A holiday home licence is the permit required to let a property to visitors on a short-term, furnished basis in Dubai. It authorises an owner or operator to run a unit as holiday accommodation rather than a standard annual tenancy.
Where you’ll see it
You’ll need a holiday home licence to advertise and let a property nightly or weekly to tourists. The unit is registered with Dubai’s tourism authority, must meet its standards, and is regulated differently from a long-term rental.
Why it matters
Operating a holiday home without the proper licence can lead to penalties. The licence makes the activity legitimate, allows it to be marketed on short-stay platforms, and brings the unit within the tourism regulations that govern guest stays.
What it is not
A holiday home licence is not a standard tenancy registration on Ejari, and the long-term rental rules do not apply in the same way. It is also not a general trade licence; it is specific to short-stay accommodation.
Example
An owner wanting to let their furnished apartment to tourists obtains a holiday home licence, registers the unit with the tourism authority, and then markets it for short stays.
Connected documents and parties
Holiday home permit, title deed, unit registration; owner/operator, tourism authority, guests.
Going deeper: related reading: DTCM permit and short-term rental.
Related Terms
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Last reviewed: June 2026