German expat makes six-figure annual income from letting properties on Airbnb

Christian rents out his plush home on The Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, as well as a place in Florida and a ski chalet in Austria.

DUBAI // At first glance, Airbnb may seem tailored to travellers seeking bargain rooms to crash for the night.

But for one Dubai resident, the website is the source of a six-figure annual income, attracting "VIP" guests willing to pay top dollar.

Christian, who did not give his family name, said he makes a “six-digit” dollar sum each year renting out his homes through Airbnb.

The German expatriate has three properties listed on the website, and another rental home that is being refurbished.

They include a three-bedroom, waterfront villa on The Palm Jumeirah, which is available to rent for Dh3,760 a night. For that you get use of a private pool, driver, chef, maid service and cars.

“I would have expected the clients to have mainly been backpackers the bargain hunters,” Christian said. “But it’s absolutely not the case. We have high-profile people, even VIPs, renting our properties through Airbnb.”

He also rents out a four-bedroom home in Florida for Dh937 a night and a ski chalet in Austria for Dh1,091, both on Airbnb.

“It is a fantastic platform,” Christian said. “I have been doing this business for so long and it has really revolutionised it.

“All the money transactions are going through Airbnb. You can literally manage the properties from the iPhone app. It doesn’t matter where you are.”

Christian’s primary residence is in Dubai but he also rents that out when he travels.

He is not worried about security because he has staff based permanently at the property who keep an eye on it for him.