Dubai: How to become an AirBnB host? Earn extra income on your home
The cost and process of registering your property as a holiday home
Dubai: Looking to kick-start 2021 by injecting some cash into your earnings? A simple, and relatively easy way to do so is by becoming an AirBnB host.
In Dubai, home owners and tenants can put up their apartments on the vacation rental website by registering their unit as a ‘holiday home’. What does that mean, how much does it cost and what is the process? Here is all you need to know.
What is a holiday home?
Holiday homes are apartment units that are put up on short-term rentals, and are ideal for visitors looking for something more homely and affordable to hotel rooms. In Dubai, holiday homes need to be registered with Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), with an annual permit that is issued by the authority. These can be applied for regardless of whether you are the home owner or a tenant.
How to apply for a holiday home
If you wish to list your unit as a holiday home, follow these steps outlined by DTCM on their website:
1. Visit DTCM’s Holiday Homes portal - https://hh.dtcm.gov.ae/holidayhomes/Welcome.aspx and register a new account.
2. Click on 'Add Unit'. Complete the required information including unit type, number of bedrooms, area, developer etc.
3. Submit supporting documents. Required documents include:
- Title deed or sales purchase agreement copy and payment completion certificate.
- Signed passport copy or Emirates ID of the landlord.
- Trade Licence if the unit 'landlord' is a company, plus Emirates ID or passport copy of the authorised signatory.
- Property Management Letter as per downloadable template.
- Current Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) bill.
- Tenancy contract for individual tenant.
- If applicable, landlord’s No Objection Certificate (using the DTCM form).
4. Review and submit. Review your application before submitting it for approval. All applications will be reviewed within one business day.
5. Upon approval, self-classify your apartment. Once approval is received via email, your unit will be added to your dashboard and is available for self-classification.
6. Make payment. After submitting your self-classification, pay the required permit and classification certificate fees. Once paid, the unit status will be updated to approved.
What are the fees?
The fees will depend on the type of property you are putting up.
Annual registration fee - Dh1,500
Permit fees (which depend on the size of your unit) – Dh300 per bedroom, and a maximum amount of Dh1,200.
Unit classification fee - Dh50
Knowledge fee - Dh10
Innovation fee - Dh10
Tourism dirham fee - Dh10 or Dh15 per bedroom, depending on the classification of the unit as standard or deluxe.
Once you have received the necessary approvals from DTCM, you can list your unit on AirBnb or other holiday home websites.
Have you tried to register your unit as a holiday home? How was the experience? Share it with us by sending an email to readers@gulfnews.com