DEWA move-in: connecting water and electricity for a new tenancy
A tenancy is not really live until the power and water are on. Knowing how the DEWA move-in works keeps handover smooth and avoids surprises on both sides.
What DEWA is
DEWA — the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority — is the sole utility for water and power in mainland Dubai. Every occupied unit needs an active DEWA account, and the account is opened by whoever will occupy and pay for the property: usually the tenant, or the owner if they live in it themselves.
The deposit and fees
Opening a new connection involves a refundable security deposit and small one-off activation charges:
- Refundable deposit: around AED 2,000 for an apartment and AED 4,000 for a villa
- Activation / connection fee: roughly AED 100–130 for a standard residential meter (higher for large villas)
- A small knowledge-and-innovation fee, plus 5% VAT on the charges
The deposit is held for the duration of the tenancy and refunded once the account is closed and the final bill is settled. Because the account is normally in the tenant’s name, the tenant typically pays and reclaims this deposit — not the landlord.
You need Ejari first
A tenant generally cannot activate DEWA without a valid Ejari certificate — the registered tenancy contract. An owner-occupier registers instead against the title deed. This is one practical reason to get the lease registered promptly at the start of a tenancy.
The housing fee to be aware of
Dubai’s housing fee (a municipality charge, commonly cited at 5% of the annual rental value for tenants) is billed monthly through the DEWA bill, not separately. It is a tenant charge in a normal residential let, but it is worth understanding so neither side is surprised when it appears on the statement.
Pillar OS keeps the Ejari, tenancy dates and documents for each unit together, so when a tenant needs their Ejari to switch DEWA on, it is one click away rather than a search through your files.