Leaving Dubai involves more than booking a flight and shipping boxes. To avoid final bills, lost deposits and accounts you cannot close from abroad, you need to shut down your home and finances in the right order. DEWA, Ejari, your bank and your telecom provider all depend on each other — a tenancy cancellation affects your final utility bill, and a bank account is where refunds land. This guide lays out a practical sequence for the last few weeks, with timelines as typical and approximate, so you can leave cleanly and keep proof of every closure.
Four to Six Weeks Before: Tenancy, Ejari and Notice
Start with your tenancy contract. Check the notice period and any early termination terms you agreed with your landlord, and give notice in writing in the way the contract requires. Many Dubai leases have specific notice terms that vary, so rely on your own contract and confirm current guidance via the Dubai Land Department resources rather than assuming.
Agree a move-out inspection date and ask what condition the property must be returned in, including painting and cleaning expectations. Ejari cancellation is usually completed once the tenancy has ended and the property is vacated, often handled by the landlord, agent or a trustee centre, and you will typically need the final DEWA bill as part of the process. Keep your tenancy, Ejari certificate and landlord contact details together — you will need them repeatedly.
Two to Three Weeks Before: Telecom, Subscriptions and Mail
Next, tackle telecom while you still need the services. Providers such as e& (formerly Etisalat) and du offer home internet, TV and mobile plans that may have minimum terms and early exit charges, which vary by plan. Contact the provider through its official app, website or store to confirm the cancellation process, equipment return and final bill date. Do not cancel home internet too early if you still need it for work and move admin, but book the cancellation date in advance.
For mobile numbers, decide whether you need the number active until departure for banking one-time codes and UAE PASS access. Many leavers keep the mobile line until the final week for exactly this reason. At the same time, cancel or pause gym memberships, parking permits and recurring deliveries, and update your address with your employer, school and clinics.
Final Week: DEWA Closure and Deposit Refund
DEWA is best closed once you know your exact move-out date. Through dewa.gov.ae or the DEWA app, you can typically request a move-out service, choose the date for final meter reading, and settle the final bill. Your DEWA security deposit — the amount depends on property type and current DEWA rules, so confirm it in your account — is usually refunded after the final bill is calculated, either to your bank account via IBAN or through another method DEWA offers at the time. Refunds typically take a number of working days after closure, not instantly, so do not plan to close your bank account the next morning.
On move-out day:
- Photograph final electricity and water meter readings if accessible.
- Keep the DEWA final bill and refund confirmation emails.
- Return all keys, access cards and parking remotes and get a signed receipt.
- Complete the landlord inspection and agree any deductions in writing.
- Obtain Ejari cancellation confirmation once processed.
Last Step: Bank Account Closure
Close your bank account last, after DEWA refunds, salary, landlord deposit returns and other credits have landed. UAE Central Bank consumer protection guidance expects banks to follow clear account closure processes, but each bank has its own form, clearance checks for loans, credit cards and cheques, and timeline. Visit your bank’s official site or branch to confirm what applies to you, clear any cards and loans first, transfer remaining funds, and request written confirmation that the account is closed.
If you have a loan, vehicle finance or credit card, start those conversations earlier, as clearance can take longer than closure itself. Keep statements and closure letters for a year after leaving.
Work through the order — tenancy first, telecom booked, DEWA in the final week, bank last — and leaving feels orderly rather than rushed. Keep a single folder with every final bill and closure letter. It is your proof and peace of mind if any question arrives after you have gone.