Best holiday home companies in Dubai: how they compare
Choosing who runs your Dubai holiday home takes more than comparing commissions. This list of holiday home companies in Dubai covers six operators owners often shortlist in 2026: GuestReady, Frank Porter, First Class, Deluxe Holiday Homes, AirDXB and Maison Privée. We look at how each charges, helps with the DET permit and handles rental lengths, and what owners say.
Key takeaways
- GuestReady: best for owners who want a hands-off service from day one, from furnishing the home to moving between short-, mid-, and long-term lets as the season and their plans change.
- Frank Porter: best for owners who want to see fees and extra costs upfront, before any sales call, and prefer an operator focused solely on the UAE.
- First Class: best for owners of luxury homes who also need them furnished, with design and management handled under one operator.
- Deluxe Holiday Homes: best for owners with homes in Dubai and other emirates, such as Fujairah or soon Sharjah, who want one operator for all of them.
- AirDXB: best for owners who want a Dubai specialist that runs every service in-house, from photography to housekeeping.
- Maison Privée: best for owners of luxury homes, or owners who would rather rent to the operator long-term than earn income that changes month to month.
How we compared these companies
There is no single best holiday home company in Dubai, only the one that suits your home and how involved you want to be. So rather than rank these six, we set out what each does well and where it falls short.
For every profile, we went through the company’s own website, pricing and owner pages, read what owners and guests say about it on Trustpilot, and looked at recent press coverage.
Each company is judged on the same six things: local presence, how clearly it explains its fees, the kind of portfolio it suits, the market data it shares, its reviews, and how it helps with the holiday home permit issued by the Department of Economy and Tourism (DET).
Data last verified: October 2026
Best holiday home companies in Dubai
1. GuestReady
GuestReady has managed holiday homes in Dubai since 2018 and today looks after more than 400 of them from our office in Business Bay. We are also part of a group that has been managing homes for more than a decade, with more than 4,000 homes and 300 people across the UK, Ireland, France, Portugal and Spain.
That spread matters when one market goes through a difficult period, as Dubai did during the regional disruption in early 2026: with part of our business in Europe, our Dubai operation does not rely on this market alone.
Scale also shapes how we work day to day. Our homes run on property management software built in-house by the group, which is an Airbnb Preferred+ Software Partner and a Booking.com Premier Connectivity Partner.
That technology lets us adjust prices to Dubai’s seasons and guest mix, list each home on more than 10 booking platforms as well as Book with GuestReady, our own direct booking website, and keep the same standards for cleaning, linen and repairs in every market.
Across our standard Dubai listings, the result has been an average occupancy of 83.4%, a nightly rate of around AED 850 and a 4.7/5 guest review score. Owners can follow bookings, income and upkeep in our owner app, with support available around the clock.
We can also support owners from the very start. If your home is still empty, our furnishing packages get it guest-ready, with prices published on our website. Once it is live, keeping it compliant is a priority: as a licensed holiday home operator, we manage the obligations that come with the DET permit, from guest registration to paying the monthly Tourism Dirham on the owner’s behalf. And because we also hold a real estate licence, the same team can let your home long-term, so you can earn from short stays through the high season and move to a longer let for the quieter months without changing company.
Trade-offs: our service works best for owners who would rather leave the day-to-day running to us, from listing and marketing to cleaning, maintenance and guest care. If you only want help with your listings and plan to run the rest yourself, a lighter model may suit you better.
Pricing model: a commission starting from 18% of rental revenue, depending on the property and its location, plus a one-time onboarding fee. Check GuestReady’s Dubai page for current rates.
Best for: owners who want a hands-off service from day one, from furnishing the home to moving between short, mid and long-term lets as the season and their plans change.
