DEWA Reference · Dubai

DEWA Premise Number — what it is
and where to find it

Updated August 2026 · Reference guide for Dubai tenants and landlords · العربية

Every metered property in Dubai — every apartment, villa, office and warehouse — has a DEWA premise number: a 9-digit code that identifies the unit itself, no matter who lives in it. You cannot switch on electricity and water without it, because the DEWA Move In application asks for the premise number before anything else, and the same code is a required field on the Ejari contract form. The good news: the number is printed on documents you almost certainly already have — the Ejari certificate, the Title Deed, any old DEWA bill — and it takes about 30 seconds to find once you know where to look. This guide shows you exactly where, and untangles the premise number from the two identifiers it is most often confused with: the DEWA account number and the business partner number.

What is a DEWA premise number?

The DEWA premise number — also written "premises number", "premise no" or simply "premise ID" — is a 9-digit numeric identifier assigned by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) to every metered property in Dubai: apartments, villas, commercial units, and warehouses. The number identifies the physical unit, not the customer. It does not change when tenants come and go, it exists even when the unit is vacant, and it is the same whether or not there is an active DEWA account at the address. Think of it as the utility equivalent of a chassis number: tenants and owners change, the premise number never does.

Format: 9 digits, no letters, no spaces. Example: 123456789. If your document shows leading zeros, they count — DEWA stores all 9 digits.

Why you need the premise number

DEWA uses the premise number to locate the exact meter before opening, moving or closing an account, and Ejari uses it to tie your tenancy contract to a real unit. You will be asked for it when you:

Activate electricity and water as a new tenant — the DEWA Move In application will not proceed without it
Transfer your DEWA account between properties — moving your DEWA from one home to another needs the premise number of the new unit
Register Ejari for a new tenancy — the field is required on the DLD contract form during Ejari registration
Renew your Ejari each year — the premise number must appear on the contract form again when you renew your Ejari online
Report a fault, request a meter reading, or query a bill — DEWA support will ask for it to identify the unit

Where to find the DEWA premise number

The fastest source is whichever of these documents you already have. Most tenants spot the premise number in Ejari first — it sits in the property section of the certificate.

Ejari certificate	Labelled "Premises No. (DEWA)" or "DEWA Premise No." in the property section. Ejari certificates are issued through the official Dubai REST app
Title Deed	On the property details page (printed or digital copy) — ask the landlord for a copy if you don't hold one
Previous DEWA bill	The DEWA premise number on the bill is printed near the top, next to the account number (if a previous tenant had service)
DEWA app / website	Log in at dewa.gov.ae or in the app and open My Properties — it will display premise number details for any address where you have held an account
Building management	Reception or the facilities team usually keeps a list of premise numbers for the whole building

If you don't have any of the above yet, ask the landlord or property agent — they should provide it from their records before you sign the tenancy contract, since the number belongs on the DLD form itself.

Premise number vs DEWA account number

These two are confused constantly, because both appear on the bill and both get called "the DEWA number" in casual speech. They do different jobs:

The premise number identifies the property. 9 digits, permanent, exists even when nobody lives in the unit. You quote it before you are a DEWA customer.
The account number identifies you as a paying customer. It does not exist until DEWA creates it at Move In: you submit the premise number together with your Ejari number and Emirates ID, pay the deposit (AED 2,000 for an apartment, AED 4,000 for a villa), and DEWA opens a fresh account in your name — usually active within 24 hours. The Ejari has to be active for this: an expired or missing registration is one of the things that blocks a DEWA connection or change, alongside GDRFA visa applications. Every new tenant at the same unit gets a new account number, while the premise number stays the same.
Where the account number appears: at the top of every DEWA bill and on the DEWA app dashboard once your account is active. You will use it for bill payments and support calls from then on.
The business partner number is a third identifier — a DEWA customer ID that groups everything you hold with DEWA under one profile. If you have accounts for two properties, each has its own account number, but both sit under the same business partner number. It appears on the bill next to the account number.

Rule of thumb: premise number = the unit · account number = your contract with DEWA · business partner number = you.

How it differs from other Dubai property numbers

Several Dubai property identifiers look similar at first glance. They are not interchangeable.

