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Download GuideA holiday home license in Dubai is different from a permit.
The licence authorises you to operate a holiday home. The permit approves the specific apartment or villa you want to rent to guests.
Homevy is a DET-licensed holiday home operator in Dubai. We’ve spent more than two years managing holiday homes for property owners and handling permits, renewals and appeals for the properties we manage.
That experience means we understand where the licence and permit process can get confusing for property owners.
In this guide, we’ll explain the difference between a Dubai holiday home license vs permit, who holds them when you hire a management company, what they cost in 2026, and what you need to get your property legally up and running.
TL;DR: Dubai Holiday Home License vs Permit
- A Dubai holiday home license authorises you to operate, while a permit approves the specific apartment or villa you rent to guests.
- Property owners need one licence and a separate permit for every holiday home unit they rent out.
- Owners can manage up to eight personally owned units under a Home Owner registration; beyond eight units, a company licence or licensed operator is required.
- Under DET’s standard fees, Home Owner registration costs AED 1,520 once, while annual permits start at AED 370 per studio or one-bedroom unit.
- Holiday home permits must be renewed every year, and a lapsed permit means you cannot host guests until the unit is permitted again.
- When you hire a licensed management company, it can hold the licence, manage your unit’s permit and handle the ongoing compliance and day-to-day operation.
- Homevy is a DET-licensed holiday home operator with more than two years of experience managing Dubai properties, including permits, renewals and ongoing compliance.
What’s the Difference Between a Holiday Home License and a Permit?
A holiday home licence authorises a person or company to operate vacation homes in Dubai. A holiday home permit approves a specific furnished apartment or villa for short-term rental.
Photo by Ekrulila
You need one licence for the owner or operator, plus one permit for every unit you rent out.
Each permitted unit also gets a Standard or Deluxe classification, which determines the furnishing standards it must meet.
| Description | Holiday home licence | Holiday home permit | Classification |
| What it covers | You or your company | One apartment or villa | One apartment or villa |
| How many you need | One per owner or operator | One per unit | One per unit |
| How you get it | Register on DET’s Holiday Homes system as an owner, or through DET licensing as a company | Add the unit to the Holiday Homes system | Self-classify after the permit is approved |
| Validity | Ongoing while your registration stays current | Up to one year | While the unit meets the standards |
| Shown to guests | Licensee details displayed in the unit | Permit number on every listing and QR code by the door | Category shown in the unit |
So, if you own three apartments, you’d have one licence and three permits.
But, you’ll still hear both called “DTCM” documents. This is because DET took over from DTCM in 2021, which is why the old name still appears in searches and everyday conversations.
Which Holiday Home Licence in Dubai Do You Need?
The right licence depends on who owns the property and who operates it.
If you manage up to eight units you own yourself, you can register as a Home Owner and hold the licence yourself.
If you hire a licensed property management company like Homevy, the company holds the licence and manages the permits for your units.
Within Homevy’s property management service, the company can also take care of the day-to-day running of your property, including guest check-ins and check-outs, while working to maximise its rental income.
Photo by Homevy
Either way, every holiday home unit needs its own permit.
| Your situation | Who holds the licence | Who holds the permit |
| You own one apartment and manage it yourself | You, as a registered Home Owner | You |
| You own two to eight units and manage them yourself | You, under the same registration | You, one permit per unit |
| You own more than eight units | A company licence or licensed operator for the extra units | Whoever holds the licence for each unit |
| You hire a management company | The management company | The management company, with your authorisation |
| The property is owned by a company | The company or a licensed operator | Issued with the company’s documents |
If you manage your own units, keep these three rules in mind:
- You must own the units: you can’t register a company-owned property as your own.
- A family member can register for you: a parent, child or spouse can apply in your name with proof of the relationship.
- Eight units is the limit: beyond that, you’ll need a company licence or a licensed operator.
If you’re renting a property rather than owning it, the rules are different. See our guides to Airbnb arbitrage and legalities in running Airbnb in Dubai.