2. Frank Porter
Frank Porter has been running short lets since 2017 and now looks after more than 650 homes across Dubai and the wider UAE from its office in Barsha Heights. Its full management covers the essentials of a holiday let, from marketing across several channels, pricing and guest vetting to check-ins, linen and cleaning, and it pays the Tourism Dirham on the owner’s behalf. Owners follow their calendar and monthly revenue statements in its app, where they can also block dates for personal stays, while interior design, utility set-up and larger maintenance works are available as extras, priced on request.
What sets it apart is how much it shows before you speak to anyone. Its pricing page lists the management fee, what onboarding includes, and which costs stay with the owner, such as the yearly DET licence fee. It also shares its own Dubai figures, an average nightly rate of AED 650 and 82% occupancy, so owners have a benchmark from the first visit to its site.
Trade-offs: its offer appears to centre on short stays, so it is likely a closer fit for owners who mainly want holiday lets than for those weighing a longer tenancy.
Pricing model: a full management fee of 17% of rental revenue, with free onboarding. Check Frank Porter’s own website for the current rate.
Best for: owners who want to see fees and extra costs upfront, before any sales call, and prefer an operator focused solely on Dubai and the UAE.
3. First Class
First Class Property Management focuses on luxury homes in Dubai and also operates in Portugal. It has hosted guests since 2020 from its office in Al Barsha, and its offer goes beyond full management: owners can opt for listing management only, add interior design with flexible payment options, and rely on its teams for cleaning, maintenance, holiday home registration and permits. Owners see their calendar, statements and payouts in an app, with payouts on a fixed monthly schedule.
It is also one of the more data-led operators here. Alongside a dedicated offer for investors, it publishes a quarterly index of the UAE short-term rental market and shares its own results: 94% occupancy and returns 27% above long-term letting, across more than 32,000 bookings. These figures are its own, but they give owners a clear benchmark to question during a first call.
Trade-offs: First Class doesn’t publish its fees, so comparing it with others means getting a quote first. Its Dubai offer seems built mainly around short stays, so if you’d like the option of a longer let in quieter months, it’s worth asking how they would handle that. With no Trustpilot score showing at the moment, references from current owners are the best way to judge the service.
Pricing model: pricing model not publicly disclosed. Ask First Class directly for its current terms.
Best for: owners of luxury homes who also need them furnished, with design and management handled under one operator.
4. Deluxe Holiday Homes
Deluxe Holiday Homes has been a DET-licensed holiday home operator since 2015. It says it manages more than 800 homes, and its own location page currently lists 598 live in Dubai and 51 in Fujairah, with Sharjah being added in 2026. In Dubai, those homes are spread across areas such as Dubai Marina, Business Bay, Downtown, JBR and Palm Jumeirah, and Deluxe’s own teams look after their cleaning, repairs and pest control. It also offers interior design and furnishing, and owners follow bookings, payouts and utility payments in a portal updated daily, where they can also book their own stays.
Like GuestReady, and unlike most operators here, it covers more than holiday lets: it also offers monthly and longer furnished stays and corporate housing, so an owner can change approach without changing operator. Where it stands out is its reach beyond Dubai, which suits owners with property in Fujairah or, soon, Sharjah.
Trade-offs: Deluxe doesn’t publish its rate, so you’ll only know what you would pay once it has visited your home and sent a proposal. That makes a quick comparison with other operators harder.
Pricing model: a fee taken from the bookings it secures. The rate isn’t published: it is set in a tailored proposal after a call and a visit to the home, and depends on contract length and other factors.
Best for: owners with homes in Dubai and other emirates, such as Fujairah or soon Sharjah, who want one operator for all of them.
5. AirDXB
AirDXB has managed short lets in Dubai since 2018 and says it now looks after hundreds of homes, with more than 250 staff. It keeps the work in-house, employing its own photographers, housekeepers and guest care team.
Onboarding takes about 7 to 10 days and covers the DET permit, an inspection and deep clean, and professional photos. After that, it handles pricing, guest communication, check-ins, cleaning and maintenance, with monthly payouts and an owner portal.
