Stressed about managing your short term rental or finding a place to stay?

How To Turn Your Home Into A Vacation Rental In Dubai


Hmmn, I should probably turn our apartment into an Airbnb.

This thought may have crossed your mind if you’ve been thinking of turning your home into a money-making machine while you sleep.

The thing is…you’re not alone. And if you’re in Dubai, even better.

Dubai’s vacation rental market is experiencing a gold rush moment, with short-term rental properties hitting average occupancy rates of 65% and returns that make traditional renting look like pocket change.

If you want to turn your beloved property into a holiday home, then this IS the blog for you. 

Let’s jump right in!

 

Why Should You Convert Your Property Into A Holiday Home?

Converting a Dubai property into a holiday home delivers 25-40% higher returns compared to traditional long-term rentals, with premium properties in top Dubai Airbnb areas like Dubai Marina seeing higher returns.

Think about this: While your neighbor’s identical apartment brings in AED 80,000 yearly with a traditional tenant, holiday home owners in the same building can make up to AED 120,000+ thanks to peak seasons.

Here are more reasons why you should consider renting your property as a holiday homes in Dubai:

  1. Great Flexibility: Want to use your place for a month? Block it off. Family visiting? It’s all yours. You can’t do this with a yearly tenant.
  2. Property Preservation: Regular cleaning and maintenance means your investment stays in good condition, not worn down by years of continuous use by long term tenants.
  3. Tax-Free Earnings: You’ll keep everything you earn – Dubai’s tax-free policy applies to your vacation rental income too. Only guests would have to pay a tourism fee to the Dubai government.

 

How To Rent Your Home As A Vacation Rental In Dubai

Converting a regular home into a vacation rental in Dubai requires a minimum investment of AED 15,000-25,000 for essential upgrades, professional photography, and initial supplies. However, this investment typically pays for itself within the first 3-4 months of operation.

Imaging showing a couple turning their home into a vacation rental

Photo by cottonbro studio

Now…to list your apartment as a holiday home in Dubai, you must first obtain a DTCM license and follow certain regulations. The entire process may take you about 15-20 working days to process. This is your golden ticket to operating legally in Dubai’s vacation rental market.

Once all regulations are sorted, you’ll need to create an attractive, guest-ready property that stands out in the vacation rental market. The process requires careful preparation, strategic setup, and attention to guest comfort.

Here’s how to transform your apartment into a successful holiday home:

Step 1 — Deep Clean & Declutter

Remove personal items and give your space a thorough professional cleaning. This creates the blank canvas you need to work with.

Step 2 — Provide Essential Amenities

Install quality lighting, AC, high-speed WiFi setup (minimum 100 Mbps), window treatments, cleaning supplies, and any necessary repairs to make your property truly habitable.

Step 3 — Get Smart Security

Set up digital locks and security cameras for common areas/outdoors to ensure guest safety and easy access to your property.

Step 4 — Equip the Kitchen

Stock the kitchen with essential cookware, appliances, and dining items that guests expect in any home at all. Don’t cheapen out either. Get quality nonstick cookware and durable appliances that’ll stand the test of time.

Step 5 — Set Up the Bedrooms

Invest in quality mattresses that feel like clouds, breathable linens, fluffy towels, and storage solutions for guest comfort.

Step 6 — Professional photography

You’ll need a good photographer to capture the beauty of your property. Don’t try to cheapen out or use your phone. Take it a step further with drone shots and video shots, so potential guests can properly visualize your property.

Homevy Tip: Properties with professional photos command higher nightly rates in Dubai’s vacation rental market. Spend the money here – it’s worth every penny.

 

What To Bring To A Vacation Rental Home

Essential items for a vacation rental home include comfortable furniture, quality linens, kitchen equipment, entertainment systems, and specific local amenities (in Dubai) like prayer mats and Arabic coffee sets to meet guest expectations.

Image showing a couple setting up a vacation rental

Photo by Ketut Subiyanto

Here’s everything you need to make your vacation rental guest-ready:

Living Room Items

  • Good furniture design 
  • Quality lighting options
  • Dining tables and chairs
  • Storage space for guests
  • Comfortable sofa and seating
  • Smart TV and entertainment system

Kitchen Items

  • Basic appliances (microwave, toaster, blender, kettle)
  • Complete cookware set
  • Storage containers
  • Basic pantry items
  • Coffee maker
  • Dining set

 

Bedroom Items

  • Quality Bedding: Three sets of holiday homes sheets per bed for easy rotation between guests
  • Sleep Comfort: Extra pillows, blankets, and mattress protectors for each bed
  • Storage Solutions: Hangers, drawers, and closet space for guest belongings
  • Room Extras: Bedside lamps, alarm clocks, and full-length mirrors

Homevy Tip: Keep a detailed inventory list of all items. Replace linens every 6 months and inspect appliances monthly to maintain quality.

