For holiday home permit renewal Dubai operators use the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) Holiday Homes portal. DET says a permit lasts one year and must be renewed before it expires; renewal is not automatic. Its system guide says the Renew button appears during the 30 days before expiry. Prepare the current unit documents, check that the landlord and DEWA account have not changed, then submit the renewal through the portal. DET publishes a service delivery time of one business day, but you should not treat that as a guaranteed approval date. DET’s renewal service page sets out the requirements and application sequence.
When can you start holiday home permit renewal in Dubai?
Find the expiry date on your existing permit first. DET says permits are valid for one year and must be renewed before expiry if you want to continue renting the unit. The DET Holiday Home System User Guide adds a detail that matters when you plan the work: the Renew button appears only during the 30 days before expiry.
You can collect documents earlier, but you may not see the renewal action until that window opens. Do not leave submission until the expiry date. The same guide says an expired permit cannot be renewed through the portal’s renewal flow. If your permit has already expired, check the appropriate next step with DET rather than assuming that the usual Renew button will work.
You may still see references to a “DTCM holiday home permit renewal” in older files or searches. The department is now DET, formerly DTCM. Use the current DET renewal service and portal instructions for this application.
What documents and tools do you need?
Set up one folder for the unit before you log in. You will need your Holiday Homes portal access, the existing permit’s expiry date, readable copies of the supporting documents and the current DEWA bill. Keep the details of the unit and its authorised signatory close by so you can check entries as you go.
DET’s renewal document list includes:
- The title deed.
- A developer no-objection certificate (NOC), if applicable.
- The landlord’s signed passport copy or Emirates ID.
- A company trade licence, if the landlord is a company.
- The authorised signatory’s Emirates ID or passport copy.
- A Property Management Letter using DET’s template.
- A current DEWA bill.
Check which items apply to the unit rather than uploading an old set without reading it. For operators, DET says the permit issue and expiry dates must match the Property Management Letter. Update that letter for the renewed validity dates before you submit. DET also specifies the DEWA premise number, not the account number, for the relevant portal entry. Both numbers can appear on utility paperwork, so pause and check the label.
If you need background on how the permit relates to the unit’s cleanliness requirements, read what Dubai holiday home licence cleanliness rules mean. Keep the renewal documents separate from your turnover records so the file you submit is easy to check.
How do you renew the permit through DET’s portal?
The order below follows DET’s published renewal sequence, with the permit-card details from its system user guide. It applies to an existing unit that is eligible for renewal.
- Log in to the DET Holiday Homes portal. Open the UNITS tab and find the permit card for the correct apartment or villa. Check its expiry date against your records before changing anything.
- Select Renew. The guide shows this action on a permit card marked About To Expire. If you are more than 30 days from expiry, the renewal action may not yet be available.
- Enter the new permit dates. The system guide directs you to enter a new Permit Issue Date and Permit Expiry Date, then continue through the application steps. If you operate the unit, check that these dates match the updated Property Management Letter.
- Submit the supporting documents. Upload the documents DET requests for the unit. Use the current DEWA bill and enter its premise number where requested.
- Review and submit the application. Check the unit, landlord, authorised signatory and dates. A wrong unit selection or an old letter can delay the work that follows.
- Self-classify the apartment and complete the payment step. These are part of DET’s published renewal sequence. Follow the prompts shown for your application rather than assuming that submitting documents finishes the process.
Save the submitted application details for your records. Once DET has issued an updated permit, its renewal page says that the updated permit must be displayed in the unit. Check the issued document itself before you put it on display.
Which changes can prevent a renewal?
Before you start, compare the current title deed, landlord details and DEWA bill with the existing unit record. This check can save you from working through the wrong application route.
DET says a unit cannot be renewed if it has a new landlord or a change to its DEWA account; the new landlord must register it as a new unit. DET also says a unit is ineligible if its Sale & Purchase Agreement does not allow Holiday Homes operation. These are DET’s published renewal conditions, not issues that a replacement cleaning schedule or document upload can resolve.
If the landlord or DEWA account has changed, check DET’s new holiday homes permit service for the registration route. If other unit details have changed, check the relevant DET service before you submit a renewal with mismatched information. Do not edit an older document to make its details appear current.
What should you check at the unit before renewal?
Keep the document check and the physical-unit check distinct. For the application, confirm that you have identified the right unit, that the current permit has not expired, and that the landlord and DEWA details support a renewal. After approval, arrange to display the updated permit in that unit, as DET directs.
If you also need to assess the apartment before a DET visit, use the DTCM inspection readiness checklist. It covers the unit-readiness work separately, so you can keep this renewal process focused on the portal, dates and supporting documents.
Routine turnovers still matter while you manage the permit. A planned clean between guests gives you a clear point to check the unit’s condition and replace used linen and towels. For the difference between that work and an ordinary residential visit, see holiday home cleaning versus general cleaning in Dubai. Cleaning cannot change a permit’s status; keep the DET application on its own task list.
How long does renewal take, and what causes avoidable delays?
DET lists a one-business-day service delivery time for renewal. That is its published service estimate, not a promise that every application will be approved one business day after you first open the portal. You still need to prepare documents, submit the application and complete the steps shown for your unit. DET says renewals are assessed case by case.
The most useful final review is short:
- Check the expiry date and submit while the renewal action is available, before the permit expires.
- Match the renewed permit dates to the Property Management Letter if you are an operator.
- Use a current DEWA bill and enter the premise number, not the account number.
- Confirm that the landlord and DEWA account have not changed before using the renewal route.
- Complete the review, self-classification and payment steps shown in the portal.
- Replace the displayed permit with the updated one once it has been issued.
If Renew does not appear, start with the dates. The button is available only in the 30 days before expiry, according to DET’s system guide, and an expired permit cannot use that renewal flow. If you are inside the window and the expected action is still missing, check that you have opened the correct unit and refer to DET’s current instructions for that permit. Avoid creating a second unit record simply because the button is absent.
How LUMINA can help with your holiday home
Permit submission stays with you or your appointed operator. LUMINA can handle the cleaning work around guest departures and arrivals through holiday home cleaning in Dubai. Turnovers are created from your property’s iCal calendar, with a damage check before cleaning, fresh linen and towels, amenities restocked and a photo of every room after each turnover in the owner portal. Request a turnover quote while you prepare your DET renewal documents.
Frequently asked questions
When can I renew my Dubai holiday home permit?
DET’s system guide says the Renew button appears during the 30 days before your permit expires. DET says you must renew before expiry and that renewal is not automatic.
What documents are needed to renew a Dubai holiday home permit?
DET lists the title deed, landlord identification, a Property Management Letter using its template and a current DEWA bill. A developer NOC, company trade licence and authorised signatory identification may also be required, depending on the unit and landlord. Check DET’s current renewal document list before submitting.
How long does a Dubai holiday home permit renewal take?
DET publishes a service delivery time of one business day. Treat that as a service estimate rather than a guaranteed time from document preparation to approval; DET assesses renewals case by case.
Can I renew a Dubai holiday home permit after it expires?
DET’s system guide says an expired permit cannot be renewed through the portal’s renewal flow. Check the appropriate next step with DET rather than relying on the usual Renew button.
Why is the Renew option missing from my DET Holiday Homes portal?
First check the permit’s expiry date and that you have opened the correct unit. DET’s system guide says Renew appears only during the 30 days before expiry and cannot be used after expiry. If you are within that window and it is still missing, refer to DET’s current portal instructions.
Can I renew if the landlord or DEWA account has changed?
DET says a unit with a new landlord or a changed DEWA account cannot use the renewal route. Its renewal guidance says the new landlord must register the property as a new unit.