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Holiday homes and short-term lets in Qatar: the Qatar Tourism licence
Renting your apartment or villa to visitors by the night (Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo) needs a free Holiday Homes licence from Qatar Tourism. Here is who can apply, what the inspection checks, and why tenants must not sublet without the landlord's written consent.
Last reviewed: 13 October 2026
- Who issues it
- Qatar Tourism (Holiday Homes licence)
- Fee
- Free
- Valid for
- 5 years, renewable
- Time
- About a week after a complete application (Qatar Tourism's target)
In Qatar you cannot simply list a spare flat or villa on Airbnb or Booking.com. Renting a home to visitors for short stays counts as a tourism activity, and Qatar Tourism (the government tourism authority) licenses and classifies every holiday home under the tourism law, Law No. 20 of 2018. The licence is free, is valid for five years and covers one unit; owners and tenants with the owner's written authorisation can apply if they are 21 or over and hold a valid Qatar ID. The order is: check that your unit and your building allow it, prepare the unit to the classification standards, fill in the self-assessment checklist, apply online, pass the inspection, then add the licence number to every listing. This guide is for owners and residents thinking of hosting, and for tenants who want to know why subletting their rented flat without consent can cost them their home.
Before you start
- A valid Qatar ID (QID) in the applicant's name; you must be at least 21
- Proof you can use the unit: the title deed (owners) or your registered lease contract (tenants)
- A signed no-objection / authorisation letter from the owner if you are a tenant
- The Qatar Tourism Holiday Homes self-assessment classification checklist, completed for your unit
- Clear photos of the unit: bedroom, living room with TV, dining area, bathroom with accessories, kitchen (microwave, oven, utensils), first aid kit, safe box and fire extinguishers
- Safety kit already installed: fire extinguisher, fire blanket, first aid kit, an in-room safe and a 24-hour emergency contact number for guests
- Written OK from your building or community management if the tower or compound has its own rules on short lets
- A desktop computer (Qatar Tourism recommends a desktop browser for the e-Services portal)
Step by step
Check that your unit can be a holiday home
Qatar Tourism licenses holiday homes owned or run by individuals, not companies. Apartments and other units must be in a designated tourist area, such as The Pearl, Lusail, Katara or Souq Waqif, or in one of the approved integrated complexes; standalone villas can be licensed elsewhere in the country. If you are not sure your building is in a tourist area, call Qatar Tourism's licensing team on 4499 7888 before you spend money furnishing it. The list of areas can grow, so ask rather than guess.
Owner or tenant? Get the right permission
Owners apply with their title deed. Tenants can only apply with a lease in their name and a signed authorisation (no-objection) letter from the owner. Without that letter, renting the flat to guests is subletting: Qatar's rental law (Law No. 4 of 2008) lists subletting or handing the property to someone else without the landlord's written consent as a reason the landlord can ask the Rental Disputes Committee to evict you. Ask for the consent in writing, and keep a copy with your lease.
Read guide: Renting a home in Qatar →Check your building and community rules
Even with Qatar Tourism's licence, a tower or compound can have its own rules on short stays, guest access cards, parking and pools. Freehold developments often run guest registration through their building management. Ask management in writing whether short-term guests are allowed and what they need from you (guest names, key cards, move-in times). Sorting this first avoids guests being turned away at reception.
Read guide: Buying freehold property in Qatar as an expat: step by step →Prepare the unit to the classification standard
Qatar Tourism classifies each unit as an Apartment or a Villa against a Classification Manual. The core criteria are compulsory: working air conditioning and Wi-Fi, a furnished kitchen with fridge, cooker and microwave, beds and clean linen, cleaning and laundry tools, basic toiletries, locks on doors, a fire extinguisher and fire blanket, a first aid kit, and a list of emergency numbers plus a contact who answers 24 hours a day. Extra features (balcony, pool access, accessible rooms) add points but are optional. Fix any broken fittings first, because the inspector checks that things work, not just that they exist.
Read guide: AC servicing in Qatar: what to do, what it costs, and when to book →Fill in the self-assessment checklist
Download the Holiday Homes self-assessment checklist (English or Arabic) from the Holiday Homes page on qatartourism.com and go through it room by room. Be honest: anything you tick must be there on inspection day. The checklist is uploaded with your application and is what the inspector compares against. Take your photos at the same time, in good daylight, showing each item the form asks for.
Apply on the Qatar Tourism e-Services portal
Go to eservices.visitqatar.qa on a desktop browser, create an account or sign in, and start a Holiday Homes application. Enter your details and the unit's address, then upload your QID copy, the deed or lease, the owner's authorisation letter if you are a tenant, the completed checklist and the photos. One application covers both the tourism licence and the unit's classification. There is no fee. If you get stuck, Qatar Tourism offers a callback form and its licensing line, 4499 7888, and the e-Services support email is eservicessupport@visitqatar.qa.
Read guide: Get your Qatar ID (residence permit) →Get ready for the inspection
Once the application is accepted, Qatar Tourism books an inspection, normally with at least a week's notice. The unit must be empty of guests that day. The inspector walks through the checklist; a report follows within about two working days. If something is missing, you usually get a week to fix it, then a re-inspection. If the application is rejected outright, you have to wait three months before applying again.
Receive the licence and display it
When the unit passes, the tourism licence and classification certificate are issued in the portal; Qatar Tourism aims to do this within a week of a complete application. Both must be displayed somewhere visible inside the unit. The licence is valid for five years and covers that one unit only; a second flat needs its own licence. Note the expiry date and set a reminder well before it to renew.
