Understanding Your DEWA Bill: A Practical Guide
What Is DEWA?
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is the sole provider of electricity and water in the Emirate of Dubai. Whether you live in an apartment, villa, or run a business, your monthly utility bill comes from DEWA. Unlike many countries where you can choose between providers, Dubai has a single utility authority — which simplifies billing but means there's no shopping around for better rates. DEWA is consistently ranked as one of the most efficient utilities globally, with power outage times among the lowest in the world.
How to Read Your Bill
Your DEWA bill has several line items that confuse newcomers. The main charges are electricity consumption (in kWh) and water consumption (in imperial gallons). On top of these, you'll see: fuel surcharge (6.5 fils per kWh — covers fuel costs for power generation), sewerage charge (based on water consumption), municipality fee on water, and the housing fee. The housing fee is actually a municipality charge collected through DEWA — 5% of your annual rent divided by 12 for residential, 10% for commercial. If you own your property, you still pay a housing fee based on a RERA-assessed rental value.
Understanding Electricity Slabs
DEWA uses a progressive slab system for residential electricity — the more you use, the higher the rate per kWh. The slabs are: 0–2,000 kWh at 23 fils, 2,001–4,000 kWh at 28 fils, 4,001–6,000 kWh at 32 fils, and above 6,000 kWh at 38 fils. This means your first 2,000 kWh costs AED 460, but the next 2,000 costs AED 560. Commercial properties pay a flat 38 fils/kWh regardless of consumption. In summer (June–September), a typical 2-bedroom apartment uses 2,500–3,500 kWh due to heavy AC use. In winter, the same apartment might use only 800–1,500 kWh.
Water Charges Explained
Water in Dubai is desalinated seawater, making it expensive to produce. Residential water rates are: 0–6,000 gallons at 3 fils/gallon, 6,001–12,000 gallons at 3.5 fils, and above 12,000 gallons at 4 fils. Villas with gardens typically consume significantly more water than apartments. One hidden cost: the sewerage charge is 1 fil per gallon of water consumed — it adds up quickly for high-usage properties. Dubai Municipality also charges a fee of 0.3 fils per gallon on top of the water rate.
Why Summer Bills Are Shocking
Your first Dubai summer bill is often a wake-up call. Air conditioning accounts for 60–70% of residential electricity consumption, and during summer, temperatures regularly exceed 45°C. AC units run nearly 24/7 from June through September. A 1-bedroom apartment that costs AED 400/month in DEWA during winter can jump to AED 900–1,200 in summer. Villas are hit hardest — a 4-bedroom villa can see summer bills of AED 3,000–5,000. If your apartment uses district cooling (chiller), you'll have a separate chiller bill on top of DEWA.
Tips to Reduce Your Bill
Set your AC thermostat to 24°C — every degree lower increases consumption by roughly 5%. Close curtains during the day to block heat. Use LED bulbs throughout your home. Run washing machines and dishwashers only when full. Fix leaking taps immediately — a single drip wastes 500+ gallons per month. If you have a villa with a garden, water early morning or late evening to minimize evaporation, and consider drip irrigation. Check your DEWA consumption online through the DEWA app — monitoring your usage patterns helps identify waste. Some newer buildings have smart metres that show real-time consumption.
Setting Up and Closing DEWA
When you move into a new property, you need to activate a DEWA account. This requires your tenancy contract (Ejari), Emirates ID, and a security deposit (AED 2,000 for apartments, AED 4,000 for villas). You can apply online through the DEWA app or website. When moving out, apply for disconnection at least 2 days before your move-out date to get an accurate final bill. Your security deposit (minus any outstanding balance) is refunded within about 2 weeks. Don't forget to deactivate — you'll keep getting billed until you formally close the account.