The first week in your Dubai rental: Ejari, DEWA, chiller

Signing the tenancy contract is the easy part. The setup in the first week determines whether your life runs smoothly for the next twelve months.

Day 1: Ejari registration. Ejari is the government-mandated registration of every tenancy contract in Dubai. Without an Ejari certificate, you cannot: - Set up your DEWA account - Register your children at most schools - Sponsor family visas tied to a residential address

DubaiHomes handles Ejari for you at AED 220. The certificate is issued within 1–2 hours.

Day 1-2: DEWA activation. DEWA (Dubai Electricity and Water Authority) requires: - Ejari certificate - Emirates ID or passport - Refundable security deposit: AED 2,000 for apartments, AED 4,000 for villas

If the previous tenant has left the meter reading open, the Ejari will trigger an activation request automatically. If not, the landlord's management company or the security office can schedule a DEWA reading the same day.

Day 2-3: Chiller activation. In most Dubai towers, chilled water for the air-conditioning is supplied separately by a district cooling provider — Empower, Palm Utilities, Emicool, or Ajman Chiller. You will need: - Ejari certificate - Emirates ID - A refundable deposit between AED 1,500 and AED 3,000 depending on provider and unit size

If your listing states "chiller included" it means the landlord has absorbed this running cost into the annual rent — you do not need to activate a separate account, and you will be billed only for DEWA.

Day 3-5: Move-in. Most management companies require: - A 48-hour move-in notice with the security desk - A refundable move-in deposit (typically AED 1,000-3,000) - Proof of insurance for the moving company

Ongoing: utility bills. DEWA and chiller bills are monthly; average DEWA for a two-bedroom apartment runs AED 450-900/month depending on usage; chiller runs AED 400-1,200/month if separately metered. Budget AED 1,000-1,800/month all-in for utilities on a two-bedroom unit.