Add the licence number to every listing
Qatar Tourism requires hosts to show the Holiday Homes licence number on their listing. Airbnb, for example, has a licence-number field for Qatar and deactivates Qatar listings without a valid number. Do the same on Booking.com, Vrbo or any other site, and describe the unit accurately: photos, bed count and amenities should match what the inspector saw. A listing that hides the licence number or overstates the unit is one of the easiest ways to get flagged.
Run it properly: guests, house rules, reviews
Give guests clear house rules (noise, smoking, visitors, parking), check-in instructions and your 24-hour contact. Remind foreign guests that Qatar's laws and etiquette apply and that they need the right visa or visa waiver for their stay. Qatar Tourism tracks each licensed unit's guest reviews from many booking platforms as a Guest Experience Index; the minimum is 75%. If the score is low for three months in a row, you get a month to fix the problems, after which the licence can be cancelled. Qatar Tourism can also inspect without warning.
Read guide: Visiting Qatar: visa-free entry, Hayya and visit visas explained →Keep your money and records tidy
Qatar does not tax individuals on personal income, including rent, and Airbnb's Qatar guidance says hosts do not pay a government tax to list a home. Your home country may still tax rental income earned abroad, so keep booking statements and expenses. Payouts go to a bank account in your name; keep the licence, the owner's consent letter and your lease together in case of any dispute.
Read guide: Do expats pay tax in Qatar? Income tax, VAT, business tax and home-country rules →
What it costs
| Holiday Homes licence and classification (Qatar Tourism) | QAR 0 (free) |
| Maximum penalty for renting to visitors without a licence (per Qatar Tourism) | Up to QAR 200,000 fine and/or up to 2 years in prison |
Official fees at the time of review. Fees change, so confirm before paying.
Common mistakes
- Listing on Airbnb or Booking.com first and planning to 'sort the licence later'; Qatar Tourism treats unlicensed letting as an offence and platforms remove listings without a licence number
- Tenants hosting guests without the owner's written consent; this is subletting and can be grounds for eviction under the rental law, as well as a tourism-licence problem
- Assuming every building qualifies; apartments must be in a designated tourist area, so check before buying furniture
- Ticking items on the self-assessment checklist that are not actually in the flat on inspection day
- Forgetting the fire blanket, first aid kit, safe box or 24-hour contact number, which are core requirements
- Ignoring the building's own rules, so guests are refused access cards or parking at reception
- Using one licence for several units; each apartment or villa needs its own
- Letting the 5-year licence expire while bookings are still live
Questions people ask
Is Airbnb legal in Qatar?
Yes, as long as the unit has a Qatar Tourism Holiday Homes licence and the licence number is on the listing. Hosting without one is illegal: Qatar Tourism has said owners renting to visitors without a licence risk up to two years in prison, a fine of up to QAR 200,000, or both. Airbnb deactivates Qatar listings that lack a valid licence number.
I'm an expat renting my flat. Can I put it on Airbnb?
Only with the owner's signed authorisation letter, and then you apply for the licence yourself with your lease and QID. Without the owner's written consent, letting the flat to others is subletting, which Qatar's rental law lists as a ground for eviction. Many standard leases also forbid subletting outright, so read yours first.
Do I have to be Qatari to get a holiday home licence?
Qatar Tourism's own conditions are that you are at least 21 and have a valid QID, and that owners and authorised tenants may apply. Some news articles say only Qatari owners qualify, so if you are a resident expat, confirm your case with Qatar Tourism (4499 7888) before applying. Licences are for individuals, not companies.
I live abroad and own a flat at The Pearl. Can a friend or agent manage it for me?
The application needs a valid Qatar ID, and Qatar Tourism's guidance has said overseas property managers cannot run listings from abroad. An option is a Qatar-resident tenant or manager who holds your signed authorisation and applies in their own name; check with Qatar Tourism how they want that set up.
How much does the licence cost and how long does it last?
The licence is free. It is valid for five years and can be renewed. Qatar Tourism aims to issue it within about a week once the application is complete and the inspection is passed.
What does the inspector check?
That the unit matches your self-assessment and meets the core criteria for an apartment or villa: working AC and Wi-Fi, a kitted-out kitchen, clean beds and linen, toiletries, locks, a fire extinguisher, fire blanket, first aid kit, safe box and an emergency contact. The unit must be empty of guests. If something is missing you normally get a week to fix it before a re-inspection.
Do I pay tax on Airbnb income in Qatar?
Qatar has no personal income tax for individuals, and Airbnb's Qatar FAQ says hosts don't pay a government tax to list a home. Your home country may still tax rental income, so check its rules if you are not tax-resident only in Qatar.
As a guest, how do I know a holiday home is legal?
Look for the Qatar Tourism licence number on the listing and the licence and classification certificate displayed inside the unit. A licensed host must give you a 24-hour contact. If something is seriously wrong (safety, cleanliness, the place does not match the listing), raise it with the platform and you can contact Qatar Tourism.
Official sources
- Qatar Tourism: Holiday Homes licence (conditions, documents, checklist and manuals) ↗
- Qatar Tourism e-Services portal (apply online) ↗
- Qatar Tourism press release: free licence, 5-year validity, inspections and penalties ↗
- Qatar Tourism: Holiday Homes Classification Manual (Arabic, PDF) ↗
- Airbnb Help: Responsible hosting in Qatar (licence number on listings) ↗
- Gulf Times: Qatar Tourism issues regulations on holiday home rentals ↗
Always check the official source before acting. QatarSteps is independent and not a government website.