What Changes When a Management Company Holds the Permit?
When you hand your property to a licensed holiday home company, the permit for your unit is issued under the company’s licence.
You sign DET’s owner authorisation form, and the permit dates follow your agreement with the company.
That has a few practical effects:
- Your agreement sets the permit period: DET’s guidance says the owner-operator contract can’t run longer than a year, and the permit can’t outlast it.
- You can still use your property: Your management agreement should state when you can block dates for personal stays. With Homevy, owners can block out dates when they want to use their property.
- You don’t have to manage the property yourself: Homevy handles guest check-ins and check-outs, guest communication, cleaning, maintenance and other day-to-day operations.
- The company handles compliance: The licence holder manages requirements such as permits, classification, Tourism Dirham payments and renewals.
- The property is managed for performance: Homevy manages pricing, availability and the guest experience to help maximise your property’s rental income.
At Homevy, we’ve managed more than 10,000 guest booked nights across Dubai holiday homes and maintained Airbnb Superhost status.
We’ve spent more than two years managing properties in Dubai, so we understand what happens after the permit is approved too.
That means you’re not simply handing over the paperwork. You’re handing over the day-to-day operation, from getting guests checked in to keeping the property performing well.
So before you sign a management agreement, make sure it spells out when you can use your property, who handles compliance, what services are included and how the property will be managed.
How to Get a Holiday Home Licence and Permit in Dubai
The licence comes first when you register as a Home Owner. The permit comes next when you add your property.
Both applications happen through DET’s Holiday Homes system, which is why the two can easily feel like one process.
Photo by Homevy
Here’s the process if you’re managing your own property:
- Register as a Home Owner: Create your account with your Emirates ID and pay the registration fee. This gives you your licence.
- Add your unit: Upload the title deed, owner authorisation and DEWA bill to start the permit application.
- Wait for DET’s review: DET checks your application and may request additional information.
- Classify the unit: Confirm that the property meets the requirements for its Standard or Deluxe classification.
- Pay the permit fee: Your permit is issued once the payment is completed.
- Display and list: Print the permit for the unit, place the QR code under the DEWA plaque, and add the permit number to your listing.
Need help with the documents, screens and common mistakes? See our step-by-step guide to getting a DTCM holiday home permit
How Much Does a Holiday Home License Cost in Dubai in 2026?
Under DET’s standard fees, registering on the Holiday Homes system costs AED 1,520 once.
Photo by Homevy
Each permit then costs AED 370 a year for a studio or one-bedroom unit, plus AED 300 for every additional bedroom, up to AED 1,270 per unit.
The two fees work differently, which is where budgeting can get confusing:
| Fee | What it pays for | Amount | How often |
| Holiday Homes registration | Your account and licence | AED 1,520 | Once. DET says no renewal fee applies |
| Permit, studio or 1-bedroom | One unit | AED 370 | Every year, per unit |
| Permit, each additional bedroom | One unit | AED 300 | Every year, per unit |
| Permit maximum | One unit | AED 1,270 | Every year, per unit |
For example, a two-bedroom apartment would normally cost AED 1,520 for registration plus AED 670 for the permit in the first year.
After that, you would pay AED 670 each year to renew the permit.
Add a second two-bedroom unit and you pay another AED 670 for its permit. You don’t pay the AED 1,520 registration fee again.
What Other Costs Do You Need to Budget For?
The DET licence and permit aren’t the only costs involved in getting a holiday home ready for guests. You’ll also need to consider:
- Furnishing: Your unit must meet the requirements for its Standard or Deluxe classification.
- Insurance: You need a policy that covers guest damage from a Dubai-licensed insurer.
- SIRA-approved smart lock: A smart lock is required on the main door.
- Management: If you hire a holiday home management company, compare its fees and services. See what holiday home companies charge or compare them with Homevy’s management fees.
Want to know whether your property could actually make money as a holiday home? Run the numbers through our Airbnb income calculator.
Renewing Your License and Permit
The licence and permit run on different cycles. Your Home Owner registration doesn’t have a renewal fee, but each permit must be renewed every year.
