tourism
Holiday Home Permit in Dubai: Register or Renew for Airbnb and Booking.com
Register or renew your Dubai apartment or villa as a legal holiday home through the DET Holiday Homes portal before listing it on Airbnb, Booking.com or other short-term rental platforms.
Gov. fee
From AED 370 for a 1-bedroom unit (AED 300 per bedroom + AED 50 classification + AED 10 Knowledge + AED 10 Innovation). Final fee depends on bedroom count and portal calculation.
Timeline
DET lists 1 business day as the target service delivery time. Review, comments, payment confirmation and record issuance can add additional days.
For
Property owners and operators who want to add or renew a Dubai holiday home unit,…
Steps
12
Start
The HH Permits portal has two starting paths: Add New Unit for a first-time registration…
Last updated: May 2026
- 1Choose Add New Unit or Renew
- 2Open the HH Permits Portal
- 3Fill Unit Information
- 4Set Permit Dates Carefully
- 5Upload Required Documents
- 6Review and Submit the Application
- 7Complete Unit Classification
- 8Check Official Fees
- 9Wait for DET Review or Comments
- 10Confirm Payment and Upload Receipt if Required
- 11Wait for Payment Approval and Record Issuance
- 12Print the Permit and Keep the Unit Ready for Guests
Step by step
Choose Add New Unit or Renew
The HH Permits portal has two starting paths: Add New Unit for a first-time registration of a unit, and Renew for the annual renewal of an existing permit. Select the correct path before filling any details. A unit never previously registered must use Add New Unit. A unit with an active or expiring permit uses Renew.
Where to go
DET Holiday Homes (HH Permits) portal
Address / portal
HH Permits portal
Est. cost
No fee
Est. time
5 minutes
Advice
Check the current status of any existing unit in the portal before starting. Statuses include: Approved, About To Expire, Pending, Rejected, Renewal Under Review, Approved Under Review, and Renewal Payment Pending Approval. If the unit already appears under your account, use Renew rather than Add New Unit.
Note
Starting an Add New Unit application for a unit that already has an active permit can create duplicate portal records. Confirm the unit status in the portal before proceeding.
Open the HH Permits Portal
Log in to the DET Holiday Homes portal. If you do not have an account, register before starting the application. Individual owner and corporate applicant accounts follow different registration paths.
Where to go
DET Holiday Homes portal
Address / portal
HH Permits portal
Est. cost
No fee
Est. time
10 minutes for first-time registration; instant for returning users
Advice
Register using Emirates ID details for individual applicants. Corporate applicants register using company credentials. Many owner-managed units can be registered through an individual owner account when the owner details match the title deed. A separate management company is not always required. If a company or operator manages the unit, the company details, trade licence and authorisation documents must match the application. Keep your login accessible as the portal has multiple stages that may span several days.
Note
Use the correct account type. Individual owner and company/operator accounts follow different portal registration paths and may require different documents.
Fill Unit Information
Enter unit details in Stage 1 of the portal: unit type, number of bedrooms, building name, and area. The portal uses the bedroom count to calculate the permit fee. Complete all required fields before advancing to the document upload stage.
Where to go
DET portal - Stage 1 of 6 (Unit Information)
Address / portal
HH Permits portal
Est. cost
No fee at this stage
Est. time
15-30 minutes
Advice
Bedroom count directly determines the fee: AED 300 per bedroom. Enter the count as shown in the title deed or floor plan. If unsure how the portal classifies a studio, verify with DET before submitting.
Note
An incorrect bedroom count affects the calculated fee and may require correction before the application can progress. Verify the count against the title deed or floor plan.
Set Permit Dates Carefully
Enter the permit start and end dates where the portal requires them. Holiday home permits are generally annual. For renewals, confirm the new start date follows the expiry of the current permit without a gap in coverage. For operator-managed units, DET guidance states the permit issue and expiry dates must match the Property Management Letter.
