How to Start an Airbnb Business in Dubai, UAE?

So you’re thinking about jumping on the Airbnb bandwagon in Dubai? Good call. The city’s got all the right ingredients sky-high tourist numbers, stunning properties, and travellers looking for something cooler (and sometimes cheaper) than a hotel room. But before you throw your spare room on Airbnb and wait for the bookings to roll in, there are a few rules and steps to sort out first. Dubai’s not super chill when it comes to business setups, but don’t stress it’s totally doable if you know the process. Let’s walk through how to start an Airbnb business in Dubai, step by step.

Why Airbnb in Dubai?

Honestly, the demand’s crazy. Dubai pulls in over 17 million visitors a year and most of them aren’t just here for a day or two. Business folks, digital nomads, couples on staycations there’s a market for everyone. On top of that, Airbnb properties often make better returns than long-term rentals. Sounds like a win, right?

You Need to Own (or Legally Rent) the Property

First things first you can’t just list any old space on Airbnb. You either have to own the property or be renting it with the landlord’s written permission to sublet it short-term. No sneaky moves here. Dubai’s pretty strict about property rights.

If you’re a tenant, make sure the tenancy contract says subletting is okay and get the go-ahead in writing. Obtaining an Tourism License in Dubai.

Get a Holiday Home License from DTCM

Now, here’s the not-so-fun part. You’ll need a Holiday Home Permit from Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM). It’s basically your official pass to run a short-term rental business.

The process goes something like this:

Register on the DTCM Holiday Homes portal
Upload your Emirates ID, passport, title deed or tenancy contract
Provide Ejari certificate
Pay the fee (it’s around AED 1,500–1,700 depending on the property size)
Boom, you’re licensed

The license is valid for a year, so you’ll need to renew it regularly.

Register the Property on Airbnb

Once you’ve got your DTCM license sorted, you can go ahead and list your place on Airbnb. Add killer photos, set your price, and write a description that actually sounds like a human wrote it.

Make sure to also:

Include your DTCM permit number on the listing (it’s required)
Set clear house rules
Be ready to reply fast to guest messages (Airbnb loves that)

Sort Out the Cleaning and Guest Experience

Guests will leave reviews and let’s be real they’re picky. You don’t wanna lose bookings because the place was dusty or the towels smelled weird. Either clean it yourself (if you’re up for it) or hire a professional Airbnb management service in Dubai.

A lot of Airbnb hosts in Dubai use property managers to handle:

Cleaning and laundry
Guest check-in/check-out
Maintenance and repairs
Listing optimisation and pricing

It’ll cost you a cut, but it saves a ton of hassle.

Stay Legal and Pay the Fees

This ain’t a one-time thing. There are a few ongoing rules to keep in mind:

You’ll need to renew your holiday home license every year
There’s a Tourism Dirham fee (AED 10–15 per night depending on property size) that goes to the government
Keep your property in good condition and follow safety rules (like having fire extinguishers, etc.)

If you mess up, DTCM can fine you or even suspend your license ouch. Looking for a Business Setup Consultant in Dubai?

What About Taxes?

Here’s the good news: Dubai doesn’t have income tax. So whatever you make from Airbnb is yours (minus Airbnb’s cut, of course). But if you’re earning a lot, consider setting up a company so everything’s clean and you can manage multiple properties legally.

Start Your Airbnb Journey in Dubai

Starting an Airbnb business in Dubai isn’t a walk in the park but it’s not rocket science either. If you’ve got a great property, follow the rules, and provide a good guest experience, you’ll be golden.

It’s a smart way to make passive income or even run a full-on business. So yeah, why not turn that extra room or that investment apartment into a money-making machine?