DEWA Move-In and Move-Out: Activation, Deposit, and Getting Your Refund

A step-by-step guide for anyone moving into or out of a Dubai home who needs to activate a DEWA account, pay the security deposit, and get that deposit back cleanly when they leave.

Here is the short version. To switch on electricity and water in a new Dubai home you open a DEWA account online, pay a refundable security deposit of AED 2,000 for an apartment or AED 4,000 for a villa, plus a small non-refundable connection charge of around AED 130, and supply is usually live within about 24 hours. When you move out you file a move-out request, DEWA takes a final meter reading, settles your last bill against the deposit, and refunds whatever is left to your bank account. As of 2026 that refund is largely automated and can land in minutes rather than days. This guide walks through the documents, the exact fees, the housing fee on your bill, the move-out process, and how the refund actually reaches you.

Use the table below as a quick reference for the money involved at move-in. The figures are the standard residential amounts; commercial premises and large meters cost more.

Charge	Apartment	Villa	Refundable?
Security deposit	AED 2,000	AED 4,000	Yes, on account closure
Connection charge (small meter)	AED 100	AED 300 (large meter)	No
Registration + knowledge + innovation fees	AED 30 total	AED 30 total	No
Typical upfront total	Around AED 2,130	Around AED 4,330	Deposit portion refundable

What DEWA is and who needs an account

DEWA is the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, the sole utility provider for mains electricity and water across the emirate. Every occupied home in Dubai needs an active DEWA account in the occupier’s name, and the meter cannot legally run without one. The person responsible for opening the account is whoever is living in the property, so a tenant opens it in their own name for the duration of the lease, while an owner-occupier opens it against the title deed. If you rent out a property, the tenant holds the DEWA account, not you.

The account is what generates your monthly bill for electricity and water consumption, and it is also the line on which Dubai Municipality collects its housing fee, covered further down. Running costs swing sharply with the seasons because of air conditioning, and a summer bill can be double a winter one. If your consumption looks high, our guide on why your DEWA summer bill is high and how to cut it breaks down where the money goes. Utility costs are a recurring line in the overall cost of living in Dubai, so it is worth budgeting for both the deposit and the ongoing bills before you sign a lease.

Documents you need to activate DEWA

DEWA activation is a document-light process compared with most UAE admin, but you need the right identifiers ready before you start. A tenant activating a move-in typically needs the following, per the DEWA move-in service:

• Emirates ID of the account holder (residents), or a passport copy for GCC nationals and investors.
• Ejari number for tenants, or the title deed for property owners. The Ejari is your registered tenancy contract, and you can pull the number from your certificate. Our guide to downloading your Ejari and tracking its status online shows where to find it.
• DEWA premises number, a unique identifier tied to the physical unit. It is often printed on the previous occupant’s bill, shown in the building handover pack, or available from the landlord or developer.
• A copy of your tenancy contract, which underpins the Ejari registration. If you have not registered yet, read our Dubai tenancy contract guide first, because the DEWA account and the Ejari are linked.

Owners activating a brand-new property, or the first connection to a newly handed-over building, may face an additional first-time connection process and inspection rather than a simple move-in, so check the requirement against the specific premises.

How to activate a DEWA account when you move in

Activation is done entirely online through the DEWA website or the DEWA smart app, and you do not need to visit an office. The core steps are the same whether you use the site or the app.

The online move-in steps

Open the Activation of Electricity and Water (Move-in) service on the DEWA website or app, then work through it in order:

1. Select the move-in service and enter your DEWA premises number so the system identifies the correct unit.
2. Enter the Ejari number (tenants) or title deed details (owners), along with your Emirates ID and contact details.
3. Confirm the account holder details and the requested activation date.
4. Pay the security deposit plus the connection and administrative charges through the online payment channel.
5. Receive confirmation, after which supply is switched on. DEWA states move-in customers can expect activation within roughly 15 hours of payment, and generally within 24 hours for standard online requests.

Once the account is live you are automatically enrolled for electronic billing, so keep your email and mobile number current in the account to receive each month’s bill.

The security deposit and activation fees explained

Two different kinds of money leave your account at move-in, and it matters which is which. The security deposit is fully refundable when you close the account; the connection and administrative charges are one-time and are not returned. According to the DEWA move-in service, the refundable security deposit is AED 2,000 for a residential apartment and AED 4,000 for a residential villa. These amounts have been stable for years, but DEWA can revise them, so confirm the current figure on the official service page before you pay.

