DEWA and Chiller Charges in Dubai Explained

Chiller charges are the cost of air conditioning in buildings cooled by a central district cooling plant. In Dubai they are usually billed separately from DEWA, which covers water and electricity, and they come with their own chiller deposit.

Together these are the running costs tenants most often underestimate. This guide explains what each one covers, what the deposit is, how a chiller bill is built, and what to ask before you sign.

What is chiller in Dubai?

In a building with district cooling there is no air conditioning unit on the roof or the balcony. Chilled water is made at a central plant and piped into the building, and a meter in your flat measures how much cooling you use. The two best known providers are Empower and Emicool. Some buildings run their own plant and bill through the owners association instead.

That is why the chiller fee does not appear on your DEWA bill. It is a separate account, with a separate provider, deposit and due date.

What each one is

	DEWA	Chiller
Covers	Water and electricity	Air conditioning
Billed by	Dubai Electricity and Water Authority	Empower, Emicool or the building
Deposit	AED 2,000 apartment, AED 4,000 villa	Set by the provider and the building, so ask. Empower has published AED 2,000 for a flat and AED 3,000 for a villa
Typical monthly	AED 300 to 800 for an apartment	AED 300 to 900 in summer
Who pays	The occupier	Depends on the contract

How much is the chiller deposit in Dubai?

The chiller deposit is a refundable amount paid when you open the account, and it comes back when you close it and settle the final bill. It varies by provider and by building. Gulf News, in an article last updated on 3 July 2024, reported Empower deposits of AED 2,000 for a flat and AED 3,000 for a villa, and said Emicool has no standard figure because it depends on the unit type or project. Other recent articles quote higher villa figures, so confirm the current amount with the provider when you register.

Budget for the deposit on top of the DEWA deposit, your Ejari fee and the security deposit you pay the landlord.

How is a chiller bill calculated?

A chiller bill usually has two parts. Both providers measure cooling in refrigeration tons (RT).

• A fixed capacity charge, also called a demand charge. It is based on the size of the cooling connection, not on how much you use. Gulf News gave Empower's demand charge as AED 750 per RT per year, billed monthly, so a 6 RT flat would pay AED 4,500 a year (July 2024 figures).
• A consumption charge, based on the RT hours your meter records. This is the part that rises in summer.
• Smaller fees, such as a meter maintenance fee, an activation fee and late payment or reconnection charges.

Rates change, so treat these as an example of the structure and ask for the current tariff.

The question to ask before you sign

"Is chiller included in the rent?" In some buildings it is; in many it is not, and a separate account is opened in your name. The difference over a year can be several thousand dirhams, which is enough to change which property is actually cheaper.

Ask for the previous occupier's typical summer bill rather than an estimate.

Why chiller bills surprise people

• Consumption is seasonal. May to September can be triple the winter figure.
• There is often a fixed capacity charge payable even when the property is empty.
• Older buildings are less efficient, so the same lifestyle costs more.

If a property will be empty for months, the capacity charge continues. Owners of holiday homes and investors between tenants should budget for it.

Setting up and closing accounts

DEWA requires your Ejari certificate, Emirates ID and the premises number. Chiller providers require similar, and Empower registration is done online with a tenancy contract or proof of ownership. Our guide to Ejari and tenancy contracts shows how to get the certificate. When you move out, close both accounts and keep the final bills: the landlord will ask for them before releasing your deposit. See getting your deposit back.

What happens if you do not pay the chiller bill?

Providers can disconnect the cooling and charge a reconnection fee, and you must clear everything owed before supply returns. An unpaid chiller account can also block a new registration under your name. If your landlord pays chiller as part of the rent, get that written into the contract.

Keeping the bills down

• Service the air conditioning. A clogged filter costs more than the service does.
• Set the thermostat at 24 degrees rather than 18. The room reaches temperature at the same speed either way.
• Keep blinds closed on sun-facing windows during the day.

Related reading

Service charges are separate again and payable by the owner. Our tenant guide covers the full cost of renting, and who pays for what in a rental explains repairs to the cooling system itself.