Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) has launched an online portal that provides a ‘One-Stop-Shop’ for timeshare operators to register and apply for permits and provide insights and guidance to customers and tourists.
Local media reports said the Timeshare Portal supports the legal framework created by Dubai’s new Timeshare Law.
The portal developed by DET in cooperation with partners allows potential operators to register and submit their applications for timeshare properties, obtain a permit as a licensed timeshare operator, and renew these permits on a yearly basis, local media reports said.
DET said the portal will benefit the tourism ecosystem, strengthen investor confidence in the city and its real estate and hotel offerings. It will speed up the approval process and provide guidance and easy access to the information sought by investors, owners and operators, as well as tourists who wish to use timeshare during their visit to Dubai.
The portal is driven by a partnership between DET and Dubai Land Department (DLD), backed by continuous coordination with Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).
The Timeshare Law, which regulates the timeshare industry, aims to protect the rights of all parties and stimulate further growth across the hospitality, tourism and real estate sectors, the reports said.
In accordance with the Law, DET in collaboration with DLD and DIFC maintains a database of property brokers, developers, establishments and operators. This allows DET to supervise and inspect all facilities to determine and manage all contractual terms and disputes.
DET also regulates timeshare contracts and handles grievances and complaints against any individual or entity involved in timeshare activities in Dubai without obtaining the required permits and approvals.
An important provision of the law is that all new timeshare properties will only be designated as part of new or existing hotel rooms, while all legacy operators will be permitted to continue operations. Under the enhanced system implemented via the portal, no private properties will be given permits to operate timeshares.
Helal Saeed Almarri, Director General of DET, said, “With Dubai safely overcoming global challenges, we continue to explore new pathways for growth, as well as opportunities created by the changing landscape to further diversify our destination proposition.”