Dubai Holiday Home Permit (DTCM)
Get your Dubai Holiday Home Permit (DTCM / DET) for legal short-term property rental on Airbnb, Booking.com, and Vrbo. Mandatory for all Dubai short-term lets, with fines up to AED 200,000 for non-compliance.
Description
A Dubai Holiday Home Permit is a mandatory permit issued by the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET, formerly DTCM) for any residential property in Dubai offered for short-term rental (stays of less than one year). This includes listings on Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, and direct bookings. Operating a short-term rental without a holiday home permit is illegal and carries fines from AED 5,000 to AED 200,000 per violation, plus immediate listing removal from platforms.
There are two main types of holiday home permits: (1) Individual Owner Permit — for property owners managing 1-8 of their own properties, allowing self-management of short-term rentals, and (2) Holiday Home Operator License — for companies managing multiple properties on behalf of owners (requires a separate DED trade license plus the DET operator authorisation). The Individual Owner Permit costs approximately AED 1,520 per unit per year plus AED 300 per bedroom and a classification certificate fee. Holiday Home Operators have higher setup costs including a trade license and operational requirements.
Octavon Global Advisory handles complete Dubai Holiday Home Permit setup for individual owners and operators — eligibility assessment, building NOC coordination (mandatory before submission), DTCM portal application, classification certificate processing, Tourism Dirham collection setup, OTA listing compliance (Airbnb, Booking.com platform integration), and ongoing compliance support. Standard Individual Owner permit issues in 5 to 10 working days from complete documentation. Holiday Home Operator licenses (commercial) take 14 to 21 working days.
What's Included
- DET Holiday Home Permit (Individual Owner or Operator)
- Eligibility and Compliance Assessment
- Building NOC Coordination (Mandatory)
- DET Portal Application Submission
- Property Classification Certificate
- Tourism Dirham Setup Guidance
- Airbnb / Booking.com / Vrbo Listing Compliance
- Permit Number Display Setup (Mandatory on Listings)
- Guest Registration System Guidance
- OTA Platform Integration Support
- Annual Renewal Reminder
- Up to 2 Property Units (Standard Package, additional units priced separately)
Requirements / Prerequisites
- Property ownership (title deed) OR tenant with landlord NOC for subletting
- Building NOC from developer or owners' association (mandatory)
- Property must be in a Dubai building permitting short-term rentals (HOA rules can override)
- Furnished property meeting DET quality standards
- Smoke detectors, fire safety equipment, and emergency information
- Property must not have outstanding DEWA or service charge dues
- Valid passport / Emirates ID of owner
Required Documents
- Owner Passport / Emirates ID
- Property Title Deed
- Tenancy Contract and Landlord NOC (if tenant subletting)
- Building NOC from Developer or Owners' Association
- Latest DEWA Bill
- Property Photos (interior, exterior, all rooms)
- Property Floor Plan
- Proof of Furnishing (inventory list)
- Fire Safety Equipment Certificate
- Owner Bank Account Details (for Tourism Dirham)
- OTA Listing Details (if existing)
Our Process
- Free eligibility assessment (building HOA rules check)
- Title deed verification or landlord NOC coordination
- Building NOC application
- Property safety equipment compliance check
- DET portal account setup
- Application submission with property details
- Property classification (Standard / Deluxe / Premium)
- Permit fee payment
- Receive Holiday Home Permit
- Permit number registration on OTA listings (Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo)
- Tourism Dirham setup and guest registration system guidance
Pricing
- Basic Fee: AED 2,500
- Service Fee: AED 1,500
- VAT (5%): AED 200
- Total: AED 4,200
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to list my Dubai property on Airbnb?
Yes. A DET Holiday Home Permit is mandatory for any Dubai property offered for short-term rental (stays under one year) on Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, or any other platform. Operating without a permit carries fines from AED 5,000 to AED 200,000 and immediate listing removal.
How much does the Dubai Holiday Home Permit cost?
The DET holiday home permit costs approximately AED 1,520 per unit per year for individual owners, plus AED 300 per bedroom and a classification certificate fee of around AED 50-70. Holiday Home Operators (commercial managers of multiple units) have additional trade license fees of AED 10,000-15,000 annually.
How long does the Holiday Home Permit application take?
Standard Individual Owner permit applications complete in 5 to 10 working days from full documentation including building NOC. Holiday Home Operator licenses (commercial) take 14 to 21 working days due to the additional trade license process.
What is the Tourism Dirham?
Tourism Dirham is a per-night fee collected from guests staying in Dubai accommodation. For holiday homes, it is typically AED 10 per room per night for standard properties and AED 15 for deluxe. The host is legally responsible for collecting it from guests and remitting it to DET.
Can a tenant register their rented property for short-term rental?
Yes, but only with explicit written NOC from the landlord permitting subletting. The NOC must be on official letterhead, signed by the landlord, and submitted with the application. Without landlord NOC, tenant applications are rejected.
Do I need a building NOC for a holiday home permit?
Yes. A NOC from the developer or owners' association is mandatory before the DET application can be processed. Not all Dubai buildings permit short-term rentals — some HOAs explicitly prohibit it. The NOC confirms your specific building allows short-term lets.
What are the fines for operating without a permit?
First offence: AED 5,000-10,000 fine plus immediate listing removal from all OTAs. Repeated violations: AED 50,000-100,000 fines and potential property blacklisting (permanent ban). Operating during a suspended permit period: AED 20,000 additional fine. Enforcement is active — DET coordinates with OTA platforms to identify unlicensed listings.