DEWA Guide · Dubai

How to move your DEWA connection
when changing apartments

Updated July 2026 · ⏱ New connection within 24 hours · Deposit refund: 7–10 days

Moving apartments in Dubai? You move your DEWA in two steps: Move Out at the old place, Move In at the new one. There is no single "transfer DEWA account" button — DEWA closes the old account and opens a fresh one — but both requests take minutes in the DEWA app and can be submitted on the same day. The whole DEWA move to your new address costs an AED 100 connection fee plus a new deposit, the old deposit is refunded to your bank account, and DEWA reconnection at the new apartment happens within 24 hours. This guide walks through the full DEWA move out and move in flow, exactly what it costs, and how to avoid arriving at your new apartment to find the lights off.

Before you start

Two things make or break a smooth DEWA move: a valid Ejari certificate for the new apartment and its 9-digit Premises Number. The Move In form checks both against the Dubai Land Department database, so without them the application is rejected on the spot. The premises number identifies the property itself — it is printed on the Ejari certificate as "Premises No. (DEWA)" and never changes, even between tenants. If you can't locate it, our guide to finding your DEWA premises number lists every place it appears.

If you have not yet registered Ejari for the new address, do that first — see our Ejari registration guide. DEWA will not open a Move In application without it.

Submit Move Out for the old apartment

Open the DEWA app or dewa.gov.ae, sign in, and select Move Out for your current address. Choose the move-out date — DEWA reads the final meters remotely on that date and issues a final bill, so there is no site visit to arrange. Pick a date on or just after your handover day so you are not paying for electricity you no longer use. The DEWA move out is also part of closing the old tenancy properly: the final DEWA bill is usually requested when you cancel your old Ejari, which the next tenant needs before they can register — see our Ejari cancellation guide for that side of the move. 📱 DEWA app recommended

Pay the final bill

The final bill arrives by SMS and email within 24–48 hours of the move-out date. Pay any outstanding balance straight away — DEWA will not release the security deposit refund until the final bill is fully settled, and the refund clock (7–10 working days) only starts once you have paid.

⚠️ If you skip this step, the deposit is held indefinitely and the unpaid balance can block future DEWA applications under your Emirates ID.

Submit Move In for the new apartment

In the same DEWA app — same login, no new registration — select Move In. Enter the new apartment's Ejari number and 9-digit Premises Number. DEWA verifies both against the Dubai Land Department records and auto-fills your unit details. The DEWA move in form itself takes only a few minutes to complete.

If the form says the premises already has an active account, the previous tenant has not moved out yet. Call DEWA on 991 with your Ejari certificate — DEWA can close the previous account after verification.

Pay the new deposit and connection fee

You pay a fresh security deposit at the new property — the deposit does not move with you when you transfer DEWA account details to a new address. The old deposit is refunded separately to your bank account.

Apartment deposit	AED 2,000
Villa deposit	AED 4,000
Connection fee (small meter)	AED 100
Connection fee (large meter)	AED 300

You can submit Move Out and Move In on the same day so the new connection is ready before you physically move. Time the move-in date a day before your actual move for a zero-downtime handover.

✓

New connection active within 24 hours

Once payment is confirmed, DEWA reconnection at the new address happens within 24 hours — most apartments are live within 4–8 hours on business days. You receive a confirmation SMS with the new account number, and both properties stay visible in the app until the old account fully closes. The old deposit lands back in your bank account within 7–10 working days after the final bill is paid. ⚡ Usually same day

Two deposits, two refunds — don't mix them up

When you change apartments there are two separate deposits in play. The DEWA deposit (AED 2,000 apartment / AED 4,000 villa) is held by the utility and refunded automatically once your final bill is settled — it rarely causes problems. The rental security deposit — typically 5% of annual rent for an unfurnished home, 10% furnished — is held by your landlord and refunded after the handover inspection, and this one is where disputes happen.

If your landlord withholds the rental deposit without justification after you have moved out, you can file a case at the Rental Dispute Centre — the guide covers the 3.5% filing fee and the typical 15–30 day timeline.

Cases that look like a move but aren't

A few situations follow a different path:

First DEWA account in Dubai — if you are not moving from another Dubai address (you have just arrived, or lived somewhere with bills included), there is no Move Out to do. Follow our first-time DEWA activation guide instead; the fees and 24-hour timeline are the same.
Staying put and renewing the lease — renewing the contract on the same apartment does not touch DEWA at all. Your account and deposit carry over untouched; just renew your Ejari online so the registration stays valid.
Moving within the same building — still a full Move Out + Move In. Every unit has its own premises number, so you cannot simply shift a DEWA connection from apartment 402 to 605; the two-step process applies even one floor apart.

Frequently asked questions

How do I move my DEWA connection when changing apartments?

You do it in two steps in the DEWA app: submit Move Out for your old apartment, then submit Move In for the new one using the new Ejari number and 9-digit premises number. Pay the AED 100 connection fee and the new deposit, and DEWA activates the new connection within 24 hours.

Can I transfer my DEWA account to a new apartment?

Not literally — there is no single transfer button. You close the account at the old apartment with Move Out and open a fresh one at the new address with Move In. Your customer profile in the DEWA app stays the same, so both requests take only a few minutes each.

How long does DEWA reconnection take?

DEWA reconnection at the new apartment takes up to 24 hours after you submit Move In and pay the fees. Most apartments are live within 4–8 hours on business days, and you receive an SMS with the new account number once electricity and water are active.

Do I pay a new DEWA deposit when I move?

Yes. You pay a fresh security deposit at the new address — AED 2,000 for an apartment or AED 4,000 for a villa — plus the AED 100 connection fee. The deposit from the old property is refunded separately to your bank account within 7–10 working days after the final bill is settled.

Can I do DEWA Move Out and Move In on the same day?

Yes, and it is the recommended approach. Submit both requests in the DEWA app on the same day, setting the move-out date for the old apartment and the move-in date for the new one. That way the new connection is active before you arrive and you never spend a night without electricity.

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How to move your DEWA connectionwhen changing apartments