Regulation Guide. Each month, Tourism Dirham fees must be paid to the DET based on your property’s occupancy, and guest passport copies should be submitted at check-in.

While this may seem like a lot of work, you must abide by the DET’s rigorous standards if you choose to list a property yourself. This is where Frank Porter comes in, we have dedicated support teams that will make sure your property meets all required guidelines as well as overseeing the process of renting your holiday home end-to-end, helping you to maximize profit but minimize hassle.

For an accurate estimate of how much revenue your property could generate, we recommend using our calculator.