Anyone who rents a home in Dubai needs electricity and water after registering the contract in Ejari. In Dubai one body provides both: the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA). This article is based on three DEWA service pages: "Activation of Electricity/Water (Move-in)", "Deactivation of Electricity/Water (Move-out)" and "Transfer of Electricity/Water (Move-to)". All three pages were updated on 1 January 2026 and checked on 25 October 2026.
The link with Ejari
DEWA says the electricity and water activation is digitally linked with the Dubai Land Department: once Ejari is issued through real estate management companies or authorised Land Department offices, the tenant's and property's details reach DEWA automatically. DEWA then sends a welcome email and SMS with the new account number, the deposit amount and a payment link. DEWA's FAQ says there is no need to make a separate request or hand in documents for this; to issue Ejari, only the 9-digit premise number displayed on the door of each unit is needed. The article "Registering a tenancy contract in Dubai (Ejari)" explains the step before this.
This automatic link applies only to tenancy contracts with an Ejari certificate. Owners and residents of free zones exempt from Ejari have to apply through the DEWA website or app.
Documents
| Applicant | Document |
|---|---|
| Tenant | A valid Ejari number |
| Tenant in a free zone | A valid tenancy contract |
| Owner | Title deed or sales purchase agreement |
| GCC nationals and investors | Passport image or Emirates ID number |
| Businesses not registered with the Department of Economic Development | Trade licence |
Move-in fees
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Deposit for a residential flat | AED 2,000 |
| Deposit for a residential villa | AED 4,000 |
| Deposit for non-residential premises | Based on that premises' consumption |
| Connecting electricity and water, small meter | AED 125 |
| Connecting electricity and water, large meter | AED 300 |
| Registration | AED 10 |
| Knowledge fee | AED 10 |
| Innovation fee | AED 10 |
DEWA explains that a small meter is a directly connected meter, single-phase or three-phase, and a large meter is one connected through current or voltage transformers. Most residential flats and villas have small meters, but check your property's meter type in the DEWA email. Holders of the "Thukher" card (senior citizens aged 60 and over) and the "Sanad" card (people of determination) among UAE nationals get a 50% discount on the activation charges. Owners' deposits are refunded only when the property is sold.
Connection time
DEWA says electricity and water are connected within 15 working hours of paying the deposit. DEWA's working hours are Monday to Saturday, 7 am to 8 pm. If the supply is not connected in that time, DEWA's Customer Care Centre on 04-601 9999 can help.
Moving out and the deposit refund
When you leave the home, the "Deactivation of Electricity/Water (Move-out)" service applies:
| Subject | DEWA rule |
|---|---|
| Precondition | All previous bills must be paid in full |
| Disconnection fee, small meter | AED 125 |
| Disconnection fee, large meter | AED 300 |
| Knowledge and Innovation fees | AED 10 + 10 |
| Disconnection time | Within 24 working hours of the date and time you choose |
| Final bill | Within 24 working hours of disconnection, by email and SMS |
| Clearance certificate | Sent automatically after the final bill is paid |
| Deposit refund method | Bank account (IBAN), cheque, transfer to another active account, or apply later |
If you choose a refund to a bank account, bank proof with the IBAN must be attached, and the account holder's name must exactly match the customer name registered with DEWA. DEWA has also linked this service to Ejari: when the owner requests the cancellation of Ejari, DEWA sends the tenant of a single-premise residential property a link to settle the balance and choose the refund method.
Moving within Dubai
If you move from one home to another in Dubai, the "Move-to" service disconnects the old home and connects the new one in one go and transfers the deposit from the old account to the new one. If the new home's deposit is higher, for example from a flat to a villa, you have to pay the difference before submitting the request. This service's page gives the connection and disconnection fees for a small meter as AED 112.5 each, plus AED 10 registration for the connection and AED 10 + 10 Knowledge and Innovation fees for each. A move is possible only within the same category, that is from residential to residential, and no move-out disconnections take place on Sundays or public holidays.
Two examples
These examples are hypothetical and only put the official fees above side by side.
**Example 1: a new tenant of a flat.** A family rents a flat with a small meter and receives DEWA's email after Ejari is issued.
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Deposit (refundable) | AED 2,000 |
| Connection, small meter | AED 125 |
| Registration, Knowledge and Innovation | AED 30 |
| Total paid at move-in | AED 2,155 |
At move-out, AED 125 disconnection fee and AED 20 Knowledge and Innovation fees, AED 145 in total, plus consumption up to the disconnection day, are settled through the final bill, and the deposit is returned by the method you chose.
**Example 2: moving from a flat to a villa.** The same family moves after a year to a villa with a small meter in Dubai.
| Line | Calculation | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit difference | 4,000 − 2,000 | AED 2,000 |
| Connecting the new home | 112.5 + 10 + 10 + 10 | AED 142.5 |
| Disconnecting the old home | 112.5 + 10 + 10 | AED 132.5 |
| Total | — | AED 2,275 |
Any outstanding bills for the old home must be settled before the request.
Practical points
- When registering Ejari, give a correct email and mobile number; DEWA's welcome email and payment link go to them.
- If the welcome email does not arrive, apply through the DEWA website or app with your Ejari number; with a valid Ejari number no other document is needed.
- For a quick deposit refund, choose a bank account in your own name.
- Pay the bills regularly; moving out and moving are not done while there is a balance due.
- If you move to another emirate, check that emirate's electricity and water authority.
Royal Golden does not give legal or real estate advice. This article is general information, and the decision on any account rests with the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority.
Sources
- Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), Activation of Electricity/Water (Move-in) — https://dewa.gov.ae/en/consumer/supply-management/activation-of-electricity-water-move-in (checked on 25 October 2026)
- Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), Deactivation of Electricity/Water (Move-out) — https://dewa.gov.ae/en/consumer/supply-management/deactivation-of-electricity-water-move-out (checked on 25 October 2026)
- Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), Transfer of Electricity/Water (Move-to) — https://dewa.gov.ae/en/consumer/supply-management/transfer-of-electricity-water-move-to (checked on 25 October 2026)