Moving house in the UAE: DEWA connection costs and deposits

The short version

Moving into a new home in Dubai means opening or transferring a DEWA account before you can turn the lights on. There is a refundable security deposit and a handful of smaller one-off activation charges, and both are now confirmed directly against DEWA's own service page.

The security deposit

DEWA's own move-in service page confirms the security deposit figures already reported by Gulf News and Bayut: Dh2,000 for an apartment and Dh4,000 for a villa. If you are moving from a smaller home to a larger one, you may only need to pay the difference between the two deposit tiers rather than a fresh deposit in full, according to Gulf News's explanation.

The refund itself works differently depending on whether you rent or own. A tenant gets the deposit back once the account is closed and any outstanding charges are settled. A property owner only gets it back when the property is sold, not simply by closing the account.

The activation charges

Beyond the deposit, DEWA charges a one-off fee to activate a new connection. DEWA's own move-in page, read directly for this guide, sets this at Dh125 for a small meter or Dh300 for a large meter, plus three flat charges of Dh10 each: a registration fee, a "knowledge fee" and an "innovation fee." For a small meter that totals Dh155, which matches the figure DEWA's own FAQ gives for that case. UAE nationals holding a Thukher or Sanad card get a 50% discount on these activation charges.

This supersedes the earlier position in this guide, which could not read DEWA's page directly and instead reported that Gulf News and Bayut gave incompatible figures for these smaller fees. DEWA's own figures, not either secondary source, are what is stated here now.

What you need to open or transfer an account

Based on Gulf News's description of DEWA's "Move-to" transfer service, you will typically need:

• Your DEWA account login, through UAE Pass or an existing DEWA account.
• Your move-out date from your previous home.
• The mobile number registered under your name with DEWA.
• Your business partner number, found on your DEWA bill.
• The Ejari number and premise number for your new property, from your new tenancy contract.

This describes transferring an existing DEWA relationship. Neither source fetched for this guide set out the specific document list for a first-time account opened by someone with no prior DEWA account, so that scenario is not covered here.

General consumer information only, not legal advice. Rules and regulations can change, so check the latest official guidance for your circumstances.

The practical takeaway

Budget for the Dh2,000 or Dh4,000 deposit plus the Dh155-or-more activation charge, both now confirmed directly on DEWA's own move-in page. If you hold a Thukher or Sanad card, expect half off the activation side. Remember the deposit refund rule differs if you own rather than rent: a tenant gets it back on account closure, an owner only on selling the property.