Owner guides
Holiday home management fees in Dubai: what to compare before you sign
Updated:
Two operators quoting the same percentage can leave very different amounts in your account. The base the percentage is applied to, what is bundled, what is billed on top and what happens in the first year all change the outcome. Use this guide to read any proposal, including ours.
How fees are usually structured
- A percentage of revenue, which is the most common model; check whether it is applied to gross accommodation revenue or to net revenue after some costs
- A fixed monthly fee, regardless of bookings; predictable, but the operator's incentive to fill the calendar is weaker
- Hybrids and set-up fees: onboarding, photography, furnishing coordination or listing creation charged separately
What should be inside the fee
- Listing creation and ongoing optimisation on Airbnb, Booking.com and other channels
- Dynamic pricing and revenue management
- Guest communication before, during and after the stay
- Check-in coordination and key management
- Scheduling and quality control of cleaning and maintenance
- Owner reporting and statements
- Assistance with DET registration and compliance
What is always separate
Cleaning and laundry, consumables, maintenance and repairs, platform commissions, payment processing, government charges, the Tourism Dirham and VAT where applicable are costs of running the property, not management. Any proposal should list them plainly and explain how they are billed.
Questions to ask any operator
- What exactly is the percentage applied to?
- Is there a set-up fee, a minimum term, or an exit fee?
- Who answers guests, and how fast?
- Who goes to the property when something breaks, and within what time?
- How do I see bookings, revenue and expenses, and how often?
- What is my approval limit for maintenance spending?
- Can I use the property myself?
How DUBIALEZ is priced
One fee of 10% of gross accommodation revenue covers the full management above. External costs are defined in the agreement from day one. The agreement runs for a minimum of 12 months, and eligible first-year official DET fees may be covered under the current offer.
The fee is lower than the market norm because our systems automate the repetitive work (messaging, pricing updates, scheduling, statements), so a small local team can look after more properties without cutting corners. The savings calculator on this site shows what that difference adds up to over several years.
Quick answers
Is a lower fee always better?
Only if the service behind it is complete and the base it is applied to is the same. Compare what is included and how the operator performs on guests, maintenance and reporting, not the percentage alone.
Is the DUBIALEZ fee calculated on gross or net revenue?
On gross accommodation revenue, before deductions, as set out in the management agreement. Tourism Dirham, VAT, refundable deposits and amounts collected purely to pay third parties are not part of the base.
Are there set-up or exit fees?
The terms are stated in the management agreement before you sign; the fee page on this site lists what is included, what is billed separately and the current conditions.
Want this looked at for your property?
A free visit in Dubai: we assess the property on site and explain how we would run it, with no obligation.
Meet us at your property in Dubai. We'll assess its holiday-rental potential and explain our management proposal — free and without obligation.