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“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!
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:
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.
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:
Remove personal items and give your space a thorough professional cleaning. This creates the blank canvas you need to work with.
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.
Set up digital locks and security cameras for common areas/outdoors to ensure guest safety and easy access to your property.
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.
Invest in quality mattresses that feel like clouds, breathable linens, fluffy towels, and storage solutions for guest comfort.
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.
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.
Photo by Ketut Subiyanto
Here’s everything you need to make your vacation rental guest-ready:
Homevy Tip: Keep a detailed inventory list of all items. Replace linens every 6 months and inspect appliances monthly to maintain quality.
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:
Homevy Tip: Start with one platform and perfect your listing before expanding to others. Most successful hosts begin with Airbnb before branching out.
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.
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.
Photo by Nathan Cowley
Your maintenance plan for your short term rental should cover three key timeframes:
Make sure you also create a maintenance system that prevents problems before they start. Prevention costs far less than emergency repairs.
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.
Get access to our 5-day training course on managing your vacation rental property in Dubai.
Learn More