Dubai’s 2025 Short-Term Rental Laws Explained

Dubai’s 2025 Short-Term Rental Laws Explained

Dubai’s skyline is ever-shifting, and with that comes evolving rules for property owners seeking to tap into the short-term rental (STR) or holiday home market. If you’re planning to list your apartment or villa in 2025, here’s what you absolutely need to know: laws, fees, compliance, and frequently asked questions.

What counts as a “short-term rental” in Dubai?

A short-term rental (sometimes “holiday home”) refers to a fully furnished property leased out for brief stays—days to several months. These properties must be rented in full (not just portions like a single room), and include amenities like utilities, safety features, and guest services.

Who regulates short-term rentals in Dubai?

The primary regulatory body is the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) (previously known as DTCM: Department of Tourism & Commerce Marketing). All holiday homes must be registered with DET, licensed, and meet specific operational and safety standards.

Key Legal Requirements in 2025

Here are the main rules and steps you must follow to legally operate a short-term rental in Dubai in 2025:

Why enforce these laws? What changed in 2025

• Increased enforcement: Dubai authorities have stepped up checks on unlicensed short-term rental units to reduce safety risks, noise complaints, and prevent unfair competition with hotels. Muhami+2Chekin+2
• Standardization of guest data and security: New rules around guest registration, identity verification, and secure data storage aim to increase transparency and safety. Chekin+1
• Clarifying liability: Insurance, building management agreements, and legal compliance are now more rigorously monitored to make sure hosts are responsible in case of damage, injury, or disputes. Engel & Völkers+1

Common Questions & Answers

Here are some of the top questions people have about short-term rental regulations in Dubai:

Q: Can tenants legally list their rented property as a holiday home?
A: Yes—with conditions. Tenants must have explicit written permission from the landlord (often via a No Objection Certificate), must obtain the DET holiday home permit, and must ensure the lease or building policy doesn’t forbid short-term leasing. Muhami+1

Q: What happens if I host without a license?
A: Operating without the proper holiday home permit can lead to fines, possible suspension or revocation of licenses later, or other penalties under DET regulation. The fine amounts can vary depending on the violation. Muhami+1

Q: Are there caps on how many nights I can rent out my property?
A: Current regulations do not universally impose a fixed “night cap” across all holiday home permits, but hosts must comply with guest registration rules, building policies, and area-specific zoning regulations. Some listings may voluntarily mention licensing in their platform descriptions. Airbtics | Airbnb Analytics+1

Q: What fees apply for operating a short-term rental?
A: Key fees include the operator/registration fee (≈ AED 1,520/year), unit permit fees (variable by number of bedrooms/unit size), and the Tourism Dirham (guest-side tax per night). Other fees may include inspection or renewal costs. Engel & Völkers+3UpperKey+3chargeautomation.com+3

Q: What documentation is needed to apply for the holiday home license?
A: Typically, property title deed or tenancy agreement, owner’s ID (passport/Emirates ID), DEWA bill, Ejari registration, NOC from landlord/developer if subletting, and proof of adherence to building safety standards. chargeautomation.com+1

Steps to Ensure You’re Fully Compliant

1. Register & get your license first: Don’t list your property publicly until the DET license and permit are in hand.
2. Check your lease / building rules: If you are a tenant or in a managed building, get written approval (NOC) from landlord/owner/developer.
3. Set up proper guest registration processes: Use the DET HH reporting system, verify guest IDs, and store data securely.
4. Collect and remit Tourism Dirham: Make sure your pricing and invoices reflect this guest-tax and comply with remittance deadlines.
5. Maintain safety standards and insurance: Fire safety, smoke detectors, guest safety, and adequate insurance are essential.
6. Renew annually and allow inspections: Keep up with renewals, respond to any inspection or audit requests.

Final Thoughts

Short-term rentals in Dubai remain one of the more attractive investment strategies—but in 2025, the law makes it clear: profitability depends on legal compliance. The rules are no longer optional; they are central to your long-term success.

At Propigo, we recommend treating regulatory compliance as an integral part of your business plan—not just a hurdle. When your license, guest policies, insurance, and building rules are all in order, you create a stable foundation for scaling, avoiding fines, and building guest confidence.

If you’d like, I can also prepare a downloadable checklist (legal documents, safety standards, building policy) for STR owners to use in 2025. Want me to draft that?

‍