 

What Are The Best Platforms To List Your Dubai Holiday Home?

The most effective platforms for listing short term rentals in Dubai include Airbnb, Booking.com, and local sites like Dubai Holiday Homes or Bayut, with each platform reaching different target audiences and offering unique booking features.

Let’s explore your targeting with different listing options:

  1. Booking.com: Popular with European and Asian tourists
  2. Airbnb: Largest reach for international travelers
  3. Expedia: Strong corporate travel connections
  4. VRBO: Targets families and longer stays
  5. Property Finder: Popular with UAE residents and expats
  6. Dubai Tourism Portal: Connects with official Dubai travel agencies
  7. Dubai Holiday Homes: Official local platform that attracts GCC tourists and long-term visitors from the Middle East
  8. Bayut: Draws regional visitors, especially Saudi and Kuwait tourists seeking family-sized properties

Homevy Tip: Start with one platform and perfect your listing before expanding to others. Most successful hosts begin with Airbnb before branching out.

 

How To Get Bookings for Your Holiday Homes In Dubai

Image showing two people going over a marketing strategy

Photo by Christina Morillo

Renting your home as a vacation rental is one part of the puzzle, how do you get people to book the property? To do this, you’ll need a strategic approach to pricing, marketing, and guest satisfaction. We combine all three elements at Homevy to maximize bookings for our property owners.

 

Price Optimization Strategy For Vacation Rentals

  1. Seasonal Pricing: Adjust rates by season, with peak prices from October to April and cheaper rates in slower months.
  2. Event-Based Pricing: Increase rates during major Dubai events, conferences, and festivals.
  3. Length of Stay Discounts: Offer better rates for stays over 5 nights to encourage longer bookings.
  4. Reviews Management: Respond to all reviews within 24 hours and address any issues mentioned.
  5. Local Partnerships: Connect with local businesses to offer guests special experiences and services.

 

Marketing Approach for Short Term Rentals

  1. Invest In Professional Photography: Update your listing photos every 6 months to showcase any improvements or renovations.
  2. Optimize Your Listings: Your listing description is your property’s first impression. Be as detailed as possible. Refresh your property’s description when you have new amenities. Also make sure you list on multiple platforms like Airbnb, Booking.com, and others. Don’t limit your platform to just one.
  3. Create Special Offers: Create packages for different types of travelers (business, families, couples). Also create relevant offers during the low season so you can get more bookings. 
  4. Invest In Your Revies: Apartment reviews are a great way to make your listing more visible on platform search engines. Make it wasy for guests to leave reviews. Also, in case you get a bad review, employ actionable strategies to fix the negative Airbnb review.

 

Maintaining Your Vacation Rental In Dubai

Regular maintenance of a vacation rental in Dubai requires daily cleaning between guests, weekly deep cleaning, and monthly system checks to ensure property standards meet both guest expectations and DTCM requirements.

Once you’ve turned your property into a short term rental, listed it on rental platforms, and bookings are rolling in — you need to understand how to manage and maintain your property. This way, you’ll keep your property in great shape, always. 

Image showing a man cleaning the windows

Photo by Nathan Cowley

Your maintenance plan for your short term rental should cover three key timeframes:

  1. Daily Cleaning: Between-guest cleaning includes full sanitization, fresh linens, and a complete reset of all amenities to welcome another guest. Make sure you pay extra attention to kitchens and bathrooms.
  2. Weekly Cleaning: Deep clean frequently touched areas, test appliances to ensure they’re in good working condition, and restock supplies that run low.
  3. Monthly Cleaning: Schedule professional servicing of AC units and major appliances. Fumigate for pest control, and do a thorough inspection of all furniture and appliances. Take it a step further with a bi-monthly property inspection with photo documentation.

Make sure you also create a maintenance system that prevents problems before they start. Prevention costs far less than emergency repairs.

 

Outro Thoughts on Renting Your Home As A Vacation Rental In Dubai

We’ve all been there – staring at our property and wondering if we could make it work harder for us.

This is exactly why we created Homevy. As property owners ourselves, we felt the same uncertainty you might be feeling right now.

Here’s the truth: turning your Dubai property into a holiday home isn’t just about making more money (though that’s a major part of it). It’s also about being smart with what you already have. While it might seem like a lot to handle at first, remember that every successful vacation rental in Dubai started exactly where you are now.

Want to skip the learning curve? Let Homevy help you handle everything from setup to daily management. We’re property owners too, so we know exactly what your property needs to succeed.

Take the first step today.

Catch you in the next blog! Xoxo, Gossip Homevy girl.

 

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