Where to go
DET portal - Stage 1 of 6 (Unit Information)
Address / portal
HH Permits portal
Est. cost
No fee at this stage
Est. time
5 minutes
Advice
Cross-check dates against the title deed and any existing permit certificate before confirming. Date entry errors are a common source of rejection or resubmission requests.
Note
A unit listed on Airbnb or Booking.com without valid permit dates is not compliant with DET regulations.
Upload Required Documents
Upload required documents in Stage 2 of the portal. Common documents include: title deed or official ownership proof, owner passport and Emirates ID, recent DEWA bill and the DEWA number requested by the portal, unit photos (interior and exterior), floor plan, and NOC from building management if required. A Property Management Letter or owner authorisation may be required depending on applicant type and portal flow. Company applicants also need a trade licence and the authorised signatory's passport and Emirates ID. The portal validates file type and size.
Where to go
DET portal - Stage 2 of 6 (Documents)
Address / portal
HH Permits portal
Est. cost
No fee at this stage
Est. time
30-60 minutes
Advice
Scan documents at high resolution. Save files as PDF or JPG before opening the upload stage. Having all files ready before you start reduces the risk of a session timeout mid-upload. DET guidance refers to the DEWA account number, not the premises number. If the current portal wording differs, follow the instructions shown in the HH portal at the time of application. If the applicant is not the property owner, or if a company or operator manages the unit, check the current portal requirements for owner authorisation, Property Management Letter, and any sub-letting permission that applies to the case.
Note
Incomplete or low-quality uploads stall the application at the review stage. DET may request resubmission, adding days to the timeline. Check whether your building requires a NOC from the developer or building management before applying.
Review and Submit the Application
Review all entered information and uploaded documents before submitting the application. Confirm unit details, bedroom count, permit dates, and that all required documents are present. Submit when ready.
Where to go
DET portal - Stage 3 of 6 (Review)
Address / portal
HH Permits portal
Est. cost
No fee
Est. time
15 minutes
Advice
Double-check bedroom count, unit type, and document files before submitting. The portal may show a review stage before advancing to further steps. Corrections are not possible after submission.
Note
Submitting with incorrect or missing documents may move the application into a comments or resubmission state, adding time to the process.
Complete Unit Classification
Complete classification when the portal makes the Associated Forms or classification step available. DET classifies each unit as Deluxe or Standard based on a checklist covering amenities, furnishing quality, and safety equipment. Classification determines the Tourism Dirham rate that applies to every guest stay after the permit is issued.
Where to go
DET portal - Stage 4 of 6 (Associated Forms)
Address / portal
HH Permits portal
Est. cost
AED 50 (classification fee, included in the total permit fee paid in Step 8)
Est. time
20-30 minutes
Advice
DET public guidance describes self-classification as part of the application flow. Follow the current sequence shown in the HH portal. The checklist covers approximately 8 groups of criteria including safety equipment (smoke detector, fire extinguisher, first aid kit), furnishing quality, and general unit condition. Review the full checklist on the portal before completing this section.
Note
Classification determines the Tourism Dirham rate: AED 15 per room per night for Deluxe, AED 10 per room per night for Standard. Review the criteria carefully before committing.
Check Official Fees
Before paying, verify the total fee shown in Stage 5 of the portal. The standard formula is AED 300 per bedroom plus AED 50 classification fee, AED 10 Knowledge fee, and AED 10 Innovation fee. Confirm the portal total matches the expected amount before entering payment details.
Where to go
DET portal - Stage 5 of 6 (Pay Fees)
Address / portal
HH Permits portal
Est. cost
From AED 370 (1-bedroom). AED 670 for 2-bedroom, AED 970 for 3-bedroom. Formula: AED 300 per bedroom + AED 50 classification + AED 10 Knowledge + AED 10 Innovation.
Est. time
5 minutes
Advice
Fee amounts are set by DET and may be updated. Verify the confirmed total in the portal rather than relying solely on external sources or published figures.