On top of the deposit, small residential meters carry a connection charge of around AED 100, plus registration, knowledge, and innovation fees of AED 10 each, which brings the non-refundable portion to roughly AED 130. Large meters, typical of villas, carry a higher connection charge of around AED 300 plus the same AED 30 in fees. Holders of the Thukher (senior Emiratis) and Sanad cards are entitled to a discount on activation charges. The table below separates what you get back from what you do not.

Item	Amount	Type	Notes
Security deposit, apartment	AED 2,000	Refundable	Held against unpaid bills, returned on closure
Security deposit, villa	AED 4,000	Refundable	Higher because villas draw more load
Connection charge	AED 100 (small) / AED 300 (large)	Non-refundable	Depends on meter size
Registration, knowledge, innovation fees	AED 30 total	Non-refundable	AED 10 each, standard on activation

Is there a no-deposit option? For ordinary residential tenants, no. The cash security deposit is required to activate the account. Government entities are exempt, and large commercial or corporate customers can sometimes provide a bank guarantee in place of a cash deposit, but a standard tenant renting an apartment or villa pays the AED 2,000 or AED 4,000 deposit upfront and reclaims it on move-out.

The housing fee (5% of rent) on your DEWA bill

One line on your monthly DEWA bill is not a utility charge at all. Dubai Municipality levies a housing fee equal to 5% of the property’s annual rent, and DEWA collects it on the municipality’s behalf by adding it to your bill in twelve monthly installments. For a home renting at AED 90,000 a year, that is AED 4,500 annually, or AED 375 a month added to your DEWA statement. For owner-occupiers the fee is calculated against the property’s assessed rental value using the RERA rental index rather than a paid rent. This is a genuine recurring cost that catches many new arrivals off guard, so factor it in when you compare the headline rent of two properties.

District cooling is billed separately from DEWA

If your building uses district cooling, your air conditioning is not on your DEWA bill. Providers such as Empower, Emicool, and Tabreed run central chilled-water plants and bill you separately, usually measured in refrigeration ton-hours. They also charge their own deposits and fees that are entirely distinct from DEWA. Empower, for example, applies its own refundable security deposit plus connection and meter charges. When you move in you may therefore need to open two utility accounts and pay two deposits, and when you move out you must close and reclaim both separately. Do not assume closing DEWA cancels your cooling account.

Moving out: how to close your DEWA account

When your tenancy ends you must file a DEWA move-out request. Do not simply stop paying, because the account stays in your name, the bill keeps running, and any arrears are deducted from your deposit or chased later. Closing the account is what stops the meter being your responsibility and triggers the deposit refund. Time the move-out request to your actual handover date so you are not billed for days after you leave, and coordinate it with the end of your lease and, where relevant, the step to cancel your Ejari registration.

The move-out steps

The move-out, or deactivation, request is submitted online through the DEWA website or app, following the Deactivation of Electricity and Water (Move-out) service:

1. Log in and enter your DEWA contract account number and the 9-digit premises number.
2. Verify your identity with the code sent to your registered email or mobile number.
3. Choose the move-out date and time. Supply is deactivated on that date and a final meter reading is taken.
4. Select how you want the deposit refunded, for example a bank transfer to your IBAN, cheque, Western Union, or transfer to another active DEWA account.
5. Settle any outstanding balance shown. The supply is then disconnected, typically within 24 working hours of the selected time.

DEWA issues a final electronic bill, known as the green bill, to your registered email after the closing meter reading. If money is owed, it is deducted automatically from your held deposit, and only the remainder is refunded.

Final bill first, refund second. Your deposit is not returned in full and then billed separately. DEWA settles your last consumption bill against the deposit and refunds the balance. If your final bill is AED 350 and you paid an AED 2,000 apartment deposit, you get roughly AED 1,650 back. Clear any pending charges so the closure is not held up.

