Tourism Dirham for Airbnb hosts in Dubai
Every licensed holiday home registers its guests and collects a nightly tourism fee. Here is how it works, in five steps.
Every guest is registered
Licensed holiday homes register each guest with the Department of Economy and Tourism, from their passport or Emirates ID, before or at check-in.
A fee is charged per night
The Tourism Dirham is a nightly fee per occupied unit, set by the Department. It applies to holiday homes the same way it applies to hotels.
The guest pays it
It is a charge on the stay, collected from the guest. It is not taken from your share of the booking.
The operator collects and pays it over
The licensed operator on the permit collects the fee and pays it to the Department. With a management company, that is the company.
It shows on your statement
A clear owner statement shows the fee as collected and paid, separately from your income, so the numbers add up.
See also the rules for Airbnb in Dubai and how to price.
Our pick
fäm Living handles registration and the fee
fäm Living lists and runs Dubai apartments and villas on Airbnb, Booking.com and direct, as licensed holiday homes. Its own team handles check-in, cleaning and maintenance, and owners see every booking in the owner portal. Part of the fäm Properties group.
Talk to fäm Living about your home- Holiday home permit handled
- Listing, photos and pricing
- Guest screening and in-person check-in
- Cleaning, linen and maintenance
Questions
Tourism Dirham: host questions
Do Airbnb hosts in Dubai pay the Tourism Dirham?
The guest pays it as part of the stay. The licensed operator on the holiday home permit collects it and pays it to the Department of Economy and Tourism.
How much is the Tourism Dirham for a holiday home?
It is set by the Department of Economy and Tourism per night and can change. Check the current rate on the Department's website or ask your operator.
Does Airbnb collect the Tourism Dirham for me?
Do not assume it does. Agree with your management company how the fee is shown to guests and who pays it over, so it is neither missed nor charged twice.
Why do guests have to send their passport?
Holiday homes must register every guest with the Department of Economy and Tourism. Sending ID before arrival is normal and a sign the home is licensed.