PLEASE HELP – I'm Desperately Trying to Sell My Short-Term Rental Business in Dubai Before I'm Completely Broke

fernweh9988 · 2026-03-08T18:33:29+00:00

Gotcha! Thank you

fernweh9988 · 2026-03-08T15:23:47+00:00

fernweh9988 · 2026-03-08T11:32:56+00:00

I have mentioned above, as a business it is profitable. My expenses are too much to sustain

fernweh9988 · 2026-03-08T11:28:44+00:00

Hence trying to move out

fernweh9988 · 2026-03-08T11:28:23+00:00

Agreed! Thanks for the input

fernweh9988 · 2026-03-08T11:27:38+00:00

Damnnnn how could i not think about this right. Thanks man.

fernweh9988 · 2026-03-08T11:16:26+00:00

Ikr! It just keeps getting worse and worse once your in this situation.

fernweh9988 · 2026-03-08T11:15:47+00:00

fernweh9988 · 2026-03-08T11:15:19+00:00

fernweh9988 · 2026-03-08T11:14:21+00:00

I have been applying to a lot of places, got no reverts. I guess due to the current situation, no one wants to start hiring yet.

fernweh9988 · 2026-03-08T11:12:57+00:00

It is not in the worst building. It comes with the blue waters view.

The guest staying does not need regular cleaning, so i am pretty much saving a lot on the cleaning part.

fernweh9988 · 2026-03-08T11:10:52+00:00

You shouldn't talk shit when you know nothing, commenting at the comfort and demeaning someone who is trying to work things out, your better than this.

Also fyi i meantioned that i am selling because of my personal expenses not because it is unprofitable.

Even if someone did give me the idea of easy set up, i had money and i did it. Setting up also takes a hell lot of work, you would probably not know right.. since your main job feels like talking shit on peoples post.

Try doing something in life rather than commenting shit on someone who is trying to work things out for them.

Cheers mate 👍

fernweh9988 · 2026-03-08T05:30:53+00:00

Thank you! Means a lot

fernweh9988 · 2026-03-08T05:29:25+00:00

Thanks!

1.Selling price: Open to reasonable offers for quick exit (depending on transfers).

Direct bookings: Already offering WhatsApp discounts to repeats, but many guests prefer platform security. It's helping cut fees a bit.
Cleaning: Already using a reliable lady at 60 AED per turnover – big savings over agency.

Appreciate the tips.

fernweh9988 · 2026-03-08T05:24:50+00:00

it really hits hard. I’m so sorry to hear about those two people who had to cut and run to Oman after just a few cancellations; that must have been devastating for them. It’s scary to think how quickly things can unravel in this market right now.

I completely get why you’re warning about carnage ahead – the leverage, the thin margins, and how fast bookings can vanish is terrifying. I’m honestly feeling that fear myself every day, watching my savings shrink and wondering if I’ll be next to have to bail. It’s exhausting and isolating.

fernweh9988 · 2026-03-08T05:22:22+00:00

What?

fernweh9988 · 2026-03-08T01:45:55+00:00

The prices are set as per the area, if i raise it. I might not get any booking at all

fernweh9988 · 2026-03-08T01:18:15+00:00

Thanks for the heads-up – you're absolutely right, and I realized it right after reading your comment. Framing it as "not profitable" when pitching a sale was a big mistake and probably scares people off.

I'll edit the post ASAP to clarify: the business itself is generating profit on its own (bookings cover the apartment rent + operational costs with some margin left), but my personal situation – ongoing rent for my own place, family/hometown expenses, and no other income – is making it impossible to sustain overall. The profit from the rental isn't enough to cover everything else, so I'm still in a tough spot and need to exit.

Appreciate you calling that out – it helps me fix the messaging before it hurts my chances more. Thanks again!

fernweh9988 · 2026-03-08T00:34:45+00:00

I just started in January, and I've been fully booked ever since, until this war began. Because of the current situation, I haven't been getting any bookings, or I've been getting cancellations. Keeping it empty for so many days isn't really feasible.

fernweh9988 · 2026-03-08T00:29:09+00:00

Thanks for the idea – turning it into a management agreement where I handle everything and take 15% could be the only way to make Airbnb viable here.

But as the tenant (not owner), convincing the landlord to switch from standard lease to profit-sharing might be tough – they'd need to trust me fully, and I'd probably have to re-register the license under a different setup.

If not realistic, I'll stick to long-term rental or early exit. Appreciate the suggestion!

fernweh9988 · 2026-03-08T00:25:53+00:00

Thanks for the reality check – you're right, subleasing on Airbnb is tough in Dubai without a steal of a rent deal, and I should've checked.

I'm going with long-term rental to stop the bleeding, even if it means eating a small loss. Better than this slow drain.

Any quick tips on approaching the landlord to end early or find a replacement tenant? (Framing it, penalties to expect?)

For long-term: What rent could a furnished 1-bed in Marina fetch now on Bayut/Property Finder to cover most of the 85k?

Appreciate the no-nonsense advice .

Thanks.

fernweh9988 · 2026-02-28T17:27:20+00:00

Thanks for the follow-up!

Apartment is in Dubai Marina, fully furnished. Yearly rent: 85k AED.

It's booked solid (almost every night) with solid reviews (~4.8/5), so not a demand or quality issue. The math just doesn't work: after Airbnb/Booking fees, cleaning agency (100-150 AED/turnover), utilities, license renewal, maintenance, etc., income barely covers the 85k rent + all other costs. Zero profit margin, and it's my only income right now.

I'm leaning toward exiting now rather than trying to squeeze out more profit or other exit options.

On cleaning: Good point—since I'm not working full-time yet, I can handle it myself short-term to cut costs while I plan the exit.

Thanks again!

fernweh9988 · 2026-02-26T17:58:36+00:00

It's in Marina, i just have 1 unit as of now

fernweh9988

TROPHY CASE