You move your DEWA account to a new home using DEWA’s Move-in / Move-out transfer service in the DEWA app or website: you register the new Ejari, choose the move date, and DEWA deactivates the old premises and activates the new one, transferring your deposit so the lights and water stay on without a gap.
Quick facts
- Cost: Activation fees typically around AED 110-130 plus any deposit top-up if the new home needs a higher deposit — check the DEWA app for the current fee
- Time needed: Apply online in about 10 minutes; supply is usually activated the same working day once Ejari is verified
- Where: DEWA app, dewa.gov.ae, or a DEWA Customer Happiness Centre
- You need first: A registered Ejari for the new home
Step-by-step: moving your DEWA account
- Register your new Ejari first. DEWA activation is linked to Ejari. As soon as your new tenancy is registered, you will have the Ejari number DEWA needs.
- Note your current DEWA account number. Find it on your last bill or in the DEWA app. You will also need your Emirates ID and the old and new premises numbers (shown on bills and on the meter door sticker in many buildings).
- Open the DEWA app and choose the transfer service. Look for Move-in / Transfer of service. Log in with UAE PASS or your DEWA credentials.
- Enter the new premises and move date. Add the new Ejari details, choose the date you want the old home switched off and the new home switched on. Pick a date that matches your actual key handover at both ends.
- Pay any difference. Your existing deposit transfers across. If the new home is a villa (higher deposit than an apartment), you will be asked to top up the difference plus the activation fee. Pay by card in the app.
- Get the final bill for the old home. DEWA issues a final bill to your move-out date. Any credit after the final bill is adjusted against the new account or refunded, depending on balances.
- Confirm activation at the new home. Check power and water when you arrive, and look for the activation SMS/email. If nothing is on, call DEWA on 601 9999 with your request number before assuming a fault in the flat.
Documents and details you need
You need your Emirates ID, new Ejari certificate, DEWA account number for the old home, and the premises numbers for both homes. If the new Ejari is in a different name — for example your spouse’s — DEWA may treat it as a fresh move-in rather than a transfer, so keep names consistent where you can. Landlords and agents cannot do this for you in your name; the account holder should apply.
Deposits and costs explained
DEWA’s refundable deposit is typically around AED 2,000 for an apartment and AED 4,000 for a villa — check the DEWA app for the current amount for your property type. Moving apartment-to-apartment usually means no new deposit, just a small activation/transfer fee typically around AED 110-130. Moving apartment-to-villa means topping up about AED 2,000. Your final old-home bill is taken from usage, not from the deposit, unless you close the account entirely without a transfer. District cooling (Empower/Emicool) and gas, where fitted, are separate companies — transfer or close those separately, as DEWA does not cover them.
Common mistakes to avoid
Choosing the wrong cut-off date. If old-home supply stops the day before you actually leave, you spend your last night without AC. Match dates to key handovers, with a day of overlap if you can afford the small extra usage.
Forgetting the overlap clean. Cleaners and movers need power and water. Do not deactivate before the move-out clean and inspection are done.
Assuming Ejari auto-updates DEWA. It does not move your account by itself. You must submit the transfer request.
Ignoring the final bill. Check the final bill against your move-out meter photo. Errors are easy to query in the first weeks and hard to chase after you have settled into the new place.
Timing your move without losing supply
The smoothest pattern for most Dubai moves is: new Ejari registered on day one, DEWA transfer set for the day you get the new keys, old-home deactivation set for the evening you hand back the old keys. If both dates are the same day, activate the new home in the morning slot and keep the old home live until evening if DEWA allows separate times for each premises. Keep the confirmation numbers in your phone — building security sometimes asks for the DEWA activation message before allowing movers or AC work.
FAQ
Can I have DEWA active in two homes at once?
Yes, for a short overlap during a move this is normal. You will be billed for usage at both, and each premises needs its own valid Ejari/account arrangement.
What happens to my DEWA deposit when I transfer?
It moves with your account. You only pay the difference if the new home requires a higher deposit, plus the transfer/activation fee.
How long does activation take in the new home?
Usually the same working day once the Ejari is verified and fees are paid, often within a few hours. Apply at least a day before you need supply to be safe.
