A bright, furnished apartment in Dubai
Dubai · 4 min

Starting a holiday home in Dubai: the costs to plan for

By Athina · October 2026

From furnishing to DET standards to the permit and DEWA. What to put on your list before your unit goes live.

Your budget depends on the unit, the building and your choices. These are the costs to plan for. For current fees, always check the official DET portal.

Getting ready

  • Furnishing to holiday home standards: beds, linen, kitchen, and the items DET expects for your classification.
  • Safety items: fire safety equipment and a first aid kit.
  • Good blackout curtains and air conditioning that works well, for Dubai's climate.

Permit and paperwork

  • The DET holiday home permit and classification, paid online when the unit is approved.
  • A developer NOC where the building or sale agreement requires it.
  • Insurance, which is part of the permit requirements.

Running costs

  • DEWA (electricity and water), cooling and internet.
  • Building service charges.
  • Cleaning and laundry after every stay.
  • Platform and management fees.

Collected from guests

The Tourism Dirham is collected from guests and reported to DET; it is not your cost, but it has to be handled correctly every month.

Sources

Places in this article

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