Trade-offs: despite a fairly strong Trustpilot score, its profile doesn’t have many reviews yet.
Pricing model: a management fee of 16.75% of rental income, plus a one-time onboarding fee of AED 2,750, with a 30-day notice period.
Best for: owners who want a Dubai specialist that runs every service in-house, with interiors and renovation available within the same group.
6. Maison Privée
Maison Privée started in March 2017 as a virtual hotel brand for corporate travellers and holidaymakers. After raising USD 4 million in Series A funding in 2018, it has grown its UAE portfolio around hand-picked luxury homes, which it manages as a licensed holiday home operator from its office at Ibn Battuta Gate.
What makes it different is the choice it gives owners. On the full management route, it handles guest screening, marketing, pricing, and guest communication with support around the clock, and shares quarterly financial reports along with booking, occupancy, and revenue data; you can take your home back with three months’ notice. On the rent-to-sublet route, Maison Privée rents the home from you long-term at market rate and sublets it, so you avoid empty periods.
Trade-offs: it doesn’t publish its fees and agrees contracts case by case, so comparing it with others means getting a quote first. Its focus on luxury homes may make it a less natural fit for a standard apartment, and it has no Trustpilot reviews yet, so references from current owners are worth asking for.
Pricing model: pricing model not publicly disclosed. Ask Maison Privée directly for its current terms.
Best for: owners of luxury homes, or owners who would rather rent to the operator long-term than earn income that changes month to month.
How each company compares at a glance
| Company | Local presence | Commission / pricing transparency | Portfolio fit | Local market data | Review standing | DET licensing support |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GuestReady | In Dubai since 2018; 400+ homes; office in Business Bay; part of a group active in 7 countries | Commission from 18% of rental revenue plus one-time onboarding fee | Single apartments to multi-unit portfolios; short, mid or long-term lets; furnishing packages | Self-reported for standard listings: 83.4% occupancy, around AED 850 a night, 4.7/5 guest score | Trustpilot 4.7 (13,344 reviews), group-wide and mostly guest reviews | Licensed holiday home operator; manages permit obligations and keeps homes compliant |
| Frank Porter | Since 2017; 650+ homes across Dubai and the UAE; office in Barsha Heights | 17% management fee | Single units to portfolios; mainly short stays | Self-reported: 82% occupancy, AED 650 average nightly rate | Trustpilot 4.4 (640 reviews), mostly guest reviews | Sets up DET compliance at onboarding; owner pays the yearly licence fee |
| First Class | Hosting since 2020; office in Al Barsha; also operates in Portugal | Not published | Luxury homes; full management or listing management only | Self-reported: 94% occupancy, 97.8% review score; publishes a quarterly UAE short-term rental index | No Trustpilot rating currently shown | Handles holiday home registration and permits |
| Deluxe Holiday Homes | Since 2015; Dubai and Fujairah, Sharjah from 2026 | Fee on bookings, no upfront costs; rate set in a tailored proposal | Single units to portfolios; holiday, monthly and longer stays; corporate housing | Not published | Trustpilot 4.2 (128 reviews) | DET-licensed holiday home operator |
| AirDXB | Dubai since 2018; 250+ staff, all in-house | 16.75% management fee plus AED 2,750 onboarding | Single owners to corporate clients; short lets, with furnishing and renovation in the group | Self-reported: 94% occupancy; 35,000 guests from 120 nationalities | Trustpilot 4.5 (248 reviews) | Applies for and pays the DET permit at onboarding |
| Maison Privée | Since 2017; office at Ibn Battuta Gate; UAE portfolio | Not published; agreed case by case | Luxury homes; full management or rent to sublet | Not published | No Trustpilot reviews yet | Licensed holiday home operator |
Data last verified: October 2026
Figures come from each operator’s own website and Trustpilot. “Not published” means the operator does not state it publicly. Check current terms directly with each provider.