DEWA Premise Number	9 digits. Identifies the property. Stays the same forever.
DEWA Account Number	Varies. Identifies a customer billing account. Created at Move In; changes with each new tenant.
Business Partner Number	DEWA customer ID. Groups all accounts held by one person or company. Stays with you, not with the property.
Ejari registration number	Format like 22-99999/2026. Identifies the tenancy contract, not the property.
Makani number	10 digits. Government-wide geolocation code for the building entrance, used by emergency services.
Plot number	Identifies the land plot in DLD records. Multiple units share one plot.

◆

Can you find the number on any of those documents?

✓ Yes

Use it for DEWA Move In

Enter the 9-digit code in the DEWA app or website. DEWA activation guide →

✗ No

Call DEWA on 991

DEWA can look up the premise number using the property address, plot number, or Makani number. Have your tenancy contract ready.

Found your number? Next step: register your Ejari

The premise number goes straight onto the DLD tenancy contract. Upload your Emirates IDs and Title Deed — AI fills the official contract, premise number included, for AED 15. Ready to sign and register.

Generate the DLD contract — AED 15 →

Common mistakes when using the premise number

Confusing it with the DEWA account number — the previous tenant's account number won't open service for you; Move In needs the premise number
Entering the Ejari number instead — the Ejari number has a slash-year format like 22-99999/2026, identifies the registration rather than the unit, and changes at every renewal; the premise number is 9 plain digits and never changes
Dropping leading zeros — if the number starts with 0, you must include it (DEWA stores 9 digits, not "as printed")
Using a premises number from a different unit — common in older buildings where flats share similar numbering; cross-check against the Ejari and Title Deed
Outdated number after building renumbering — rare, but DEWA occasionally renumbers buildings; if your old number is rejected, ask the building or DEWA for the current one

✓

Moving out? The premise number matters on the way out too

When your tenancy ends, the same 9-digit code drives the exit paperwork. You apply for DEWA Move Out against the premise, settle the final bill, and DEWA refunds your deposit within 7–10 working days. The Ejari must then be cancelled so the next tenant can register — only one active Ejari is allowed per unit, and our Ejari cancellation guide covers who does it and how it is free via Dubai REST. Keep copies of your final DEWA bill and clearance: if the landlord withholds your security deposit or refuses to hand over documents after the handover, those records are your evidence when you file a case at the Rental Dispute Centre.

Frequently asked questions

What is the DEWA premise number?

The DEWA premise number is a 9-digit code that identifies a specific metered property in Dubai — an apartment, villa, office or warehouse. It belongs to the unit itself, not to any tenant, and it never changes when people move in or out. DEWA asks for it whenever you activate, transfer or query service at that address.

Where do I find my DEWA premise number?

Look at your Ejari certificate first — the number is printed in the property section, usually labelled Premises No. (DEWA). It also appears on the Title Deed, at the top of any old DEWA bill for the unit, and in the DEWA app under My Properties. Building reception or your landlord can provide it too.

How do I check my DEWA premise number?

Open the DEWA app or dewa.gov.ae and check My Properties if you have ever held an account at the address. If you have no DEWA login yet, check the Ejari certificate or Title Deed instead, or call DEWA on 991 and ask them to look the number up by address, plot number or Makani number.

What's the difference between premise number and account number?

The premise number identifies the property and stays the same forever, while the account number identifies your personal billing contract with DEWA and is created fresh for every new tenant. You use the premise number once during Move In; after that, DEWA references your account number on every bill.

How do I get my DEWA account number from the premise number?

Apply for DEWA Move In through the app or website, enter the 9-digit premise number plus your Ejari number, and pay the deposit — AED 2,000 for an apartment or AED 4,000 for a villa. DEWA then opens a new account in your name, usually within 24 hours. The account number appears at the top of your first bill and in the DEWA app dashboard.

What if I cannot find my DEWA premise number?

Ask your landlord, agent or building management — they usually keep a list of premise numbers for every unit. If nobody has it, call DEWA on 991 and they can trace the number from the property address, plot number or Makani number. Once you have it, you can complete Move In straight away.

Need to draft the contract that will carry this number?

Ejari Helper auto-fills your DLD-format tenancy contract — including the DEWA premise number — directly from your Title Deed and Emirates IDs.

Generate contract now →

DEWA Premise Number — what it isand where to find it