Featured answer
In Dubai, a holiday home needs both the right licensing setup and the relevant DET permit for the unit. DET's official service for a new holiday home permit lists the fee as AED 300 per bedroom plus AED 50 per holiday home for the classification certificate, plus AED 10 knowledge fee and AED 10 innovation fee, with a stated total of AED 370 for a one-bedroom example. DET's official user guide also lists fines such as AED 5,000 for conducting the activity without a licence and AED 2,000 for leasing out holiday homes without prior DET approval.
What the permit is
DET's Administrative Resolution No. 1 of 2020 defines a permit as the document issued by the authority stating that it approves a furnished real property unit to be designated as a holiday home after verifying that the conditions, requirements, and criteria are met.
Who can operate
DET's materials cover both establishments/operators and property owners. The renewal page also states that home owners can register up to 8 holiday home units only.
Step-by-step: the practical setup path
- 1
Set up the licensing side
DET's user guide distinguishes the activity licence layer from the unit-permit layer.
- 2
Check the unit is permitted for the activity
The administrative resolution says the unit must be in an area where the activity is authorised and must meet the required category and technical standards.
- 3
Apply for the unit permit through the Holiday Homes portal
DET provides a dedicated service to issue a new holiday homes permit.
- 4
Self-classify and submit supporting information
DET's service journey and portal guidance expect classification and supporting information before payment completion.
- 5
Pay permit fees and keep the permit current
Renewal, amendment, and cancellation all have their own fee logic, and updated permits must be displayed in the unit.
Key official fee lines
- Issue a new holiday home permit: AED 300 per bedroom + AED 50 per holiday home (classification certificate) + AED 10 knowledge fee + AED 10 innovation fee; DET page shows total AED 370.
- Renew a holiday home permit: AED 300 per annum per bedroom + AED 10 knowledge fee + AED 10 innovation fee; DET page shows total AED 320.
- Cancel a holiday home permit: AED 50 + AED 10 knowledge fee + AED 10 innovation fee; total AED 70.
Fines that matter most in practice
- Conducting the activity of leasing out holiday homes without a licence: AED 5,000.
- Operating an establishment during suspension by DET: AED 20,000.
- Obstructing DET employees or failing to cooperate: AED 10,000.
- Leasing out holiday homes without obtaining prior approval of DET: AED 2,000.
- Non-compliance with holiday home permit terms prescribed by DET: AED 500.
Common mistakes
- Going live with bookings before the unit permit is in place.
- Assuming a trade licence alone is enough for short-term rental activity.
- Ignoring the permit-display and permit-renewal obligations.
- Missing the difference between licence, permit, and classification requirements.
Official links
- Issue a new Holiday Homes permit
Main permit fee and process page.
- Holiday Homes user guide
Contains violations and fines.
- Hospitality services and licensing guide
DET resource hub for holiday homes and hospitality permits.
Need compliance help before launch?
If you are structuring a holiday-home operation around a single apartment, multiple units, or an operator model, get legal or licensing advice before you market the unit. This page is informational only and is not legal advice.
References
- DET: https://www.dubaidet.gov.ae/en/our-services/for-consumers-and-students/issue-a-new-holiday-homes-permitOfficial new holiday home permit service and fee structure.
- DET: https://www.dubaidet.gov.ae/en/our-services/for-consumers-and-students/renew-a-holiday-home-permitOfficial renewal service and owner-unit limitation.
- DET: https://www.dubaidet.gov.ae/en/our-services/for-consumers-and-students/cancel-a-holiday-home-permitOfficial cancellation fee.
- DET: https://www.dubaidet.gov.ae/en/our-services/for-consumers-and-students/-/media/det-sme-cr-release-1-new-media-files/pdfs/guest-accommodation/leasing-out-holiday-homes-user-guide-en.pdfOfficial user guide containing permit logic and common fine amounts.
- DET Legislation: https://www.dubaidet.gov.ae/en/legislative-news/holiday-homes-administrative-resolution-no-1-of-2020Official holiday homes administrative resolution.
Informational only. This page is not legal advice. Holiday-home activity involves licensing, unit-permit, classification, and guest-operation rules that must be checked on the live DET portal.