Decree No. 41 of 2013
Decree No. 41 of 2013 (24 November 2013) regulates the activity of leasing out holiday homes in the Emirate of Dubai.
Holiday home · DET (formerly DTCM)
DTCM holiday home requirements: what your Dubai apartment needs
DTCM holiday home requirements start with one rule: to rent out an apartment by the night in Dubai, the unit must be registered with the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET — formerly DTCM) and hold a Holiday Homes permit. On top of the permit, the unit has to be furnished and equipped to host guests. BuildSure furnishes your apartment for holiday home use and handles the DTCM holiday home permit for you.
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DTCM holiday home requirements start with one rule: to rent out an apartment by the night in Dubai, the unit must be registered with the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET — formerly DTCM) and hold a Holiday Homes permit. On top of the permit, the unit has to be furnished and equipped to host guests. BuildSure furnishes your apartment for holiday home use and handles the DTCM holiday home permit for you.
Last reviewed: 30 September 2026
DTCM or DET: which name is right?
Both are searched, and both refer to the same authority.
DTCM was the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, established by Law No. 1 of 1997. The department now operates as Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), which runs the Holiday Homes system (DET legislation library). You'll still see "DTCM permit" and "DTCM licence" everywhere — they mean the DET Holiday Homes permit.
Last reviewed: 30 September 2026. Regulations change — always confirm with DET before listing.
The legal framework
The legal framework
According to DET's legislation library:
Executive Council Resolution No. 49 of 2014
Executive Council Resolution No. 49 of 2014 approves the fees and fines related to holiday homes.
Administrative Resolution No. 1 of 2020
Administrative Resolution No. 1 of 2020 (7 January 2020) is issued under that framework.
Holiday Homes regulation guide
A Holiday Homes regulation guide (first edition, 18 July 2022) regulates the activity of leasing out holiday homes.
DET's hospitality services cover setting up, classifying and managing holiday homes. Classification criteria and category levels: we check these with you at the time of the project.
The permit
Holiday home permit in Dubai: who applies and how
From DET's official service pages: to operate holiday homes, individuals or professional operators must register their apartment or villa with DET on the Holiday Homes system. Registration steps:
Register an account
Complete the online application form
Upload the required documents
Submit the application
Make the payment
A residential unit then receives a new Holiday Homes permit to operate as a holiday home.
With BuildSure
You don't do this yourself
With BuildSure, you don't do this yourself: we handle the DTCM holiday home permit application in addition to the building access permits. The permit is included in the package price. Documents: a fast-track process with no complicated paperwork — we take care of everything, through a simple exchange on WhatsApp.
How much is a holiday home permit in Dubai? Fees are set by Executive Council Resolution No. 49 of 2014 and its updates. We were not able to consult the current fee schedule on an official page.
Furnishing
Furnishing requirements: what a holiday home needs
A holiday home is a furnished home that guests live in from day one. Whatever the classification, a unit ready for guests needs complete furniture, bedding and linen, a usable kitchen, and the safety equipment required by the authorities.
The exact official list is set by DET. We check these points with you at the time of the project.
Practical checklist
Airbnb furnishing checklist (practical, not the official list)
Use this checklist to prepare, then check it against DET's current requirements:
Bedrooms
☐ Beds with quality mattresses, matching the number of guests advertised
☐ Bedding and several linen sets per bed
☐ Wardrobe or storage, bedside tables, lighting, curtains
Living and dining
☐ Sofa (or sofa bed if it counts as a sleeping place)
☐ Dining table and chairs for the number of guests
☐ TV and a clear, well-lit living space
Kitchen
☐ Appliances, cookware, crockery and cutlery for the number of guests
Bathroom
☐ Towels (bath and hand) for each guest, bath mat
Safety and information
☐ Safety equipment as required by DET and Dubai Civil Defence
☐ House rules and emergency contacts for guests
BuildSure delivers the furniture, décor, wall panelling and household linen. Kitchen equipment, appliances and safety equipment: a package includes everything the apartment needs to be rental-ready, including everything regulations require for short-term rental (DTCM standards).
Compliance by design
How BuildSure builds compliance into the design
- Capacity by designthe number of beds, seats and linen sets matches the number of guests the unit is meant to host.
- Durable, cleanable finisheschosen for frequent turnovers.
- Permit handledwe manage the DTCM holiday home permit and the building access paperwork.
- One timelinefrom order to rental-ready in 3 weeks to 1 month.
See holiday home furnishing in Dubai — or, if you want us to take it all, delegate everything.
Other points
Dubai Airbnb rules: other points to check
- Your building — some communities have their own rules on short-term rentals, access cards and guest registration. Check with your community management.
- Your developer's move-in and access permits — see our guide from handover to first booking.
- Tourism Dirham — a fee collected from guests on holiday home stays.
Invesure · buyBuildSure · furnishBnbSure · rent
Planning your first purchase in Dubai?
Invesure, our sister real estate agency, helps investors buy off-plan in Dubai. Knowing your furnishing budget in advance — fixed by unit type — makes it easier to plan the whole investment. Message us and we'll introduce you.
Already a client of Invesure or BnbSure? Enjoy preferential pricing on your furnishing.Buying, furnishing, rental management — in any combination.
Talk investment on WhatsApp →
AI-generated illustrationInvesure · buyBuildSure · furnishBnbSure · rent
And then, rental management?
BnbSure, our group's short-term rental management agency, can take over once your apartment is rental-ready. Message us and we'll make the introduction.
Already a client of Invesure or BnbSure? Enjoy preferential pricing on your furnishing.Buying, furnishing, rental management — in any combination.
Talk rental management on WhatsApp →
Read next
More on the blog
Airbnb amenities list, room by room
What a guest expects to find in a Dubai apartment.
Read the article →The Tourism Dirham explained
The holiday-home tourist fee, and who pays it.
Read the article →FAQ
Frequently asked questions
What are the DTCM requirements for holiday homes?
The unit must be registered with DET and hold a Holiday Homes permit, and it must be furnished and equipped to host guests according to DET's rules and classification. BuildSure handles the permit and delivers a guest-ready interior.
Is a holiday home licence needed for Airbnb in Dubai?
Yes. Renting a residential unit on a short-term basis requires registration with DET and a Holiday Homes permit, whether you use Airbnb or another platform.
Can an individual owner apply, or only a company?
DET states that individuals or professional operators can register their apartment or villa on the Holiday Homes system.
Do you handle the permit?
Yes. BuildSure handles the DTCM holiday home permit in addition to the building access permits.
Sources
Official sources consulted
DET legislation library and service pages, consulted on 30 September 2026 through Web Archive captures (the site is not reachable from outside the UAE). Regulations change: DET prevails.
Holiday home
Prepare a compliant holiday home
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