Light, air conditioning and water from the tap are the first things without which a new apartment in Dubai won’t feel like home. Electricity and water in the emirate are handled by a single operator — DEWA (Dubai Electricity and Water Authority). The good news: connection is fully digital, with no office visits and no paper applications. In this guide we break down how to arrange a move-in (activating the supply), what the security deposit is, how to pay bills and how to get the deposit back when you move out.
What DEWA is
DEWA is a state-owned company, the sole supplier of electricity and water in Dubai. All residential and commercial properties are connected to its networks, and every premises has a unique 9-digit premise number — it is usually shown on a plate by the front door. Services are managed through a personal account on the dewa.gov.ae website and through the DEWA app. More on the operator’s role is on the DEWA page and in the government services section.
What you need for activation (Move-in)
Move-in is the activation of the electricity and water supply at your address. The key point: once you have your Ejari (the official registration of a tenancy contract) or a contract through a licensed management company, the details are passed to the DEWA system. You receive an SMS and a welcome letter with your account credentials and a link to pay the deposit — most often there is no need to submit a separate application.
If activation needs to be started manually (for example, for a new property), the details below will come in handy.
What to prepare
| What you need | What for | Where to get it |
|---|---|---|
| Premise number (9 digits) | Identifying the premises in the DEWA system | Plate by the front door, contract/Ejari |
| Ejari or tenancy contract | Proof of rights to the premises | Management company / DLD office |
| Emirates ID | Identifying the tenant | Residence card |
| UAE Pass (preferable) | Quick login and verification | UAE Pass app |
| Bank card | Paying the deposit and the activation fee | Your bank |
Activation steps
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | You arrange the Ejari / contract — DEWA creates an account |
| 2 | You receive an SMS and a letter with credentials and a payment link |
| 3 | You log in to the DEWA website or app (easier via UAE Pass) |
| 4 | You pay the security deposit and the activation fee |
| 5 | You wait for the supply to switch on — usually within a few working hours |
The security deposit
On activation DEWA holds a refundable security deposit. It is not a charge for the service but a deposit that is returned when you move out. Its amount depends on the type of housing — the sums differ for apartments and villas — and a separate fee for activating the supply is added to it.
The online process: website, app and UAE Pass
All DEWA service management is available remotely:
- The DEWA app (DEWA Smart App) — the main tool: activation, bills, payment, deposit refund requests.
- The dewa.gov.ae website — the same functionality in a browser.
- UAE Pass — the recommended login method for Emirates ID holders: it speeds up identity verification and spares you a separate password.
If you don’t have UAE Pass, you can register an ordinary account with a username and password.
Paying bills
A bill for electricity and water arrives monthly. There are many ways to pay, and almost all of them are digital:
- The DEWA app and website — cards, Apple Pay and Samsung Pay, with instant confirmation.
- AutoPay — automatic deduction; set up in the DEWA app, via Dubai Now or online banking.
- Dubai Now — the single government app for paying utilities and other services.
- EasyPay — payment without logging in (by account number).
AutoPay is especially handy: it protects against late payments and the risk of the supply being cut off.
Transferring when you move (Move-out / Move-in)
When changing apartments, two operations are used together:
| Stage | What you do |
|---|---|
| Move-out (old address) | Deactivate the supply, pay the final bill, request the deposit refund |
| Move-in (new address) | Activate the supply under the new premise number and pay the deposit again |
The DEWA app has a dedicated service for transferring between addresses. The final bill at the old address is calculated from the actual meter readings on the move-out date.
Getting the deposit back when you move out
The security deposit is refunded if there are no outstanding bills. The process is simple: you arrange the move-out, pay the final bill — and request the refund. DEWA has automated the process: the refund can be arranged online or in the app, and the funds are returned to your account (by IBAN), via bank transfer or another chosen method once all debts are cleared.
Conclusion
Connecting electricity and water in Dubai through DEWA is set up logically and almost entirely online. The main things are to arrange the Ejari (the account is then created automatically), to know the premises’ premise number, to pay the refundable security deposit and the activation fee — and before long the apartment will have light and water. Set up AutoPay so you don’t have to track due dates, and when you move don’t forget the move-out / move-in pairing and the deposit refund. Always check the current amounts and details in the DEWA app or on dewa.gov.ae; for other administrative matters see the government services section.
