STELLIUMTwo ways to get a permit
Register yourself as an owner. DET lets an individual owner register up to 8 units in their own name. You open an account on the DET Holiday Homes system, add the unit, upload documents, choose the classification and pay the fees. From then on the guests, cleaning, Tourism Dirham reports and renewals are on you.
Hand the apartment to a licensed operator. An operator registers the unit under its own DET licence and runs it end to end. Stellium holds operator licence No. 1333439: we prepare the apartment to the standard, register it, list it and look after guests, cleaning, maintenance and reporting.
How an owner registers
- 01AccountonlineCreate an owner account on the DET Holiday Homes system. The name must match the title deed.
- 02Add the unit1 formEnter the title deed and the DEWA premise number — most fields fill in automatically.
- 03DocumentsuploadTitle deed, Emirates ID or passport, a recent DEWA bill; a developer NOC where the building requires one.
- 04ClassificationStandard / DeluxeChoose the class, pay the permit fee. DET may inspect the apartment.
- 05Permitabout 1 business dayPrint the permit and the QR code and display them at the apartment; put the permit number in every listing.
What it costs
Government fees in AED from open sources, October 2026. The DET system shows the exact amount at payment.
| Owner registration (one-time) | 1,520 |
| Unit permit: studio or 1 bedroom | 370 |
| Each extra bedroom | +300 |
| Permit cap, any size | 1,270 |
| Tourism Dirham, Standard — per room per night | 10 |
| Tourism Dirham, Deluxe — per room per night | 15 |
| Amendment or cancellation | 70 |
Tourism Dirham is charged for the first 30 nights of a stay. In apartments managed by Stellium it is paid by the guest together with the booking.
Check before you buy
Some buildings and developers do not allow holiday homes, and DET will not issue a permit if the sale and purchase agreement prohibits it. Hotel rooms and hotel apartments are not eligible. Confirm in writing with the developer or building management before you buy an apartment for short-term rental — or ask us: we know which buildings in our areas work well.
Permit questions
Do I need a permit to rent my apartment on Airbnb in Dubai?
Yes. Any short-term rental of a residential unit in Dubai needs a DET holiday home permit, and its number must appear in the listing. Platforms remove listings without a valid permit.
Is DTCM the same as DET?
Yes. The Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) became part of the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET). People still say "DTCM licence" — it is the same holiday home permit.
Can I register the apartment myself?
Yes, an individual owner can register up to 8 units. With more units you need a company licence or a licensed operator.
How long does it take?
With complete documents, registration and the permit take about one business day each. Preparing the apartment to the standard usually takes longer than the paperwork.
Can a tenant rent out an apartment short-term?
Only with the landlord's written permission, and the permit still has to match the property records. Without it DET will not register the unit.
What do I do if my apartment is managed by Stellium?
Nothing with DET directly. You send us the title deed, passport copy and DEWA details; we register the unit under our operator licence, put the permit number on Airbnb, Booking.com and Vrbo, and file the Tourism Dirham.
We handle the permit — you get the income
Send your building and apartment type: we will estimate short-term income against a yearly lease and tell you what the apartment needs for the permit.