A Dubai villa looks simple in the listing: rent, deposit, agency fee. The garden and the pool are where the real running costs quietly live. A mature garden in Jumeirah or a private pool in JVC can add a steady monthly bill on top of DEWA, and disputes start because the contract never said who pays for what. Get the greenery and water in writing before anyone moves in.
What a Garden Actually Costs to Keep
Garden maintenance is year-round work. Most villas use a gardener once or twice a week for mowing, pruning, weeding and checking irrigation. A regular gardener for a small to medium garden typically costs around a few hundred dirhams a month, with larger plots costing more. One-off work is extra: tree surgery, replacing turf, repairing pumps and timers, and pest treatment are rarely included.
Water is the hidden cost. Irrigation runs on your DEWA supply in most villas, so a leaking line in August will show up on your bill. DEWA charges on slab tariffs, so heavy use can push you into a higher slab — check DEWA’s current tariff page for exact rates. Ask the gardener to check irrigation monthly and report leaks.
Pool Running Costs, Line by Line
A private pool needs professional cleaning typically twice a week: vacuuming, skimming, testing and balancing chemicals, and checking the pump and filter. In summer, when dust, heat and heavy family use put more strain on the water, some owners increase visits temporarily rather than paying later for a green pool to be recovered. For a standard family villa pool that service typically costs around several hundred dirhams a month, rising for larger pools or more frequent visits in peak summer when use and algae risk are higher. On top of cleaning, budget for:
- Electricity for the pump and, if fitted, the chiller or heater — the chiller in summer can be a major DEWA cost
- Water for topping up evaporation and backwashing, which adds up in June to September
- Replacement cartridges, lights, pump repairs and filter sand or media changes
- Occasional deep cleans, tile regrouting and leak detection if levels keep dropping
A pool chiller deserves special attention. Cooling a sun-exposed pool through summer uses a lot of power. Some families run it only at weekends, some accept a warm pool in August. Agree an approach in advance.
Landlord or Tenant: The Usual Split
There is no automatic rule, which is why the addendum matters. A common split is that the tenant pays routine costs — gardener visits, pool cleaning and chemicals, and DEWA consumed by the garden and pool. The landlord usually covers structural items: a failed pump, major irrigation replacement, pool shell repairs, and pre-existing faults.
That split is only a pattern, not a guarantee. Some villas are offered fully maintained, with gardening and pool care included in the rent and arranged by the landlord. Others, especially lower-rent villas, are handed over as-is, with even pump repairs argued over. Look for clear wording on these points:
- Who contracts and pays the gardener and pool company, and at what visit frequency?
- Who pays if the pump, chiller or irrigation controller fails mid-tenancy?
- What condition must the garden and pool be in at handover and at move-out?
- Are plants that die through lack of watering the tenant’s cost to replace?
Handover Tips That Save Money Later
Photograph the garden bed by bed and film the pool equipment running at check-in. Note the condition of the pool water, the garden furniture if it is included, and any outdoor lighting that does not work, and agree a date for those items to be fixed. Note dead plants, broken tiles and any equipment already noisy or leaking on the inventory, and test the irrigation zones while the agent is there. Keep the maintenance companies’ visit reports — they are useful evidence that routine care was done if a deposit dispute arises.
A Dubai villa garden and pool are a genuine joy for much of the year, from winter breakfasts outside to evening swims. Budget for them as a monthly utility, not an occasional extra, and the costs will feel planned rather than like a surprise.