An empty apartment in Dubai earns nothing while it waits for a tenant. Turning it into a holiday home can change that, but it takes more than buying a sofa and posting photos online.
The apartment must be allowed to host short stays. It must be furnished and equipped to the standard set by DET/DTCM (Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism), hold a valid permit, and be set up so guests can check in without you. This guide walks through each step in order, with the rules as of November 2026.
Key Takeaways
- Check first that your apartment qualifies under DET/DTCM’s rules, and that your sale contract does not rule out holiday home use.
- A holiday home in Dubai must be a furnished unit with the fittings the DET/DTCM holiday homes guide sets for its category.
- Plan the furnishing around your guests before you buy anything, and choose pieces that are durable and easy to clean.
- Set the home up for guests: safety, cleanliness, clear house rules and a check-in that works without you.
- Get the DET/DTCM permit before you list. It lasts one year, and you must apply to renew it before it expires.
Step 1: Check the Apartment Can Be a Holiday Home
Under DET/DTCM’s rules, a holiday home must be in an area where DET/DTCM allows the activity. Four types of unit can qualify: an apartment in a building set aside for holiday homes, an apartment in a residential building, a villa in a compound and an independent villa.
Your Building and Community
The rules require developers, building owners and property management firms to let licensed holiday homes operate. Still, speak to your building management before you furnish. Ask how guests get access cards, parking and lift access, and what the building needs from you.
Your Sale or Tenancy Contract
Your sale contract must not forbid holiday home use. If you rent the apartment rather than own it, you must show you have the right to use it this way. Check your tenancy contract and speak to your landlord first.
Who Will Register the Unit
You can register the unit yourself or work with a licensed operator. Whoever holds the licence carries the duties, from guest records and insurance to showing the trade name and permit number in every advert. With Signature Prospera, you can keep the permit and the platform accounts in your own name, and we work as your co-host.
Step 2: Plan the Furnishing Before You Buy
DET/DTCM defines a holiday home as a furnished unit. It must also have the fittings that the DET/DTCM holiday homes guide sets for its classification category. Check that list first, so every purchase counts toward the permit.
Furnish for the Guests Your Area Attracts
Think about who will book: couples on a city break, families, or people in Dubai for work. Their needs decide the bed setup, the kitchen and whether you need a proper desk. A two-bedroom apartment near the beach and a studio near a business district call for different choices.
What Guests Expect in Each Room
The table lists what guests usually look for. It is a guide to guest comfort, not the DET/DTCM list of required fittings.
| Room | What guests expect |
|---|---|
| Bedrooms | Good mattresses, two sets of linen per bed, blackout curtains, wardrobe space and hangers |
| Living area | Seating for the full guest count, a dining table, Wi-Fi and a TV |
| Kitchen | Cooker, fridge, kettle, microwave, cookware, crockery and cutlery for every guest |
| Bathrooms | Towels for each guest, a hairdryer and basic toiletries |
| Throughout | Working air conditioning, good lighting, an iron, a first aid kit and clear safety information |
Choose Durable, Easy-Care Pieces
A holiday home sees far more use than a family home. Pick hard-wearing fabrics and finishes that are quick to clean between stays. Keep the style simple, with a few accents that photograph well, and leave space to store spare linen.
Plan Any Renovation First
If the apartment needs repairs, new flooring or a kitchen refresh, finish that work before the furniture arrives. Signature Prospera can advise on the work, and licensed contractors carry it out.
Step 3: Set the Home Up for Guests
Furnishing makes the apartment comfortable. Setup makes it ready to host paying guests.
- Clean and in good order: the licence holder must keep the holiday home clean and habitable.
- Safety: take reasonable safety measures for guests, especially for fire and any pool. The licence holder also needs a comprehensive insurance policy from an insurer licensed in Dubai, valid for the whole licence term.
- House rules and a lease contract: write a list of house rules, and sign a written lease contract with each guest and give them a copy.
- Guest numbers: never host more guests than the permit allows.
- Check-in: decide how guests collect keys and building access cards.
- Complaints and contact: set a guest complaints policy and display it where guests can see it, keep a record of every complaint, and give guests emergency and service numbers that answer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- House manual: write down the Wi-Fi details, how the appliances work, and the building’s rules on waste, pools and parking.
Once guests start arriving, the home needs a clean, stocked turnover between every stay. Read what guests expect from holiday home housekeeping.
Step 4: Get the DET/DTCM Permit Before You List
You apply through the DET/DTCM online portal, with documents that show the unit meets the rules. These include the owner’s or tenant’s passport or Emirates ID and proof of the right to use the unit. DET/DTCM may inspect the apartment before it approves the application. Once you pay the fees, it issues the permit.
- One year at a time: the permit is valid for one year, and you must apply to renew it before it expires.
