Dubai Short Term Rentals: Holiday Homes from 150 AED/Night (2026)

TL;DR: Short term rentals in Dubai start at 150 AED/night for a studio in Deira. A 1-bed apartment in Dubai Marina runs 300-500 AED/night. Best platforms: Booking.com for verified options, Airbnb for variety. Always check for a DTCM licence number. Prices verified April 2026.

Compare Short Term Rental Prices

Dubai Short Term Rental Prices by Area (April 2026) {#price-table}

We compared nightly and weekly rates across 50+ listings on Booking.com, Airbnb, and direct booking sites.

Area	Studio/Night (AED)	1-Bed/Night (AED)	2-Bed/Night (AED)	Weekly Discount
Deira / Bur Dubai	150 - 220	200 - 320	350 - 500	15-20%
JVC / Sports City	170 - 250	250 - 350	400 - 550	15-20%
Business Bay	220 - 350	350 - 500	500 - 750	10-15%
JLT	200 - 300	300 - 450	450 - 650	10-15%
Dubai Marina	250 - 400	400 - 600	600 - 900	10-15%
JBR	300 - 450	450 - 650	700 - 1,000	10-15%
Downtown Dubai	350 - 500	500 - 750	800 - 1,200	10-15%
Palm Jumeirah	400 - 700	600 - 1,000	1,000 - 2,000	10-20%

Prices include cleaning and basic amenities. Tourism dirham fee (10-20 AED/night) charged separately. Prices verified April 2026.

Short Term Rental vs Hotel: Which Saves You More?

Factor	Short Term Rental	3-Star Hotel	4-Star Hotel
Studio/night (Marina)	300 AED	400 AED	600 AED
7-night stay	1,800 AED (with discount)	2,800 AED	4,200 AED
Kitchen	Full kitchen	No kitchen	Kitchenette (maybe)
Space	40-60 sqm	25-30 sqm	30-40 sqm
Laundry	In-unit washer	Hotel laundry ($$)	Hotel laundry ($$)
For families	2-bed available	1 room or connect	1 room or suite ($$$)

Verdict: Short term rentals save 30-50% over hotels for stays of 3+ nights. The savings multiply for families who need more than one room. A family of four in a 2-bed Marina apartment pays 700 AED/night versus 1,200+ AED for two hotel rooms.

Best Platforms for Dubai Short Term Rentals

1. Booking.com

Largest selection of licensed Dubai short term rentals. Filter by “apartments” to see holiday homes. Free cancellation on most listings. Commission is built into the price, so what you see is what you pay.

2. Airbnb

Good variety but mixed quality. Some listings are not DTCM licensed. Always check for the licence number in the listing description. Airbnb charges a service fee of 10-14% on top of the listed price.

3. Bayut / Dubizzle (Property Finder Group)

Local platform with direct landlord listings. Fewer protections than Booking.com but potentially lower prices since there is no platform commission. Best for monthly short-term rentals.

4. Direct from Holiday Home Operators

Companies like Frank Porter, GuestReady, and Driven Holiday Homes manage hundreds of apartments. Booking direct saves 10-15% versus platform pricing. Find them through Google or Instagram.

How to Spot a Legitimate Short Term Rental in Dubai

Dubai regulates short term rentals strictly through the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM). Here is what to check.

Must-haves:

DTCM licence number displayed in the listing. Every legal holiday home in Dubai has one. If the listing does not show it, ask the host. If they cannot provide it, do not book.

Holiday home operator registration. The person or company renting to you must be registered with DTCM as a holiday home operator. This protects you legally.

Tourism dirham fee. Legal rentals charge this government fee (10-20 AED/night depending on property classification). If a listing claims “no fees,” it may be unlicensed.

Red flags:

No licence number. Payment by bank transfer only. Asking to communicate off-platform. No reviews or brand-new listing with suspiciously low prices. Refusal to provide a rental contract.

Best Areas for Short Term Rentals in Dubai

Best for beach access: JBR and Dubai Marina

Walk to the beach within 5 minutes. Dozens of restaurants at your doorstep. The Tram connects you to the Metro. Expect to pay 300-600 AED/night for a 1-bed apartment.

