Best Operator in the UAE
The UAE's most complete operator across the 2025–2026 performance period (to 1 September 2026) — numbers, growth, compliance and guest outcomes that hold up under examination. The headline award.
What we value
The UAE's most complete operator across the 2025–2026 performance period (to 1 September 2026). Not the biggest, not the flashiest — the one whose numbers, growth, compliance, and guest outcomes hold up under examination. This is the headline award.
Open to
Any licensed UAE short-term rental operator with at least twelve months of operation as of 31 May 2026.
What entrants submit
Number of units under management at 1 September 2026. Year-on-year growth in units and revenue. Portfolio-wide ADR for the performance period (1 Jan 2025 – 1 Sept 2026). Reviews score (average and source). Website. A 500-word narrative on what made the 2025–2026 period distinctive.
How we verify
The STR Club cross-checks submitted claims against AirDNA, PriceLabs, DET data, and public sources. Operators are not required to submit evidence packs. Where a claim cannot be substantiated, the operator is asked to clarify before the jury sees the entry.
How we pick the winner
The jury reviews submitted claims and The STR Club's verification side by side. Decision weighs absolute performance against growth, guest outcomes, and operational discipline. The most complete operator wins.
One-win rule
An operator may win Best Operator in the UAE and the size category that matches its portfolio — Best Boutique, Best Mid-Size, or Best Scale Operator. An operator can win only one size category, determined by unit count.