Short answer: to book a Dubai holiday home directly, choose dates and guests on the operator's website, review the itemized quote (nightly rate, cleaning, 5% VAT, Tourism Dirham), pay by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, and send guests' passport or ID details for DET registration before arrival. RentalHo adds no booking fee.
This is the practical how-to. If you're still deciding whether direct is cheaper than Airbnb or Booking.com, start with direct vs Airbnb. Written by RentalHo, which operates around 36 holiday homes in Dubai Marina and JBR.
Step by step
- Choose the area. Dubai Marina for choice, dining and the metro; JBR for being directly on the beach. Our Dubai Marina vs JBR guide compares the two.
- Enter your dates and number of guests. The search only shows apartments that are free for those dates and fit your group.
- Open the apartment and check the details. Photos, beds, amenities and the building — for example Panoramic Tower or Al Fattan Marine Towers. Any minimum stay for your dates shows here.
- Review the quote. Every charge appears as its own line before you pay (see the table below).
- Pay online. Card, Apple Pay or Google Pay, in AED, through a secure payment page. You get a confirmation with the dates, the building and the total.
- Send guest details for DET registration. Before arrival, we need passport or ID details for the guests so the stay can be registered with the Department of Economy and Tourism.
- Arrive. Check-in from 15:00; we send arrival instructions before your stay, and our team is on WhatsApp 24/7 at +971 58 510 1409.
What the quote includes
| Line in the quote | What it is |
|---|---|
| Nightly rate × nights | The apartment's price for your dates, with weekly (7+ nights) or monthly (28+ nights) discounts already applied |
| Cleaning | The cleaning fee for the stay |
| 5% VAT | UAE value-added tax |
| Dubai Tourism Dirham | The per-night tourism fee set by Dubai for licensed stays |
| Booking fee | None — nothing is added on top |
| Security deposit | Refundable; the amount is shown before payment |
Discounts for longer stays are set per apartment and applied automatically, so you never need to ask for them. For stays of a month or more, see our monthly rental guide.
What's included in the stay
- A furnished apartment with a kitchen, in a DET-registered Holiday Home.
- Electricity, water and Wi-Fi — no utility accounts to set up.
- Support from the on-the-ground team for check-in, cleaning and maintenance.
Ask before booking about anything specific to your trip — a cot, a workspace, parking or a particular view — so the answer is in writing before you pay.
Documents and check-in registration
Every holiday home in Dubai is registered with DET, and each stay has to be registered too. That's why, before arrival, we ask for passport or ID details for the guests. It's a legal requirement, not a formality: send them as soon as you can, especially for large groups or arrivals on busy dates. Our DET-licensed Holiday Homes guide explains the licence in more detail.
Check-in and check-out times
| Standard | Changes | |
|---|---|---|
| Check-in | From 15:00 | Earlier by request, for an hourly fee, subject to availability |
| Check-out | By 11:00 | Later by request, for an hourly fee, subject to availability |
On peak dates such as New Year, apartments often turn over the same day, so early and late requests are harder to confirm — see our New Year's Eve and peak season guide.
Why book direct with RentalHo
- Up to 12% below the OTA price for the same dates.
- An itemized quote before payment, with no booking fee on top.
- You deal directly with the team that runs the apartment, not a platform in between.
Browse Dubai Marina apartments or JBR apartments.
Frequently asked questions
How to find short term rentals in Dubai?
Look for licensed DET Holiday Homes, either on OTAs such as Airbnb and Booking.com or direct with the operator, which skips the OTA fee. Before paying, check that the unit is registered with DET, the full total with cleaning, VAT and the Tourism Dirham, the location for your trip, and the check-in and check-out rules.
How do I book a holiday home in Dubai directly?
Choose your dates and guests on the operator's website, open the apartment, review the itemized quote and pay online by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. You receive a confirmation, then send the guests' passport or ID details for DET registration before arrival.
What fees are included in a Dubai holiday home quote?
The nightly rate (with any weekly or monthly discount), cleaning, 5% VAT and the Dubai Tourism Dirham, each shown as a separate line before payment. With RentalHo there's no booking fee on top, and the refundable security deposit is also shown before you pay.
What documents do I need to check in to a Dubai holiday home?
Passport or ID details for the guests, sent before arrival. Holiday homes are registered with Dubai's Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), and each stay must be registered with the guests' details.
Is there a security deposit for Dubai holiday homes?
Usually, yes. At RentalHo the deposit is refundable and its amount is shown before payment, so there are no surprises at check-in.
What are the check-in and check-out times?
Check-in is from 15:00 and check-out is by 11:00. Early check-in and late check-out are available by request for an hourly fee, subject to availability.
Do I get a discount for a longer stay?
Yes. Each apartment has its own weekly and monthly discount, applied automatically in the quote for stays of 7+ and 28+ nights — you don't need to ask or use a code.
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