- In every advert: the licence holder’s approved trade name and the permit number must appear in every print and digital advert, including each platform listing.
- Guest records: you send guest information to DET/DTCM regularly, as it requires, and keep records for at least three years.
Step 5: Photograph, List and Price the Home
With the permit in place, the home needs professional photos, an accurate description and nightly rates that follow demand. Our guide on where to list your Dubai holiday home covers platforms, fees and keeping every calendar in sync.
Before you set prices, look at what similar apartments in your building actually earn. Our guide on how to check the rental potential of your Dubai property shows how.
What It Costs to Get Started
The total depends on the apartment’s size, its condition and how many guests it will host. These are the costs to plan for.
| Cost | Who you pay | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Furniture, fittings and supplies | The suppliers you choose | Buy for the full guest count, with spare linen and towels |
| Renovation or upgrades, if needed | Licensed contractors | Quoted separately; not part of a management fee |
| DET/DTCM permit | DET/DTCM | Paid when the application is approved, then again at each yearly renewal |
| Insurance | An insurer licensed in Dubai | A comprehensive policy covering damage guests may suffer, valid for the whole licence term |
| Management, if you use a manager | Your management company | With Signature Prospera, one flat monthly fee based on your unit category, never a percentage of your rental income |
Repairs and maintenance come on top of the management fee. With Signature Prospera, all invoices are at cost and sent to you for approval, with a quote. Our guide to holiday home management fees in Dubai explains what a fee should cover, and our pricing page shows ours.
Setup Checklist Before Your First Guest
| Check | What to do |
|---|---|
| Building and contract | Confirm the area and unit type qualify, and your sale or tenancy contract does not forbid holiday home use |
| Licence holder | Decide who registers the unit: you or a licensed operator |
| Fittings | Check the fittings the DET/DTCM guide sets for your category, then furnish for the full guest count |
| Safety and insurance | Put reasonable safety measures in place and take out a comprehensive insurance policy |
| Clean and stocked | Deep clean the home and prepare spare linen, towels and toiletries |
| Rules and contracts | Write the house rules, guest lease contract, complaints policy and house manual, and set up 24-hour contact numbers |
| Permit | Get the DET/DTCM permit and add the trade name and permit number to every listing |
| Listing | Take professional photos, write an accurate description, set prices and sync the calendars |
How Signature Prospera Turns Apartments into Holiday Homes
Turning apartments into holiday homes is one of Signature Prospera’s main focus areas. We review your property, check that it suits holiday home use and plan the setup with you.
We advise you on furnishing, renovation, refurbishment, interior styling and upgrades. Licensed contractors and suppliers do that work. We then set the apartment up as an Airbnb-ready holiday home ourselves, with the amenities, room layout and presentation guests expect.
In Dubai, we support you through the DET/DTCM holiday home permit, NOC, technical documents, guest registration setup and Tourism Dirham handling. Once the home is ready, we list it on Airbnb, Booking.com, Expedia, Agoda and Vrbo, with dynamic pricing and guest support. You pay one flat monthly fee, never a percentage of your rental income. Read more about turning apartments into holiday homes on our services page.
Have an empty apartment in Dubai? Book a free rental assessment. We will review the apartment, explain the DET/DTCM steps and plan the setup with you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn my apartment into a holiday home in Dubai?
Yes, if it is in an area where DET/DTCM allows holiday homes, in an eligible building, and your sale or tenancy contract does not forbid it. It must be furnished with the fittings the DET/DTCM guide sets for its category, and it needs a DET/DTCM permit before you list it.
Does a holiday home in Dubai have to be furnished?
Yes. DET/DTCM’s rules define a holiday home as a furnished unit, equipped with the fittings set for its classification category. An empty apartment cannot be listed as a holiday home.
Do I need a permit before I list my apartment on Airbnb?
Yes. The unit needs a DET/DTCM holiday home permit before it is listed. The permit lasts one year, and the trade name and permit number must appear in every advert, including each platform listing.
Can a tenant turn a rented apartment into a holiday home?
Yes, if you can prove you have the right to use it this way. Check your tenancy contract and speak to your landlord before you buy anything.
Does Signature Prospera furnish the apartment?
We advise you on furnishing, renovation, refurbishment, interior styling and upgrades, and licensed contractors and suppliers do the work. We set the apartment up for guests ourselves. Renovation is not included in the monthly management fee.
Sources
- Dubai Legislation Portal, Administrative Resolution No. (1) of 2020 Issuing the Implementing Bylaw of Decree No. (41) of 2013, accessed November 2026
About the Author
Madhuri Chari is the Founder and CEO of Signature Prospera, a holiday home management company in Dubai. She built the company around an owner-first approach, drawing on years of work in brand strategy, client relations and operational leadership. Connect with her on LinkedIn.
This article is general information, not legal or financial advice.