Getting your deposit refund and how long it takes

The refund reaches you through the method you selected at move-out. For a direct bank transfer you provide your IBAN and the balance is credited to that account. Historically this took several working days, but DEWA has automated the process heavily. In an April 2026 announcement, DEWA said it had cut the security deposit refund time to about eight minutes, down from four days originally, for the great majority of eligible refunds up to AED 4,000, credited directly to the customer’s IBAN with no human intervention. Even so, a bank transfer can take a few extra business days to appear in your account, and refunds by cheque or Western Union follow their own timelines, so allow a buffer rather than assuming instant receipt in every case.

If you are refunding to an overseas account because you are leaving the country for good, plan the transfer as part of a wider exit. Our checklist for leaving the UAE permanently covers the order in which to close utilities, banking, and residency, and our guide to moving large sums out of the UAE explains how to repatriate the deposit alongside your other funds without hitting compliance snags.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the DEWA security deposit in Dubai?

The refundable DEWA security deposit is AED 2,000 for a residential apartment and AED 4,000 for a residential villa, per the DEWA move-in service. Commercial premises and large meters cost more. The deposit is held against unpaid bills and returned when you close the account. Confirm the current amount on the official DEWA service page before paying, as figures can change.

Is the DEWA deposit refundable?

Yes. The security deposit is fully refundable when you file a move-out request and close the account, minus any unpaid final bill, which DEWA deducts automatically. The connection charge and the registration, knowledge, and innovation fees are one-time and are not refunded. No interest accrues on the deposit while DEWA holds it.

How do I activate a DEWA account when I move in?

Use the Activation of Electricity and Water (Move-in) service on the DEWA website or app. Enter your premises number, Ejari number or title deed, and Emirates ID, then pay the deposit and connection charges online. Supply is usually switched on within about 15 to 24 hours of payment.

What documents do I need to open a DEWA account?

Tenants need their Emirates ID, Ejari number, DEWA premises number, and tenancy contract. Owners provide the title deed instead of the Ejari. GCC nationals and investors can use a passport copy. The premises number is the unique identifier for the unit and is often on the previous bill or in the handover pack.

How long does a DEWA deposit refund take?

DEWA has automated the refund and, as of an April 2026 announcement, processes most eligible refunds up to AED 4,000 in around eight minutes to the customer’s IBAN. A bank transfer may still take a few extra business days to show in your account, and cheque or Western Union refunds follow their own timelines, so allow a short buffer.

What is the housing fee on my DEWA bill?

It is a Dubai Municipality charge equal to 5% of the property’s annual rent, collected through your DEWA bill in twelve monthly installments. For a home renting at AED 90,000 a year it adds about AED 375 a month. Owner-occupiers are assessed on the property’s rental value using the RERA rental index.

How do I close my DEWA account when moving out?

File a move-out request on the DEWA website or app using your contract account number and 9-digit premises number, verify with the code sent to you, choose the move-out date and refund method, and settle any balance. DEWA takes a final meter reading, disconnects supply within about 24 working hours, and issues a final green bill.

Can I transfer my DEWA account to a new home instead of closing it?

Yes. DEWA offers a move-to service that lets you shift your existing account and deposit to a new premises rather than closing one account and opening another. You still update the premises number and provide the new Ejari or title deed, and any deposit difference between an apartment and a villa is adjusted.

Is district cooling included in my DEWA bill?

No. If your building uses district cooling from a provider such as Empower, Emicool, or Tabreed, your air conditioning is billed separately, usually in refrigeration ton-hours, with its own deposit and fees. You open and close that cooling account separately from DEWA, and closing DEWA does not cancel it.

What happens if I leave Dubai without closing my DEWA account?

The account stays in your name and continues to bill, arrears build up against your deposit, and unpaid amounts can follow you. Always file a move-out request before you hand back the property, settle the final bill, and reclaim the deposit. This is a standard step when leaving the UAE and should be done alongside canceling your Ejari and closing other accounts.

Official Sources

• DEWA, Activation of Electricity and Water (Move-in)
• DEWA, Deactivation of Electricity and Water (Move-out)
• DEWA, Security deposit refund time reduced (April 2026)
• DEWA, Green Bill
• The UAE Government Portal (u.ae), Water and electricity
• Dubai Municipality (housing fee)

This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal, financial, or utility advice. Fees, deposit amounts, refund methods, and processing times change and can vary by premises type, meter size, and account status. Verify current requirements and charges directly with DEWA, Dubai Municipality, and your district cooling provider before acting.