Ejari and DEWA After Renting: What to Do and in What Order
A signed tenancy contract is only the beginning. Here is how to register Ejari, activate DEWA and separate the connected—but different—move-in steps.
Once the tenancy contract is signed, the apartment already feels almost yours: the move-in date is agreed, the keys are close and the main payments are understood. Yet an administrative chain still separates the signature from an ordinary evening with working lights and water.
If you have not signed yet, begin with checks on the broker, owner, property and tenancy terms. Ejari registers an agreement that has already been concluded; it does not correct unclear clauses or replace due diligence.
The short answer: after signing, register the contract in Ejari, receive or request the DEWA Move-in details, pay the applicable charges and deposit, then arrange building access, cooling, internet and the physical handover separately.
Divide one move into four processes
In practice, “connecting the apartment” covers several independent systems:
Ejari — registration of the tenancy contract with Dubai Land Department.
DEWA — activation or transfer of electricity and water.
Building management — access cards, parking, a move-in permit, rules for movers and shared-area access.
Other services — district cooling, home internet, gas or other infrastructure specific to the building.
Completing one does not mean that the others happen automatically. Keep four separate lines in your checklist, each with a status, payment, contact person and reference number.
Collect the details before registering
The minimum documents depend on the channel and status of the parties. For a digital application, Dubai Land Department identifies the Unified Tenancy Contract as the core document. At a trustee centre, the original contract, the applicant’s Emirates ID and an official power of attorney where a representative acts may be required.
Prepare:
the final signed contract and all addenda;
the applicant’s Emirates ID and contact details;
the exact unit details and nine-digit DEWA premise number;
the tenancy start date and intended physical move-in date;
written confirmation of who will submit and pay for Ejari;
a power of attorney if a representative will apply;
the previous DEWA account details if you are moving within Dubai and intend to use Move-to.
DEWA states that the premise number is displayed at the property. If it cannot be found or does not match the contract, confirm it with the owner or building management before making a payment.
Register the tenancy in Ejari
The official Register / Renew Tenancy Contract service is available through the DLD website, Dubai REST and Real Estate Services Trustee Centres. The appropriate channel depends on ownership, management and who is submitting the application.
For registration through the mobile app, DLD lists specific conditions: tenant and owner must be individuals, and the owner’s records must be current. If a company manages the unit or the situation does not fit the digital route, registration may be handled by the authorised management party or a trustee centre.
On 18 September 2026, the DLD service page showed these total charges:
AED 177.75 through Dubai REST or the DLD website, including registration, knowledge and innovation fees, the partner service charge and VAT on that service charge;
AED 220 through a Real Estate Services Trustee Centre.
These figures relate to the official service on the stated date. Check the final calculation in the chosen channel immediately before payment because the charges and service structure may change.
Once approved, the application produces an e-Contract Registration Certificate. Save the PDF and Ejari number separately from correspondence with the agent: they will be required for later household and administrative tasks.
Ejari is followed by a separate stage: verify the DEWA details, pay the applicable amounts and confirm activation.
What happens to DEWA after Ejari
For a standard rented property with Ejari, the DEWA process is integrated with Dubai Land Department. DEWA states that after Ejari is issued, it sends a welcome email containing the new contract account number, the security-deposit amount and a payment link. An SMS may also be sent.
Do not treat the email as confirmation that service is already active. First check the property address, customer name, premise number and amount, then pay the deposit and activation charges through the official link or DEWA’s digital channels.
AED 10 each for registration, knowledge and innovation fees.
For non-residential premises, the deposit is calculated from consumption. DEWA states that electricity and water will be connected within 15 working hours after payment of the security deposit and charges. This is the official service target, not a guarantee that the entire home will be ready: internal faults, contractor access and building restrictions require separate action.
If the DEWA email does not arrive
The absence of an automated message does not mean you should pay through a link forwarded by someone else. Check:
whether the e-Contract Registration Certificate has been issued and the Ejari number is correct;
whether the email address and mobile number are correct;
whether the unit, building details and premise number match;
whether an application already exists in the DEWA account;
whether you can begin Move-in yourself through the official website, DEWA app or DubaiNow.
Keep the reference number for every request. If activation does not occur within the published service time after payment, contact the DEWA Customer Care Centre using the current number or channel shown on the official page.
If you are moving from one Dubai home to another
An existing customer may be able to use DEWA Move-to. The service combines disconnection at the old property, the final bill and connection at the new one. It also transfers the security deposit if the amount is sufficient.
You will generally need:
the contract account number for the old property;
the Move-out date;
the premise number for the new property;
a valid Ejari number for the new address;
payment of outstanding balances, any deposit difference and applicable fees.
Move-to applies within the same category, such as residential to residential. Check the dates particularly carefully before submitting so that the old property is not disconnected before the new one is handed over.
A free-zone location does not always remove the Ejari requirement
A separate route exists for premises in a free zone that are genuinely exempt from Ejari. In that case, DEWA accepts a valid tenancy contract and Move-in is completed through the DEWA website or app.
Do not decide from the district or free-zone name alone. Confirm with DLD, DEWA, the owner or building management that the specific premises fall within an exempt category. If Ejari is required, the standard digital chain still applies.
What Ejari and DEWA do not connect
Even after electricity and water are active, separate tasks may remain:
a move-in permit and booking of the service lift;
access cards, parking and vehicle registration;
district cooling or a chiller account;
home internet and provider equipment;
gas where the building uses it;
correction of defects recorded in the handover report;
contents or liability insurance if required by the contract or desired by you.
Ask building management for one move-in checklist. This reduces the risk of arriving with your belongings to discover that utilities are active but mover access, the service lift or parking has not been approved.
A practical sequence after signing
Save the final contract and addenda.
Check the parties, property details and premise number.
Confirm who registers Ejari and through which channel.
Submit, pay the official calculation and obtain the certificate.
Check the DEWA notification or begin Move-in or Move-to yourself.
Pay the deposit and activation charges only through an official channel.
Keep certificates, receipts, reference numbers and the handover report.
If this is part of a wider relocation, compare it with the complete sequence for establishing life in Dubai. Housing registration matters, but it does not replace residence, banking, healthcare and work processes.
The MULTILOCAL rule
A home is activated in stages. Ejari confirms the registered tenancy, DEWA starts electricity and water, and the building and other providers complete the household system. The more clearly these stages are separated, the less the move depends on a random message or verbal promise.
Fees, service times, submission channels, document requirements and building rules may change. Before registering or paying, verify the current conditions on the official DLD and DEWA pages.