Note
The portal fee total is the controlling figure. Example amounts in external guidance may not reflect current DET rates.
Wait for DET Review or Comments
After submission, DET reviews the application. Status shows as Pending. No action is required unless DET requests additional information or documents via the portal.
Where to go
DET portal (monitor for status changes)
Address / portal
HH Permits portal
Est. cost
No fee
Est. time
Variable. DET targets 1 business day for service delivery, but review, comments and resubmissions can extend the timeline.
Advice
Check the portal regularly for comments or document requests. Respond to any DET request promptly. Delayed responses extend the review timeline. DET may also contact you by email or SMS.
Note
If the status moves to Rejected, the portal provides a reason. Common causes include a missing NOC, title deed mismatch, or incomplete document set. Address the stated reason before resubmitting.
Confirm Payment and Upload Receipt if Required
Once DET approves the review stage, the portal advances to payment. Pay the permit fee online in Stage 5. If the portal requires a payment receipt to be uploaded after payment, download the receipt from your bank or payment provider and upload it.
Where to go
DET portal - Stage 5 of 6 (Pay Fees)
Address / portal
HH Permits portal
Est. cost
From AED 370 (see Step 8 for full breakdown). Online payment only.
Est. time
15 minutes
Advice
Payment is online only. No cash. Keep a copy of the payment confirmation. Uploading payment proof or seeing a Pending Approval status does not mean the permit is approved. Wait until the unit status shows Approved and the permit certificate is available for download.
Note
If Renewal Payment Pending Approval remains for several business days, check the portal for any comments before contacting DET or HH support.
Wait for Payment Approval and Record Issuance
After payment is confirmed, DET processes the final issuance. Status moves to Stage 6 (Record Issuance). The permit certificate is issued digitally and available for download from the portal. The unit status must show Approved before you rely on the permit for listing.
Where to go
DET portal - Stage 6 of 6 (Record Issuance)
Address / portal
HH Permits portal
Est. cost
No additional fee
Est. time
1-3 business days after payment confirmation
Advice
Download the permit certificate as soon as it appears in the portal. Save a copy in a secure location. The certificate includes the permit number required for all platform listings.
Note
Do not list the unit on Airbnb or Booking.com until the unit status is Approved and the permit certificate is downloadable from the portal.
Print the Permit and Keep the Unit Ready for Guests
Display the permit number in the unit as required by DET. Add the permit number to your Airbnb, Booking.com, or other platform listing. Set up Tourism Dirham collection from guests: AED 15 per room per night (Deluxe) or AED 10 per room per night (Standard), remitted to DET on the required schedule.
Where to go
Unit location and platform listing settings
Address / portal
Platform-specific (Airbnb Host Dashboard, Booking.com Extranet) and DET Tourism Dirham portal
Est. cost
No government fee. Tourism Dirham is collected from guests: AED 15 per room per night (Deluxe) or AED 10 per room per night (Standard).
Est. time
1-2 hours
Advice
Set up Tourism Dirham remittance before your first guest checks in. Collecting and remitting the Tourism Dirham is a separate ongoing regulatory obligation from the permit itself. Holiday Homes 2.0 handles guest check-ins, check-outs, Tourism Dirham payments and QR code functions where applicable. DET provides reporting and payment tools in the portal.
Note
Airbnb and Booking.com require Dubai holiday home listings to display a valid permit number. Listings without a valid permit number may be suspended by the platform.
Overview
Dubai requires any unit offered for short-term rental to be registered as a Holiday Home through the DET HH Permits portal before it can be listed on any platform. The permit is issued per unit, is valid for one year, and covers both new registrations and annual renewals through the same portal.
The portal steps through six stages: unit information, document upload, DET review, associated forms, payment, and record issuance. Once the permit is issued, the permit number must appear on all platform listings and the unit is subject to Tourism Dirham collection and remittance requirements.
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