--- title: "How to rent out an apartment short-term in Dubai legally | YOLO STAY" description: "The DET holiday home permit: documents, fees from AED 370 a year, the Tourism Dirham, and whether to self-manage or use an operator." url: https://yolostay.ae/journal/holiday-home-permit-dubai/ language: en alternates: en: https://yolostay.ae/journal/holiday-home-permit-dubai/ ru: https://yolostay.ae/ru/journal/holiday-home-permit-dubai/ updated: 2026-10-22 --- [Journal](https://yolostay.ae/journal/) · For owners # How to rent out an apartment short-term in Dubai legally 18 October 2026 · 4 min read · YOLO STAY ![](https://yolostay.ae/wp-content/yolostay-journal/covers/holiday-home-permit-dubai.webp) The DET holiday home permit: documents, fees from AED 370 a year, the Tourism Dirham, and whether to self-manage or use an operator. **Contents** 1. What a holiday home permit is 2. Two routes: on your own or through an operator 3. Documents you need 4. What it costs 5. The Tourism Dirham: the guest fee 6. How to apply, step by step 7. What to check before you register 8. How we do it You can only rent an apartment to tourists for short stays in Dubai with a holiday home permit from the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET, formerly DTCM). Without it, an Airbnb or Booking.com listing breaks the rules, and the platforms check listings against DET’s register. The good news: the permit itself is issued in one business day and costs from AED 370 a year. Below is what you need, what it costs and how to choose between doing it yourself and using an operator. ## What a holiday home permit is It is an annual permit for a specific apartment (a unit permit) confirming that the home may be let to guests for short stays. It is issued for the apartment, not the person, and by law it has to be displayed inside the unit. The activity is governed by Decree No. 41 of 2013 regulating the leasing of holiday homes in Dubai. Separate from the unit permit is the registration of whoever runs the home: the owner, or a licensed operator (a management company). ## Two routes: on your own or through an operator ### The owner on their own The owner registers in the Holiday Homes system as a home owner and takes out permits for their apartments. Under DET rules a home owner can register up to 8 units. Everything else is on the owner: guests and messaging, check-in, cleaning, linen, repairs, DET standards, the Tourism Dirham and monthly reporting in the system. ### Through an operator The apartment is registered under a management company’s licence. The owner signs a Property Management Letter handing the home over to the operator, and the permit dates must match the dates of that letter. The operator handles platforms, guests, cleaning, maintenance, Tourism Dirham collection and compliance; the owner receives a statement and a payout. ## Documents you need DET’s official list for a new permit: - The title deed, or a copy of the sales and purchase agreement approved by the Dubai Land Department. - A NOC from the developer, where applicable. - A signed copy of the landlord’s passport or Emirates ID. - A copy of the trade licence if the landlord is a company, plus the authorised signatory’s ID. - A Property Management Letter on DET’s template. - A current DEWA bill. The application asks for the DEWA premise number, not the account number. If a representative signs the letter, a power of attorney and the representative’s passport copy are attached. ## What it costs DET’s fee for the permit: AED 300 per bedroom + AED 50 for the classification certificate + AED 10 knowledge fee + AED 10 innovation fee. The per-bedroom part is capped at AED 1,200 a year per unit. | Apartment | DET fee per year | | --- | --- | | 1 bedroom | AED 370 | | 2 bedrooms | AED 670 | | 3 bedrooms | AED 970 | | 4 bedrooms or more | AED 1,270 | The permit is renewed every year on the same basis. On top of it, budget for one-off set-up costs: furniture and appliances to standard, photography and insurance. These depend on the apartment, not on DET. ## The Tourism Dirham: the guest fee Guests pay the Tourism Dirham for every night, per room, regardless of how many people stay: - **Standard** holiday home — AED 10 per room per night; - **Deluxe** holiday home — AED 15 per room per night. The class comes from self-classification in the system. The guest pays the fee; the owner or operator pays it over to DET and reports it. Mistakes here are a common source of fines for owners who self-manage. ## How to apply, step by step 1. Log in to the Holiday Homes system on the DET portal and register as an owner, or choose an operator. 2. Add the unit and fill in its details: address, area, bedrooms, DEWA premise number. 3. Upload the documents listed above. 4. Confirm the declaration and complete self-classification (Standard or Deluxe). 5. Pay the fee online. The service takes 1 business day. 6. Print the permit and display it in the apartment. ## What to check before you register - **Building rules.** Some communities restrict short stays or require guests to register at reception — check with the building management. - **Mortgage.** If the apartment is mortgaged, check that the bank allows letting. - **DEWA account.** It has to be active and current: without the premise number you cannot apply. - **Furnishing standards.** Furniture, appliances, linen and safety must match the class you choose. ## How we do it YOLO STAY is a licensed operator. We register the apartment under our licence, prepare the documents and the Property Management Letter, run the platforms and the guests, and collect and pay over the Tourism Dirham. The DET fee and insurance are paid by the owner, like utilities. Every expense shows in the owner app with its receipt, and a statement arrives every month. Onboarding is AED 0, and fees start from 15%. For owners ## What could your home earn? Fees from 15%, AED 0 onboarding and no fee in a month with a loss. We will send an income estimate for your building. [Get an income estimate](https://yolostay.ae/fees/#request) This guide is general information, not legal, tax or investment advice. Rules and fees in Dubai change — check the official sources (Dubai Land Department, Department of Economy and Tourism) or talk to us before any transaction. Journal ## Read next ![](https://yolostay.ae/wp-content/yolostay-journal/covers/dubai-areas-for-holiday-homes.webp) For owners ### Dubai areas for holiday homes: where an apartment earns best Marina and JBR, Downtown, JLT, JVC, Sports City, Sobha Hartland and Jumeirah — guests, seasons and a checklist before you buy. Read the guide → → https://yolostay.ae/journal/dubai-areas-for-holiday-homes/ ![](https://yolostay.ae/wp-content/yolostay-journal/covers/short-term-vs-long-term-rental.webp) For owners ### Short-term or annual lease: an honest calculation for Dubai owners Why "short-term pays twice as much" isn't true for every apartment, how to check yours in five minutes, and what 2026 changed. Read the guide → → https://yolostay.ae/journal/short-term-vs-long-term-rental/ ![](https://yolostay.ae/wp-content/yolostay-journal/covers/owner-costs-dubai-apartment.webp) For owners ### What it costs to own an apartment in Dubai Service charge, DEWA, cooling, the DET permit and holiday-home running costs: who pays what on an annual lease and on short stays. Read the guide → → https://yolostay.ae/journal/owner-costs-dubai-apartment/ ## Contact YOLO STAY - [Email](mailto:mail@yolostay.ae) - [+971 55 952 23 41](tel:+971559522341) - [WhatsApp](https://wa.me/971559522341) - [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/yolostay.ae) --- Markdown mirror of https://yolostay.ae/journal/holiday-home-permit-dubai/. Site guide for AI agents: https://yolostay.ae/llms.txt