Here’s what to keep on top of:
- Permits last up to a year: They don’t renew automatically.
- The renewal window opens 30 days before expiry: The Renew button only appears during this window.
- A lapsed permit can’t be renewed: If you miss the window, the permit expires and you can’t host guests until the unit is permitted again.
- Keep your registration current: Update your details on the Holiday Homes system when something changes, such as your Emirates ID.
- Operators must renew their trade licence too: A management company must keep its Vacation Homes Rental trade licence valid.
Homevy Tip: Set a reminder 45 days before each permit expires. That gives you two weeks to check your documents before the renewal window opens.
If you don’t want to worry about the hassle of managing your property alone, or keeping up with permit renewals, speak to Homevy about managing your property.
How Homevy Handles Licensing and Permits
Homevy is a DET-licensed holiday home operator. When you hand us your property, the license side is already taken care of, and we handle the permit for your unit(s).
Photo by Homevy
Our process covers:
- Permit setup: We prepare the documents, submit the application and complete the unit’s classification before it goes live.
- Owner authorisation: We walk you through DET’s authorisation form so the permit can be issued under our licence.
- Renewals: We track every permit’s expiry date and renew it before the renewal window closes.
- Ongoing compliance: We handle the day-to-day requirements, including guest check-ins, Tourism Dirham and the classification standards your unit must maintain.
- Changes and cancellations: If your property’s details or plans change, we handle the relevant permit updates, cancellations and appeals.
That’s the difference between getting a permit and keeping your holiday home compliant throughout the year.
And we’re not managing permits in isolation.
Homevy has managed achieved a 4.9-star average guest rating across our portfolio.
Our properties have also averaged around 91.1% occupancy, showing that compliance is only one part of the job. The property still needs to perform.
It’s also why the Arabian Best of the Best Awards named Homevy the Best Short-Term Rental Management Company in Dubai for 2026.
You get the compliance handled, while we manage the property with the goal of keeping it occupied, profitable and guest-ready.
Frequently Asked Questions About Holiday Home Licenses in Dubai
1. Do I need a trade licence to Airbnb my own apartment in Dubai?
No. If you own the property and manage it yourself, you register as a Home Owner on DET’s Holiday Homes system with your Emirates ID.
A trade licence is only needed if you set up a company, manage other people’s properties or run more than eight units.
2. Is the AED 1,520 registration fee paid every year?
No. Under DET’s standard fees, the AED 1,520 Holiday Homes registration is a one-off payment, and DET says no renewal fee applies.
Your permits are the recurring cost, renewed every year for each unit.
3. What happens when I want to rent out a ninth property?
Individual owners can hold up to eight permits at once. For a ninth unit, you’ll need a company licence, or you can hand the extra units to a licensed holiday home operator.
4. Can I stay in my apartment if a management company holds the permit?
Only if your agreement allows it. DET’s guidance says the owner can’t use the unit during the permit period unless this has been agreed with the licence holder, so set out any personal-use dates in your contract.
5. Is a DTCM licence the same as a DET licence?
Yes. DTCM was Dubai’s former tourism authority, and its holiday home responsibilities moved to DET in 2021. “DTCM licence” and “DTCM permit” are still common names for the same DET documents.
Want Your Dubai Holiday Home Licensed and Permitted Without the Admin?
Getting your holiday home license in Dubai or a permit is one thing. Keeping it compliant is another.
A missed renewal, incorrect listing, maintenance issue or Tourism Dirham mistake can lead to DTCM fines ranging from AED 200 to AED 20,000, with repeat violations potentially reaching AED 100,000.
At Homevy, we’ve managed more than 10,000 guest booked nights across Dubai holiday homes and maintained Airbnb Superhost status.
We handle the compliance and day-to-day operation for every property we manage, from permits and renewals to guest check-ins, inspections and Tourism Dirham requirements.
You shouldn’t have to choose between enjoying your property and earning from it. Talk to Homevy about managing both.
