Luxurious hotels, several entertainment options, vibrant beaches and welcoming culture are the main reasons Dubai attracts tourists. As an alternative to hotels and hotel apartments, the Economic and Tourism Department (DET) permitted properties, such as standard and deluxe villas, townhouses and deluxe apartments, to operate as holiday homes.
Holiday homes are furnished properties rented out to tourists on a short-term basis who prefer a personalised travel experience. The Dubai Economic and Tourism Department issues holiday home permits to regulate and set safety and quality standards.
Understanding the process for registration and renewal of a holiday home permit in Dubai becomes essential. Here is the complete procedure for holiday home registration and renewal in Dubai.
Holiday Home Registration in Dubai
If you buy a villa in Dubai or an apartment, you can register it as a holiday home. Holiday homes are fully-furnished residencies rented out to guests. Before listing apartments or villas as holiday homes, house owners or tenants must follow the steps to turn their property into a holiday home.
After that, register the property on the DET website. Here is how to register for a holiday home permit in Dubai:
Step-1: Log into Holiday Home Portal
Visit the Holiday Home Portal, and sign up for a new account. After that, enter your username and password to carry forward the application to obtain a permit.
Step-2: Add Unit
Click ‘Add Unit’, and submit the required information, such as the building name, unit type (villa, apartment or townhouse), bedrooms and covered area. Remember, a homeowner can add up to eight units only.
Besides, if you live in a rental house in Dubai, you can add only one unit with the landlord’s approval. Plus, the tenant’s name must match the name on the tenancy contract.
Step-3: Submit Documents
After adding the units, submit the following documents:
- Title deed or sales purchase agreement copy and payment completion certificate
- Passport copy or Emirates ID of the landlord
- Trade Licence (if registering as a company)
- Emirates ID or passport copy of the authorised signatory (if registering as a company)
- Property Management Letter as a downloadable document (if you are an operator)
- Current Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) bill
- Tenancy contract (for tenants)
- Ejari documentation (for tenants)
Note that when entering the DEWA account, enter the account number, not the building or unit premises number.
Step-4: Submit the Application
After submitting the required supporting documents, review the application and submit it. Once submitted, DET will review the application form within one working day and inform the applicant regarding the application status.
Step-5: Add a Self-classification of the Unit
Applicants will receive approval via email. After that, they can self-classify the unit through the holiday home portal.
Step-6: Pay the Fees
To obtain a holiday home permit in Dubai, the applicants will need to pay the following fees:
- Permit fees: AED 1,500 + AED 10 innovation fees + AED 10 Knowledge fees
- Per room charges (Annually): AED 300 + AED 10 Innovation fees + AED 10 knowledge fees
After paying the fees, the house owners, operators or tenants will receive a holiday home permit in Dubai. The permit’s validity period is for a year. After a year, the applicants will receive a notification 30 days before the permit’s expiry. If the holiday home operators don’t renew it on time, they will have to register for the permit again.
Renew a Holiday Home Permit From the Dubai Tourism Department
The landlord, tenants or operators will have thirty days before the holiday home licence ends. Therefore, the applicants can renew the holiday home permit in Dubai through the following steps:
- Log into the Holiday Home Portal by entering the registered username and password.
- Click “Renew the Holiday Home Permit” icon that appears 30 days before the permit ends.
- Submit the required documents (same as the required documents when registering for a holiday home permit in Dubai).
- Review and submit the application.
- After the approval of the application, pay the fees.
If you don’t renew this permit on time, you will have to reapply for the permit. Moreover, re-register the unit as a holiday home.
That wraps up the complete overview of registering and renewing a holiday home permit in Dubai. To make your investment profitable, list your house or apartment as a daily or monthly short-term rental in Dubai.
You can explore popular areas for short-term rentals in Dubai and buy an apartment or villa in those communities to achieve a better ROI. Besides, when choosing a short-term rental in Dubai, learn its pros and cons as it will give you an idea on preparing your property accordingly.
Stay connected to dubizzle’s leading real estate blog to learn more about short-term rentals and holiday homes in the Emirates.
