Hotels, boutique stays and holiday homes in the UAE compete on location, reviews and price, and they lose a large share of revenue to platform commissions. Software that handles the whole guest journey, from the website booking to check-out and the invoice, helps small properties compete.

A direct booking website

The most valuable feature for many properties is a booking engine on their own website: live availability, room photos, rates, a secure payment step and an instant confirmation. Guests who book direct cost you no commission, and you keep their email and phone number for offers. Our hotel CMS includes a branded website and booking engine.

Rates and availability

  • Seasonal rates for peak months, winter, school holidays and Eid.
  • Weekday and weekend pricing.
  • Minimum stay rules, promotions and corporate rates.
  • Room types, extra beds and add-ons such as breakfast or airport pick-up.

Taxes and fees

Hotel bills in the UAE can include several line items: the room rate, service charge where applied, municipality or tourism fees that differ by emirate, and 5% VAT. In Dubai, a per-room, per-night Tourism Dirham fee also applies, with the amount depending on the hotel’s class. Your system must itemise these correctly on the folio and the tax invoice, and keep the rates editable because authorities update them. See our invoice checklist.

Front desk and housekeeping

  1. Check-in and check-out with guest ID capture where required.
  2. Room status board: clean, dirty, inspected, out of order.
  3. Housekeeping tasks assigned and tracked from a phone.
  4. Maintenance requests linked to the room.
  5. Folio for extra charges, posted to the final invoice.

Payments and deposits

Take a deposit at booking, the balance on arrival or at check-out, and record every payment against the reservation. Support cards and Apple Pay online, and cash or card at the desk. Read our payments guide.

Reports that matter

  • Occupancy, average daily rate and revenue per available room.
  • Booking source mix: direct, platforms, walk-in.
  • Cancellations and no-shows.
  • Daily cash and card report for the accountant.
  • VAT and tourism fee totals per period.

Guest communication

Automatic confirmation, pre-arrival information, directions and a review request after the stay make a small property feel professional. Use email and WhatsApp, in English and Arabic where your guests expect it.

Key takeaways

  • Take direct bookings on your own website to avoid commissions.
  • Set seasonal and weekend rates, minimum stays and promotions once, and reuse them.
  • Itemise room rate, fees and 5% VAT correctly on every folio and invoice.
  • Track housekeeping and maintenance by room from a phone.
  • Record deposits and balances against each reservation.
  • Review occupancy, average rate and booking source every week.

How Crafts Software can help

Our hotel CMS combines a direct-booking website, room and rate management, guest records, invoices and reports, installed on your own server and branded for your property. We customise the fees and tax lines to your emirate.

This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules and thresholds change, so confirm current requirements with the relevant authority or a licensed adviser before you act.

Need software built around how your UAE business really works? Tell us what you need or browse our software and request a demo. We customise, install and support it.