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Dubai Electricity and Water Authority

Electricity and water applications for a building project. Understand the difference between design approval, connections and the other builder services available from DEWA.

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Utilities planned with the building

DEWA’s builder services cover the technical applications needed for electricity and water infrastructure and connections.

  • Electricity permits and connections

    DEWA combines the electricity building NOC and connection request in one application for enrolled consultants and contractors.

  • Fit-out and network work

    Fit-out connections, network modifications and solar applications have their own service routes.

  • Water and infrastructure

    The directory also includes water building NOCs, water connections and infrastructure-project NOCs.

Builder services concern the technical installation and connection work. Opening or transferring a consumer account is a different task.

Read the official overview

Match the service to the proposed work

Start with the existing supply and what will change. A new connection, fit-out connection and network modification are different technical requests.

  • New connection, fit-out or network modification?

    DEWA lists electricity connections, electricity fit-out connections and electricity network modification as separate services, alongside water services.

    Assess the existing approved installation and the proposed demand with the appointed enrolled consultant or contractor. “New build”, “renovation” or “upgrade” alone does not identify the correct application.

    Compare DEWA’s builder services

  • What information helps establish the service?

    Collect the existing approved electrical records where available and list the proposed equipment and changes. Ask the responsible designer to assess the demand and installation.

    Check water works against their own service requirements. Do not use an electricity submission checklist as the basis for a water connection.

    Read the electricity connection requirements

  • What needs to be planned beyond the application?

    Identify the design, inspection and connection stages that apply to the selected service. Keep the proposed installation and the approved scope consistent.

    DEWA’s permits and connections guidance addresses additional-load requests as well as connections. Establish the precise application before committing to installation or a supply date.

    Check electricity fit-out connections

Documents and preparation

Prepare these records for the technical assessment, then follow the current checklist for the chosen DEWA service.

  • Existing approved installation

    Gather the electrical approval records available for the premises and describe the existing supply.

  • The proposed demand and changes

    List the new equipment and full proposed work so the responsible designer can assess the installation and service route.

  • The selected service checklist

    Confirm the required property records, technical documents and stages for the exact electricity or water application.

Plan the time and budget

Processing time

The programme depends on the selected service and its design, inspection and connection requirements. Confirm the applicable conditions and scheduled work with DEWA before setting a supply date.

Fees and other costs

Use the current service tariff and project estimate for the proposed work. Distinguish application, connection and installation costs rather than treating them as one fixed charge.

Check the official requirements

Application guidance reviewed 24 October 2026. Background information checked 17 October 2026. Confirm current requirements before applying.

Checks before submission

Resolve these points before submitting or arranging the start of works.

  • Use the precise service name

    Do not let a general term such as “upgrade” replace the technical assessment and choice of application.

  • Keep electricity and water requirements separate

    Check each installation against its own service requirements, documents and connection stages.

  • Plan through to connection

    Include any required design and inspection steps in the programme. Confirm conditions and readiness before promising a supply date.

Practical guides

Go further into the documents, decisions and approval steps that matter to your project.

Common questions

Does a renovation automatically mean a DEWA upgrade?

No. Review the existing approved installation and proposed demand, then identify the applicable technical service.

Are connection and fit-out services the same?

DEWA lists them separately. Match the application to the existing installation and full proposed works with the appointed enrolled consultant or contractor.

What information should be gathered first?

Collect existing approved electrical records where available and a list of proposed equipment and changes. Check water works against their separate requirements.

Does opening a DEWA account cover technical building work?

No. Consumer account activation and technical builder services are different tasks. Identify the design or connection application needed for the work.

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A brief history

  1. 1959

    The original utilities

    Dubai Electricity Company and Dubai Water Department were established as separate organisations.

  2. 1992

    One authority

    DEWA was formed on 1 January 1992 through the merger of those two organisations.

  3. 2022

    A listed utility

    DEWA was listed on the Dubai Financial Market in April 2022.

Read the official background

Official sources

Application guidance reviewed 24 October 2026. Background information checked 17 October 2026. Confirm current requirements before applying.

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