By Athina · October 2026
In Dubai, every apartment or villa rented short-term needs a permit from the Department of Economy and Tourism before it is listed. The steps, in short.
Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) states that all apartments and villas must be registered and approved by DET before they are listed as a holiday home. Both owners and licensed holiday home operators can apply.
The steps
- Log in to DET's Holiday Homes portal.
- Add the unit.
- Upload the supporting documents.
- Review and submit; DET says applications are reviewed within one business day.
- Once approved, self-classify the unit.
- Make the payment.
Documents DET asks for
- The title deed, or the passport copy or Emirates ID of the landlord.
- A trade licence copy if the landlord is a company, and the ID of the authorised signatory.
- A property management letter, using DET's template.
- A recent DEWA bill (DET asks for the DEWA account number, not the premises number).
Good to know
Not every building or unit is eligible. Gulf News, summarising DET's rules, notes for example that apartments need a residential title deed, and that some sale agreements or buildings do not allow short-term rental, so a developer NOC can be needed. DET also states that the holiday home permit must be displayed in the unit, and that DET may inspect.
Fees and permit durations can change, so always check the current figures on DET's own portal.
How Athina helps
We first check with you whether your building allows holiday homes, before you spend anything. The permit is in your name as owner; we support your listing online and make sure the permit number and details on the listing are correct.
Sources
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