To close a DEWA account, request Move-out for the correct premises and date, settle the final bill, and check the remaining deposit balance. A move-out confirmation, clearance certificate and received refund are three different milestones.
By Feroz Sheikh. Dubai residential customer guidance; official sources checked 17 October 2026. This is not a DEWA service and does not submit a request.
Four stages—not one refund deadline
- Request move-out
Choose the premises, date and refund method. Save the reference.
- Settle the final balance
The deposit offsets the final bill. Pay any shortfall.
- Keep the clearance
DEWA sends it after settlement. It is not proof that the bank refund arrived.
- Check the actual refund
Any remaining credit follows the chosen refund channel and its conditions.
Sample only: AED 2,000 deposit − AED 650 total final charge = AED 1,350 remaining credit. With an AED 2,150 final charge instead, AED 150 remains payable.
Original process diagram based on the official Move-out, Refund and Clearance Certificate services checked 17 October 2026. The steps and sample figures are also explained below.
Before you request disconnection
- Check the contract account and premises you are closing.
- Keep access to the registered email and mobile number for verification and notifications.
- Choose the disconnection date carefully: you may still need electricity and water for cleaning and handover.
- Settle previous outstanding bills and choose the available refund method.
- Save the request reference and confirmation.
Use the official DEWA Move-out service. It states that deactivation and the final bill are processed within 24 working hours of the requested date and time. Its stated working hours are Monday–Saturday, 7 am–8 pm. Do not interpret this as a guarantee of a refund within 24 clock hours.
For an IBAN refund, the Move-out page requires bank proof showing your IBAN and beneficiary name. The name must match the DEWA customer name. Upload it only through the official service. The final bill is due immediately when received.
Read the balance before expecting a refund
The security deposit is adjusted against the final bill. If the bill exceeds the deposit, you must pay the difference. If a balance remains in your favour, that is the potential refund—not necessarily the full deposit you originally paid.
Synthetic arithmetic example, not a DEWA bill: a deposit balance of AED 2,000 less an assumed total final charge of AED 650 leaves AED 1,350. If the total instead is AED 2,150, the customer owes AED 150. These examples assume no other adjustments. Use your actual statement, and do not subtract a fee twice if it is already included.
Refund timing depends on the route
The official refund page lists an eight-minute service time for security-deposit IBAN refunds up to AED 4,000 when all related accounts have no outstanding balance. It lists three working days for amounts above AED 4,000 or accounts with outstanding balances, three working days for a transfer to another active account under the same business partner, and six working days for cheques. These are conditional service times, not a promise that money will arrive before your flight.
For the bundled move-out process, a remaining refund is normally processed using the chosen method after settlement. If you selected “Apply Refund Later”, or need a non-security-deposit refund, use the separate official refund service. Confirm the method and current requirements in your own account.
The refund page currently limits IBAN refunds to AED 200,000 and cheques to amounts above AED 200,000. It lists no IBAN fee and an AED 20 plus VAT cheque fee. A cheque is therefore not a general alternative for a small residential refund. Check the available options for your account.
A clearance certificate is not a bank receipt
DEWA’s clearance-certificate page says the certificate is emailed after final-bill and outstanding-balance settlement. It describes a 30-day validity period for DEWA customer certificates. Expired certificates and certain other cases have a separate request route. Keep the certificate, final statement and refund confirmation separately; evidence of one stage does not establish that every stage is finished.
Moving to another Dubai property?
Check DEWA Move-to before independently closing and opening accounts. It combines move-out and activation and can transfer the security deposit to the new premises. Outstanding dues must be settled, and any required deposit difference must be paid. It asks for old-account details and new-premises/Ejari information. This is different from receiving the old deposit into your bank account.
Check the fee for the exact service
At this review, the Move-out page lists AED 125 for small-meter disconnection, while the Move-to page lists AED 112.50 for its small-meter deactivation entry; each also lists knowledge and innovation fees. These are different service pages, and the reason for the difference is not established here. Confirm the applicable charge in the official request instead of treating either figure as universal.
Plan the new home separately
For a move within Dubai, use our UAE rental move-in cost calculator to keep new-home costs separate from an expected refund. See the Dubai Ejari fees and documents guide for the new tenancy. Calculator estimates do not confirm your DEWA balance.
Your handover record
- Request reference, selected date and correct premises.
- Final bill and evidence that any amount due was settled.
- Clearance certificate and its validity date.
- Chosen refund method and actual receipt or transfer confirmation.
- A separate list of any other landlord, building or service-provider closeout tasks.
Keep identifiers and bank details out of public messages. If a stage remains unresolved, contact DEWA through its official account/support channels with the request reference. Do not send passwords or verification codes to this website.