Travel/Tourism
Dubai’s Holiday Home Market Outpaces Other Global Cities in Quality, Services
The holiday home market is heating up in Dubai, with significant growth driven by the increasing influx of foreign and Arab tourists opting for the high level of service that the emirate provides in this sector.
Despite the fact that it was launched by the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) only recently, the emirate’s holiday home sector has gained ground in record time.
The concept of holiday homes in the UAE is focused on furnished accommodation that is rented as a whole unit on a daily, weekly, monthly or annual basis and registered with DTCM by licensed operators.
“International platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com have contributed significantly to familiarising customers with holiday home services for tourism or business purposes,” said Dr Ahmed Samerai, founder of leading holiday home operator Al Bahar Downtown, which is ranked number one on Booking.com for preferred holiday homes based on guest reviews.
He added, “Dubai’s licensed holiday homes offer better quality and services than those in many other cities around the world. Most of the units in the emirate are located in modern buildings with swimming pools and gyms; in other cities, vacation apartments tend to be older without the features and facilities that are so widely available in Dubai.”
Dr Samerai explained that there are more than 2,000 units in Dubai promoted by the main hospitality booking platforms, and this figure is expected to increase annually by a minimum of 15 per cent.
“The demand for long-term rentals is slowing down and there is an oversupply of apartments. Many owners prefer to turn their apartments into holiday homes run by licensed companies until the long-term rental market improves. This option allows them to meet their financing obligations and cover service fees and the charges for chilled water, which are typically paid by landlords.”
Holiday homes are facing stiff competition from hotels that are reducing their rates and offering incentive packages, including free meals. This means that holiday home providers must lower their prices in order to attract customers. In the long-term, this may have a negative effect on the sector’s ability to provide quality services and undertake necessary renovations.
Dr Samerai commented that holiday homes – one of the many services offered by the government of Dubai – provide visitors to the emirate with a broader range of accommodation options, saying, “Clear regulation and oversight are likely to boost this sector’s competitiveness, transparency and safety and enhance service levels.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has announced plans to introduce V-Pass, a biometric facial recognition system designed to make passenger processing faster, safer and more seamless across its domestic airports.
According to FAAN, the new technology will allow passengers to verify their identities through facial recognition after a one-time enrolment, reducing reliance on physical identification documents and shortening queues through automated electronic gates.
The authority said the system is expected to enhance airport security while improving the overall travel experience for domestic passengers.
FAAN added that V-Pass has been developed with data privacy at its core and is compliant with the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR).
The agency described the initiative as part of its commitment to delivering smarter, technology-driven airport services and said nationwide sensitisation and rollout updates would be announced in due course.
Airports in countries including the United States, the United Kingdom, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates already deploy facial recognition technology for processes such as check-in, security screening, immigration and boarding, so the move also aligns Nigeria’s aviation sector with a growing global trend towards contactless travel.
These systems have been adopted to improve operational efficiency, strengthen security and enhance the overall passenger experience.
For FAAN, the deployment of V-Pass forms part of its broader digital transformation agenda aimed at modernising airport operations and accommodating rising passenger traffic.
Experts say that beyond improving convenience, the authority expects the biometric platform to strengthen identity verification, reduce the risk of impersonation and support more efficient airport security, while maintaining compliance with data protection.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
About 14.12 per cent stake in Ikeja Hotel Plc has been acquired by Honeywell Group Limited, a notice on the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) Limited has revealed.
Honeywell Group took up the part of the hospitality firm through one of its affiliates known as HGL Real Estate Limited.
Ikeja Hotel, in the disclosure filed with the NGX on July 2, 2026, said the stake comprised 305,323,525 units of its equities.
“Ikeja Hotel hereby notifies the Nigerian Exchange Limited and the general public that it has received notification from HGL Real Estate Limited, an affiliate of Honeywell Group Limited, that it has acquired 305,323,525 units of Ikeja Hotel Plc’s shares, representing 14.12 per cent shareholding in the company,” the notice stated.
Ikeja Hotel is one of Nigeria’s leading hospitality investment and hotel management companies with premium hospitality assets.
It operates two leading hospitality organisations in Lagos, the Sheraton Lagos Hotel and Balmoral Convention Centre.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
About 10 hospitality establishments, including hotels and restaurants, were sealed on Wednesday by officials of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA).
The affected businesses are located in different locations in the Alimosho Local Government Area of the metropolis, Business Post learned from a statement from the agency.
It was stated that they were sealed by LASEPA for persistent violations of environmental regulations despite repeated warnings, abatement notices, and several opportunities to comply with the agency’s directives.
According to the notice, the enforcement exercise was carried out in line with the directives of the Lagos State government to ensure strict compliance with environmental laws and to safeguard public health.
The affected facilities were said to have breached various environmental regulations, including noise pollution, air pollution, unlawful discharge of untreated effluent, obstruction of official duties, among others.
LASEPA closed the premises of Granduer Meridian at Obasa Akiniyi Street, Oluwaga, Ipaja for non-compliance with the agency’s directives; Lasola (Spazio Bar), located on Ipaja Road, Fatolu Bus Stop, Ipaja, was sealed for noise pollution and non-compliance with directives; Millennium Restaurant, located at Gate Bus Stop, Ipaja, Ayobo, was shut down for non-compliance with directives; O2 Exquisite Suites & Tower on Jimoh Akinremi Street, Jimoh Bus Stop, Akowonjo, was sealed for non-compliance with directives; and Chirozz Hotel & Suites, located on Samuel Street, Akowonjo, by Vulcanizer Bus Stop, Egbeda, was closed for noise pollution and non-compliance with directives.
In addition, House 7 Hotel, located at Remi Akande Street, Egbeda, was sealed for non-compliance with LASEPA’s directives; House 48 on Isiba Oluwo Street, Egbeda, was sealed for non-compliance with directives; Exclusive Hotel, located at Ishan Kimishe, Akesan Bus Stop, was shut down by non-compliance with directives; Sabola Ventures Limited, Iocated at Km 11, LASU–Isheri Road, Igando, was shut down for operating without evidence of an Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP), and discharging untreated effluent into public drains; and City Int’l Motel, located at Chief Olu-Adegbite Street, off Oladun Street, Council Bus Stop, Idimu, was sealed for non-compliance with directives.
