This guide is for reference. Deposits, tariffs, and plan prices change — verify current figures at dewa.gov.ae and the providers' own sites before budgeting.
The utilities stack, in one view
A UAE home typically has four separate accounts: electricity + water (DEWA in Dubai), cooling (sometimes bundled, sometimes a separate chiller company), gas (cylinder or piped), and internet. None of them transfer automatically from the previous tenant — you open each in your own name after Ejari registration.
DEWA — electricity and water (Dubai)
DEWA (Dubai Electricity and Water Authority) covers both power and water on one account.
Activation ("Move-in"):
- Get your Ejari certificate first — DEWA's system pulls the property details from it, and since the Ejari integration, activation is often pre-processed automatically.
- Apply in the DEWA app or website ("Activation of Electricity/Water"), customer type Expatriate, with your Ejari number and Emirates ID.
- Pay the refundable security deposit — AED 2,000 for an apartment, AED 4,000 for a villa — plus an activation fee of roughly AED 110–155 (the base fee plus small innovation fees and VAT).
- Supply is connected within roughly 24 working hours of payment, often faster.
The deposit comes back when you close the account ("Move-out") and settle the final bill — do this before leaving the country, and keep your IBAN on file for the refund.
Typical bills: an apartment runs roughly AED 300–800/month, spiking in summer; villas considerably more. The bill also carries the housing fee (below).
Other emirates: same concept, different authority — SEWA (Sharjah), EtihadWE (formerly FEWA — most northern emirates), and in Abu Dhabi the distribution companies under ADDC/AADC with Tawtheeq instead of Ejari. Deposits and fees differ; check the relevant authority.
The 5% housing fee (Dubai)
Dubai Municipality charges tenants a housing fee of 5% of annual rent, split into 12 monthly instalments and added to your DEWA bill. On AED 90,000 rent that's AED 375/month on top of consumption. It's often forgotten in budgeting — don't. (Abu Dhabi levies a comparable municipality fee on expat leases via the water/electricity bill; percentage differs.)
District cooling — the "chiller free" trap
Air conditioning is the single biggest energy cost in the UAE, and who pays for it depends on the building:
| Setup | Who pays | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Chiller free | Landlord | Cooling included in rent — no separate cooling bill |
| District cooling (Empower / Emicool / Tabreed) | Tenant | You open an account with the cooling company: deposit (around AED 2,000 for a flat), monthly consumption plus fixed demand charges |
| DEWA-cooled (own A/C units) | Tenant | Cooling is just part of your DEWA electricity |
The trap: a "cheap" listing in a district-cooled tower can cost several hundred dirhams a month more than a chiller-free unit at higher rent, because district cooling bills include fixed capacity ("demand") charges you pay even at low usage. Always ask which setup applies before signing, and if it's Empower/Emicool, ask the previous tenant or agent what the bills ran.
Gas — cylinders vs piped
- Older buildings and villas: bottled gas cylinders delivered by private companies. A cylinder costs roughly AED 100–200 fitted, lasts a typical household months.
- Newer towers: central piped gas with its own provider account, deposit, and monthly billing — or fully electric kitchens with no gas at all.
Ask building management which applies; never let an unregistered vendor swap cylinders.
Internet — a duopoly
Home internet is e& (etisalat) or du — whichever has infrastructure in your building usually decides for you (many buildings are wired for only one; ask the building or check coverage on the providers' sites).
- Typical price: fibre plans commonly land around AED 300–400/month for mainstream speeds, with entry promos sometimes lower and gigabit tiers higher. du often prices slightly below e& at equivalent speeds. Add 5% VAT.
- Contracts: usually 12–24 months with early-exit penalties; check the promo's post-promo price.
- Installation lead time: typically 1–3 working days after document approval (Emirates ID + Ejari), same-day in some areas. Book as soon as you have Ejari — summer move-in without internet or A/C control apps is grim.
- 5G home wireless from both providers is a decent stopgap (no wiring appointment needed) if fibre installation is delayed.
Setup order and checklist
- Ejari registered (everything depends on it)
- DEWA move-in paid — supply live within ~24 working hours
- Cooling account opened if the building is district-cooled (Empower / Emicool)
- Internet booked (1–3 day lead time)
- Gas arrangement confirmed with building management
- All accounts noted for closure later — deposits (DEWA, chiller) are refundable only when you formally close them
For how these bills fit a monthly budget, see the cost of living guide.