A Resolution issued by the Abu Dhabi Executive Council now means that all those letting out their homes for holiday rental purposes on platforms such as Airbnb will now have to hold licences.

The new directive, issued to regulate the holiday homes sector in the Emirate, also states that holiday homeowners will be levied a tourism fee amounting to 6 per cent of the guest’s bill.

The Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT) will be the overseeing authority and will collect fees for issuing licenses and for providing services related to holiday homes apart from classifying and controlling of holiday homes, in accordance with the tourism sector’s applicable legislation, according to a statement issued on Sunday.

Image credit: WAM.AE

The Executive Council also approved a decision for DCT to amend the penalty system applicable to tourism facilities in the capital in accordance with the new legislation.

According to the statement, the regulation has been issued with the objective to “enhance the reputation of the emirate as a leading destination for high-quality hospitality, and to ensure that each tourism facility is afforded equal opportunity to attract business.”

Earlier in 2016, Abu Dhabi hotels implemented a new additional fee of 4 per cent of hotel stay bill and AED15 per night per room. In Dubai, the ‘Tourism Dirham Fee’ per room per night of occupancy (for a maximum of 30 consecutive nights) ranges from AED7 to 20 depending on the category/grade of the hotel and in Ras Al Khaimah the charges are AED15 tourism fee per room per night.

Earlier this year, Dubai also issued a new resolution governing holiday homes activity in the emirate.