When you move into a new apartment in Dubai, DEWA — the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority — is the utility you connect for both electricity and water, and for students moving into shared flats, studios or student residences it is usually the first piece of life admin to sort. The good news is that the whole application is done online in about fifteen minutes, the supply is normally activated within a day, and you only need a deposit, your tenancy contract and your Emirates ID. This guide walks through it in a student’s shoes, including the bits that trip people up when several flatmates are involved.
Before You Apply: What You Need Ready
DEWA connects a property using its Ejari — the registered tenancy contract — so your name, the contract and the DEWA account should line up. Gather:
- Your Ejari registration number (or the tenancy contract if your landlord registers Ejari for you)
- Your Emirates ID; if it has not arrived yet, DEWA accepts the application details in many cases — check the portal for the current rule
- The DEWA premises number, shown on a sticker near the meter or available from your landlord or building management
- A UAE mobile number and email address for the account and bills
- A bank card to pay the refundable security deposit and activation charges
If you are in purpose-built student accommodation or a hotel apartment, utilities are often already included in your rent — ask the provider first so you do not open an account you do not need.
Step by Step: Activating Your DEWA Supply
- Go to the DEWA website or app and choose the “Activation of Electricity/Water” (move-in) service.
- Enter the Ejari number; the system pulls up the property and its premises number automatically in most cases.
- Fill in your details exactly as they appear on your Emirates ID, and add your mobile and email.
- Pay the security deposit and activation fee online by card.
- Receive your DEWA account number by SMS and email; the supply is typically activated within around 15 working hours, and often much sooner.
- Download the DEWA app and register your account so you can track consumption and pay bills from your phone.
Keep the payment receipt and your account number in a shared folder if you live with flatmates — you will need them when you move out and close the account to reclaim the deposit.
The Deposit and What Bills Look Like
The security deposit is refundable when you close the account. As a guide, the deposit is typically around AED 2,000 for an apartment and AED 4,000 for a villa, plus a modest activation charge of around AED 110 to AED 130 — treat these as estimates and confirm the current amounts on the DEWA website, since fees are set officially and can change. Monthly bills combine electricity and water usage, a housing (municipality) fee calculated as a percentage of your annual rent divided across the year, and fuel surcharges. For a student in a studio or sharing, a typical summer bill with heavy air-conditioning might run to a few hundred dirhams per household; winter bills are often noticeably lower. Splitting the bill evenly between flatmates, or by room size, is the usual fair approach — agree it on day one, in writing, to avoid end-of-term arguments.
Student-Specific Tips
Put the account in one person’s name only — DEWA accounts have a single holder, so choose the flatmate who will stay the full academic year, and collect deposit shares from everyone at the start rather than chasing money later. Set up autopay or direct debit so a missed bill never risks disconnection during exams. Use the app’s consumption graphs: air-conditioning is almost always the biggest cost, and small habits like keeping the thermostat around 24 degrees make a real difference. If your landlord registered the Ejari in their own name, you may need their help to activate, so raise it before signing. Finally, when you move out, use the move-out service in the app, get the final bill, and the deposit is refunded to the account holder after settlement — plan a few working days for this at the end of your lease.
FAQ
How quickly will my electricity and water be switched on?
DEWA typically activates supply within about 15 working hours of a completed application and deposit payment, and it is often faster. Check the DEWA portal for the current service standard.
Can flatmates share one DEWA account?
The account sits in one name, but nothing stops you splitting the deposit and bills between you privately. Agree the split in writing when you move in.
Do I get the deposit back when I leave?
Yes — after you request the move-out service and settle the final bill, the remaining deposit is refunded to the account holder, usually to the original payment method or bank account.
With DEWA connected, your new place is genuinely yours — lights on, showers hot and Wi-Fi the only remaining battle. For more move-in walk-throughs, visit DXB Talk and browse the step-by-step guides in our How-To section.
