Abu Dhabi expands holiday home eligibility to tenants under new DCT rules

Abu Dhabi's Department of Culture and Tourism has updated holiday home regulations, expanding eligible operators to include individual owners, joint owners, legal entities, tenants, and authorized representatives. The revised rules clarify eligibility, licensing, operational obligations, inspections and compliance requirements. Holiday homes must display a valid DCT Abu Dhabi licence number on all digital listings and cannot be listed on any website or platform without this licence. Registration requires personal details, property deed, valid insurance, lease contract, and passport or Emirates ID. A Department of Economic Development business licence is mandatory. Properties must be entire units (villas, apartments or townhouses) with occupancy capped at three per room; partial room rentals and bedroom conversions are prohibited. Holiday homes must be located in approved developments, commercial hubs, agricultural land, or licensed residential plots. DCT charges registration and annual licensing fees based on unit count, property type, and operator classification. The regulations took effect this year, and 2025 saw 77% growth in Abu Dhabi's holiday home supply, reaching 4,771 eligible units.