DEWA, the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, is the only provider of mains power and water in Dubai, and opening an account is refreshingly quick. Apply online, pay the deposit and connection fee, and electricity is usually flowing the same or next working day.
The catch is the prerequisite: DEWA will not activate anything without an Ejari number, the proof that your tenancy contract is registered. If your lease is not registered yet, do that first using our Ejari registration guide, because everything below depends on it.
What you need before applying
- Ejari number for the unit
- Emirates ID (or passport plus the ID application receipt if you are brand new)
- DEWA premises number, a nine or ten digit code printed near the unit's meter or on any old bill; the agent or landlord will have it
- A payment card for the deposit and fees
The refundable security deposit is around AED 2,000 for an apartment and AED 4,000 for a villa, plus a connection and registration fee of roughly AED 100 to 300 depending on the meter setup. Confirm the current figures on dewa.gov.ae, as fees are updated from time to time.
How to activate: step by step
- Apply online at dewa.gov.ae, on the DEWA app, or through DubaiNow. The service is called "Activation of Electricity and Water" (move-in).
- Enter the Ejari number and premises number, upload your ID, and choose the move-in date.
- Pay the deposit and fees by card. Keep the receipt; the deposit comes back when you close the account.
- Wait for activation, typically within 24 hours on working days, often the same day. No visit or appointment is needed for standard flats.
If you arrived recently, this step slots into week three of our first 30 days checklist, right after the lease is signed and registered.
Understanding your first bill
DEWA bills monthly and the bill usually contains more than electricity and water:
- Electricity and water consumption, charged on slab tariffs that rise with usage, plus a fuel surcharge that moves with fuel prices.
- Housing fee, charged by Dubai Municipality at 5% of your annual rent divided over 12 months, collected through the DEWA bill. On an AED 80,000 rent that is about AED 333 per month, and newcomers regularly mistake it for expensive electricity.
- Sewerage and irrigation fees, small fixed charges.
What the DEWA bill does not include: district cooling (chiller). In many towers, air conditioning is billed separately by companies such as Emicool or Tabreed, with their own deposits and monthly bills that can run several hundred dirhams in summer. Ask whether a unit is "chiller-free" (cooling paid by the landlord) before signing; it changes the real rent materially. Our cost of living guide shows typical utility totals by household size.
A rough benchmark: a one-bedroom flat with moderate AC use lands around AED 400 to 800 per month on the DEWA bill including the housing fee, higher in July and August.
Moving out: closing the account and getting the deposit back
- Request "move-out" (deactivation) online or in the app, ideally two or three days before handover, choosing your final day.
- DEWA takes a final reading and issues a closing bill.
- The deposit is refunded after the final bill is settled, normally within a few working days to your card or bank account.
- Keep the clearance, because landlords ask for it before releasing your security deposit, as covered in our deposit rules guide.
Do not simply stop paying and leave. An open account keeps billing the housing fee in your name, and unpaid DEWA balances surface later at the worst possible time.
Key takeaway
DEWA setup is Ejari number plus deposit plus one online form: around AED 2,000 for a flat, AED 4,000 for a villa, and power within a day. Budget for the 5% housing fee on every bill, check whether your building has separate chiller charges, and close the account properly when you leave to recover the deposit.
FAQ
Can I set up DEWA without Ejari?
No. The Ejari number is mandatory for residential activation. Register the tenancy first; it takes under a day online and costs around AED 220.
How much is the DEWA deposit and do I get it back?
Around AED 2,000 for apartments and AED 4,000 for villas, plus a small connection fee. It is fully refundable after your final bill is settled when you close the account.
Why is my DEWA bill so high?
Check the breakdown. The 5% municipality housing fee is often a third of the total, and summer AC usage doubles consumption in many homes. If your building bills chiller separately, that arrives as a second invoice entirely.
How fast is activation?
Standard flats are activated within 24 hours of payment, often the same working day. Villas or units with disconnected meters can take slightly longer.
