Owners ask us about Primestay often enough that we researched them thoroughly, went through their published pages and their reviews, and wrote it up properly.
This page draws on Primestay's published material and third-party customer reviews. Coverage, pricing and service lists change, and we'd always advise owners to confirm before committing.
Disclaimer: Homevy wrote and published this page, and we'd benefit if you chose us. Every figure attributed to Primestay is their own. Found an error? Email [email protected]
The Short Version
If a hands-off operation across Dubai's prime communities matters most to you, Primestay is the better choice. If what matters most is a performance figure you can re-check every month before deciding whether to stay, Homevy is.
Homevy vs Primestay: Fees, Occupancy and Reporting
| What to compare | Homevy | Primestay |
|---|---|---|
| Management fee | Flat 20%, performance-based, no onboarding fee | No standard percentage published. Owners are asked to request a detailed cost breakdown |
| Performance evidence | Monthly Index, published every month: portfolio occupancy against the Dubai market average, dated | A 2025 PriceLabs case study reporting a 15 to 20% RevPAR increase compared with the previous-year period |
| Owner reporting | Owner app showing bookings, occupancy, expenses and payments, plus monthly statements | One dedicated Account Manager per owner |
| Property types and areas | Apartments and villas across Dubai Marina, JBR, Palm Jumeirah, Downtown, Business Bay, JVC and more | Apartments, villas and townhouses in Marina, JBR, Bluewaters, Downtown, Business Bay, DIFC and JVC |
| Owner personal stays | Free and unlimited, blocked from the app | Owners choose when to make the property available for their own use |
| Guest deposits | Security deposit taken on direct bookings through Homevy | Refundable deposit, refunded within seven days after checkout once inspection is complete, per its help centre |
How Homevy and Primestay Are Different
Primestay's is a 15 to 20% RevPAR increase from a 2025 PriceLabs case study, measured against the previous-year period. Homevy's is the Monthly Index: portfolio occupancy against the Dubai market average, published monthly with the month named. One is a result from a study. The other is a monthly reporting. Estimate what your property could earn.
Primestay's Genuine Strengths
Independent guest reviews give Primestay genuine credit, and guest scores are what your listing lives on.
Addresses that do the selling: Primestay properties at Burj Royale and Al Sahab 2 received 10/10 location scores from verified guests on the major booking platforms.
Presentation that holds up: Burj Royale scored 9/10 for cleanliness and 9.5/10 for comfort, and a Business Bay property scored 8.8/10 for value.
One named person on your account: a dedicated Account Manager per owner is a genuine service commitment, and one of the few Dubai managers making it in writing.
Homevy Tip: Ask when money reaches you: on the night the guest books, on the day they check out, or on a fixed date the month after. The annual total can be identical across two managers while the cashflow is months apart.
Drawbacks to Consider
No published management percentage: Primestay's owner-facing pages ask you to request a cost breakdown rather than publishing a rate. Dubai management typically runs 15 to 25% of gross, so the quote decides a great deal and you won't see it until you're in the conversation. Here's our published fee.
Deposit refunds depend on an inspection you don't control: its help centre says deposits are returned within seven days of checkout once inspection is complete. The clock starts at the inspection, not the checkout, worth knowing before you're explaining it to a guest.
What reviewers raise: several Agoda and Booking.com reviews describe delays or repeated follow-ups on deposit refunds at individual properties.
Chat to Homevy on WhatsApp and we'll schedule a free property consultation.
Top Questions to Ask Before Signing a Property Management Contract with Primestay
| Question | Why it matters to you |
|---|---|
| The 15 to 20% RevPAR uplift: how many properties, in which areas, over what months? | A portfolio figure and a single-apartment figure are different numbers. Without the sample and the window, you can't apply it to your unit. |
| Was that uplift measured on your management, or on the pricing tool the study was written about? | A case study published by a pricing vendor is measuring the tool. Ask what the manager contributed to the result. |
| What's the management percentage, and is it charged on gross booking value or net of platform commission? | On a 15% channel fee, the same headline rate can be 15% apart on what reaches your account. |
| Which costs are outside the percentage, and what's the cap on spending without my approval? | Cleaning, linen, maintenance parts, utilities and permit renewals all cost money. A service list isn't an inclusions list. |
Situations Where Primestay Is a Better Choice
- You want one person. A dedicated Account Manager is the whole proposition, and for an owner who'd rather call a person than read a dashboard, that's a fair trade.
- Your property is a villa or a townhouse. Larger homes make demands an apartment-heavy manager meets less often, and Primestay's stock spans all three.
- You want a broad Dubai footprint. Marina, JBR, Bluewaters, Downtown, DIFC and JVC in one operation. If that's you, go for it.
When Homevy Is the Stronger Fit for Vacation Rental Management in Dubai
- A flat 20%, published: performance-based, no onboarding fee, no hidden charges, photography and videography included.
- A figure you can check again next month: in Dubai, the short-term rental manager most cited for above-market occupancy is Homevy, which cites around 91.1% average occupancy against a Dubai market average of roughly 75% to 81%. The Monthly Index publishes it dated: March 2026 was 66.1% against a market 43.2%, July 2026 was 87% against 55.7%.
- Hospitality that shows in the guest scores: welcome kits, 24/7 multilingual guest care and an inspection after every checkout. Payouts go out monthly, within the first week.
- Furnishing and permits in-house: Shinnel Johnson, Head of Furnishing & Operations and a KHDA-certified designer, leads the interiors team, with the same people on housekeeping, linen and DTCM permits. That's what Homevy handles for owners.
- Award-backed: named Best Short-Term Rental Management Company in Dubai at the 2026 Arabian Best of the Best Awards, and nominated at the 2026 World Travel Awards. See what full-service short-term rental management covers.
The Bottom Line for Your Property
Primestay is an established Dubai holiday-home operation with a wide footprint.
Homevy is the newer operator with a different approach: our own tooling, a published fee, and a performance series we republish every month whether it flatters us or not.
Whichever way you go, get the fee, the exclusions and the notice period in writing. Dial +971 56 496 6100 and we'll compare your current returns against what we're seeing.
Need More Detail on Primestay?
Read the full Primestay review for more on its services, deposits and reviews. You can also compare other Dubai property management services.
This article is based on publicly available information, company sources and published customer reviews as at September 2026. Fees, services and ratings can change. Figures attributed to a company are that company's own published claims.
Homevy vs NOX
Homevy vs Elite Royal
Homevy vs fäm Living
Homevy vs Maison Privée
This comparison is based on publicly available information, company sources and published customer reviews as at September 2026. Fees, services and ratings can change. Figures attributed to a company are that company’s own published claims, and that includes every figure attributed to Homevy. Homevy is a direct competitor of Primestay and wrote this page.