Best for budget: Deira and Bur Dubai

The cheapest short term rentals in Dubai. Studios from 150 AED/night. Close to Gold Souk, Spice Souk, and Dubai Creek. Metro access on the Green Line. Not glamorous, but functional and affordable.

Best for families: JVC and Dubai Hills

Newer apartments with larger floor plans. Quieter neighbourhoods. 2-bed apartments from 400-550 AED/night. You will need a car as these areas are not walkable.

Best for business: Business Bay and DIFC

Central location. Walking distance to most corporate offices. Good restaurant scene. 1-bed apartments from 350-500 AED/night. Metro access at Business Bay station.

Best for luxury: Palm Jumeirah and Downtown

Premium addresses with premium prices. But if you want Burj Khalifa views or a private beach, this is where you book. Expect 500-2,000 AED/night depending on the property.

Short Term Rental Costs Beyond the Nightly Rate

Tourism dirham fee

10-20 AED per night per room, charged by the Dubai government. Applies to all licensed short term rentals. Budget this into your total.

Security deposit

Most operators require 500-2,000 AED as a refundable security deposit. Charged to your credit card and returned within 7-14 days after checkout. Inspect the property on arrival and document any existing damage.

Cleaning fee

Some listings charge a one-time cleaning fee of 100-300 AED. Others include it in the nightly rate. Check the total price breakdown before booking.

Parking

Most apartment buildings include one parking spot. Some older buildings or buildings in crowded areas charge 50-100 AED/night for parking. Confirm before arrival, especially in Marina and JBR.

How to Get the Best Rate on Dubai Short Term Rentals

Book 3-4 weeks ahead

Last-minute bookings cost 20-40% more, especially in peak season (November-March). The best rates appear 3-4 weeks before check-in.

Stay 7+ nights

Most hosts offer 15-25% weekly discounts. On Booking.com, filter by “weekly stay” to see discounted rates automatically applied.

Target shoulder season

April-May and September-October offer the best balance of good weather and lower prices. Summer (June-August) is cheapest but extremely hot.

Message the host directly

On Airbnb and direct booking platforms, message the host and ask for their best price for your dates. Many hosts prefer longer stays and will discount 10-15% to secure a booking.

Use loyalty programmes

Booking.com Genius members get 10-20% off eligible properties. Airbnb occasionally offers coupons for first-time users. Stack discounts where possible.

Documents Required to Book a Short Term Rental in Dubai

For tourists: Passport copy and credit card. Most platforms handle everything online. No visa documentation needed for booking, only for entry to the UAE.

For UAE residents: Emirates ID copy may be requested by some operators. Otherwise, same as tourists.

For check-in: Original passport or Emirates ID for registration purposes. DTCM requires all guests to be registered. The operator handles the submission.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is a short term rental in Dubai per night?

Short term rentals in Dubai start at 150 AED/night for a studio in Deira. A 1-bed apartment in Marina costs 400-600 AED/night. Prices drop 15-25% for weekly bookings and 30-40% for monthly stays. Prices verified April 2026.

Is Airbnb legal in Dubai?

Yes, but only for DTCM-licensed properties. The host must be a registered holiday home operator. Not all Airbnb listings in Dubai are licensed. Always check for a DTCM licence number before booking.

What is the minimum stay for short term rentals in Dubai?

Most short term rentals have a 1-night minimum. Some holiday home operators set a 2-3 night minimum, especially during peak season. Monthly rentals typically require a 30-day minimum.

Are short term rentals in Dubai cheaper than hotels?

For stays of 3+ nights, short term rentals are 30-50% cheaper than comparable hotels. The savings are even greater for families who need 2+ bedrooms. For a single night, hotels are often more convenient and similarly priced.

Do I need to pay a tourism tax on short term rentals in Dubai?

Yes. All licensed short term rentals in Dubai charge a tourism dirham fee of 10-20 AED per room per night. This is a government charge, not a host fee.

Book Your Dubai Short Term Rental

Compare prices across 50+ verified holiday homes and apartments. We check DTCM licensing so you do not have to.