Short-term rental

Short-term letting means offering a furnished property to guests for stays of days or weeks, usually through booking platforms. In the UAE it is a licensed tourism activity, separate from ordinary renting. In Dubai each unit needs a holiday home permit from the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET); Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah run their own licensing through their tourism authorities. These lets are not registered in Ejari.

Most overseas owners use a licensed operator, who furnishes or approves the unit, obtains the permit, lists it, handles guests and cleaning and pays the owner the net income. The operator's share of revenue is substantial, and the owner also bears costs a long-term landlord passes to the tenant: utilities, internet, cooling, consumables, more frequent redecoration and the tourism fee collected per night.

The case for it is higher nightly income in peak months and the freedom to use the home yourself. The case against is variability. Occupancy is seasonal, with weak summer months; income depends on visitor numbers, which are sensitive to events such as the regional conflict of early 2026; and districts with many holiday lets compete hard on price.

Check before you buy for this purpose. Some buildings and communities restrict or prohibit holiday lets through their rules, and branded or serviced buildings may require use of the in-house rental programme. Compare projected net yield, after every cost and realistic vacancy, with what a long-term lease would earn.