What owners in Dubai should check first
Your home needs a DET holiday home permit before it can take bookings. This applies to all vacation rentals in Dubai, whichever company you choose. Each unit is inspected and registered, and the permit is renewed every year.
A Tourism Dirham fee is charged per bedroom per night and paid to DET each month. A good operator handles this for you. The permit is linked to the licensed operator managing your home, so it needs updating if you change company, and the steps depend on how it was first set up. Ask how that handover works before you sign. Our Dubai holiday home licence guide covers the fees and steps.
Dubai’s short-term rental market remains busy. AirDNA counted more than 20,000 active short-term rentals in Dubai in September 2026. Over the previous 12 months, average occupancy was 69%. The average nightly rate was about USD 180. Read our guide to the short-term rental market in Dubai to check the holiday home rental demand by area.
2026 has also tested how flexible each company is. After the regional disruption in late February, demand moved towards monthly stays and guests from the UAE and wider GCC. Operators able to move a home between short and longer lets gave owners more options. Our analysis of what the regional crisis means for your Dubai property covers the data.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a licence to rent out my Dubai property as a holiday home?
Yes. All holiday homes in Dubai need a permit from the Department of Economy and Tourism. Each unit gets its own permit after an inspection, and it is renewed every year. Most holiday home companies manage the obligations that come with it, such as guest registration and the Tourism Dirham, and keep your home compliant. Check which costs you pay yourself. At GuestReady, keeping each home compliant is a priority: we manage guest registration and pay the monthly Tourism Dirham on your behalf.
How do holiday home companies in Dubai charge owners?
Most take a percentage of rental income. Some add an onboarding fee. Others agree a share of income only after visiting the home. A few offer to rent the home from you long-term at market rate instead. Look at what the fee covers as well as the percentage. For example, check whether it includes cleaning, repairs, and the DET permit. GuestReady charges a commission starting from 18% of rental revenue plus a one-time onboarding fee, with the exact rate depending on your property and its location.
Can I switch holiday home company in Dubai?
Usually, yes, within the notice period set in your contract. Your home’s holiday home permit is linked to the licensed operator’s account on the DET portal, so it needs to be updated when you switch, and the exact steps depend on how it was first set up. Your own trade licence, if you hold one, is not affected. A good operator guides you through the update as part of onboarding, along with new photography, rebuilt listings, and reopening your calendar. Also agree on what happens to bookings already on the calendar, and to keys and inventory.
At GuestReady, a dedicated contact in Dubai looks after the move from start to finish, so you are not coordinating it yourself.
Can I still use my holiday home myself?
Yes. Most companies let you block dates for your own stays in their owner app or portal, so check how much notice they need and whether blocked dates affect any fees. With GuestReady, you block your own dates in our owner app in a few taps and see every booking as it comes in.
Is a holiday home company better than a long-term tenant?
It depends on your goals. A holiday home can earn more in strong areas. But income changes with the seasons, and you pay running costs. A long-term tenant gives steady rent with less work for you. Some companies here, including GuestReady, Deluxe Holiday Homes and Maison Privée, offer both, so you can change approach without changing company. GuestReady holds a real estate licence alongside its holiday home licence, so it can move your home to a long-term let for the quieter months and back to short stays when demand returns.
Choosing the right holiday home company in Dubai
No single holiday home company in Dubai suits every owner. Start with what matters most to you, such as clear fees or a fully hands-off service. The profiles above show where each company is strongest. Before you decide, ask each company on your list for a written estimate and a copy of its contract.
Want an estimate for your Dubai property? Our local team can help.
This comparison reflects publicly available information and field feedback at the time of publication. GuestReady makes no guarantees as to its accuracy or completeness. Services, pricing, and customer support models are subject to change. Verify all details directly with each provider before making any decisions. Frank Porter, First Class, Deluxe Holiday Homes, AirDXB and Maison Privée are trademarks of their respective owners.
