DEWA Tariff 2026: Electricity and Water Slabs Explained
DEWA charges residential electricity on four slabs: 23 fils per kWh for the first 2,000 kWh a month, 28 fils up to 4,000, 32 fils up to 6,000 and 38 fils above that. Residential water costs AED 7.70 per cubic metre for the first 27 mยณ, AED 8.80 up to 54 mยณ and AED 10.12 above. On top come a monthly fuel surcharge, which for October 2026 is 6 fils per kWh and AED 1.10 per mยณ, a small meter charge and 5% VAT. Dubai Municipality’s sewerage and housing fees are added separately, without VAT.
- Summer air conditioning pushes usage into the higher slabs.
- The fuel surcharge changes every month.
- The sewerage fee rose in 2026 and is due to rise again in 2027.
Electricity slab tariff
DEWA’s slab tariff, set in line with decisions of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, charges more per unit as monthly use rises. The slabs are progressive: you pay the first rate on the first 2,000 kWh, the second rate only on the next 2,000, and so on.
| Slab | Monthly use, residential and commercial | Rate per kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Green | 0 to 2,000 kWh | 23 fils |
| Yellow | 2,001 to 4,000 kWh | 28 fils |
| Orange | 4,001 to 6,000 kWh | 32 fils |
| Red | Above 6,000 kWh | 38 fils |
Industrial customers have only two slabs, 23 fils up to 10,000 kWh and 38 fils above. UAE nationals’ residential accounts are billed on separate tariffs.
Water slab tariff
Water follows the same progressive idea, measured in cubic metres. One cubic metre is 1,000 litres, or about 220 imperial gallons.
| Slab | Residential monthly use | Commercial and industrial monthly use | Rate per mยณ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green | 0 to 27 mยณ | 0 to 45 mยณ | AED 7.70 |
| Yellow | 27 to 54 mยณ | 45 to 91 mยณ | AED 8.80 |
| Red | Above 54 mยณ | Above 91 mยณ | AED 10.12 |
Fuel surcharge and meter charges
The fuel surcharge reflects the cost of fuel supplied to DEWA’s power and desalination plants. It is charged on every unit you use and changes with fuel prices, so check DEWA’s tariff page for the current month.
| Charge | Electricity | Water |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel surcharge, October 2026 | 6 fils per kWh | AED 1.10 per mยณ |
| Meter service charge, type 1 | AED 5 a month | AED 5 a month |
| Meter service charge, type 2 | AED 6 a month | AED 7 a month |
| Meter service charge, type 3 | AED 35 a month | Not applicable |
| VAT | 5% | 5% |
Because the surcharge applies per unit, it adds noticeably to a summer bill. At 6 fils, 3,000 kWh of electricity carries AED 180 of fuel surcharge before VAT.
Each bill shows the fuel surcharge as its own line, separate from the slab charge, so you can see how much of the total comes from fuel costs rather than from how much you used. The meter charge is a fixed monthly amount for each service, and it applies even in a month when you use almost nothing.
Water is a good example of why the headline tariff understates the real price. In the first slab, a cubic metre costs AED 7.70, plus AED 1.10 of fuel surcharge and about AED 4.40 of sewerage fee. That is roughly AED 13.20 before VAT, and about AED 13.60 once VAT is added to the DEWA part. Seen that way, fixing a dripping tap or a running toilet pays for itself quickly.
Sewerage and other fees on the bill
DEWA also collects fees on behalf of Dubai Municipality. They appear on the same bill but are not DEWA’s own charges, and VAT does not apply to them.
| Fee | How it is charged |
|---|---|
| Sewerage fee, 2025 | 1.5 fils per gallon of water used |
| Sewerage fee, 2026 | 2 fils per gallon of water used |
| Sewerage fee, from 2027 | 2.8 fils per gallon, as announced |
| Housing fee | For tenants, 5% of annual rent, split into monthly instalments |
| Irrigation and district cooling | Only where they apply to your community or building |
The sewerage fee is the one people overlook. At 2 fils per gallon, every cubic metre of water carries about AED 4.40 of sewerage fee, which is more than half the price of the water itself. The housing fee has its own rules, covered in our Dubai housing fee guide.
Worked examples
These illustrations use the October 2026 rates and assume a type 1 meter for each service. They are estimates to show how the slabs work, not a quote.
| Item | Apartment: 1,500 kWh and 20 mยณ | Villa: 5,000 kWh and 40 mยณ |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity on slabs | AED 345.00 | AED 1,340.00 |
| Electricity fuel surcharge | AED 90.00 | AED 300.00 |
| Water on slabs | AED 154.00 | AED 322.30 |
| Water fuel surcharge | AED 22.00 | AED 44.00 |
| Meter charges | AED 10.00 | AED 10.00 |
| VAT at 5% on the above | AED 31.05 | AED 100.82 |
| Sewerage fee at 2 fils a gallon | AED 88.00 | AED 176.00 |
The villa’s electricity shows the slabs at work: 2,000 kWh at 23 fils, 2,000 at 28 fils and 1,000 at 32 fils. Its water shows the same, with 27 mยณ at AED 7.70 and 13 mยณ at AED 8.80. Neither example includes the housing fee, which depends on your rent, or any cooling charge.
Keeping usage in the cheaper slabs
Because each slab is pricier than the last, cutting the top of your usage saves more than cutting the bottom. Setting the air conditioning a degree or two higher in summer, using timers on water heaters and fixing leaks quickly all help. DEWA’s Smart Living dashboard shows daily consumption and can send high water usage alerts. If a bill jumps without explanation, our guide to why a DEWA bill is high walks through the checks, and our DEWA bill check guide covers paying. The wider picture is in our UAE bills guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the DEWA electricity rate per kWh in 2026?
For residential and commercial customers, 23 fils up to 2,000 kWh a month, 28 fils up to 4,000, 32 fils up to 6,000 and 38 fils above. A fuel surcharge and 5% VAT are added.
What is the DEWA fuel surcharge?
A per-unit charge reflecting fuel costs. For October 2026 it is 6 fils per kWh of electricity and AED 1.10 per cubic metre of water. It changes monthly.
How much is the Dubai sewerage fee in 2026?
2 fils per gallon of water used, collected on the DEWA bill for Dubai Municipality. It is due to rise to 2.8 fils per gallon from 2027.
Is VAT charged on the whole DEWA bill?
No. VAT at 5% applies to DEWA’s consumption charges, but not to the housing, sewerage and irrigation fees it collects for Dubai Municipality.
Last verified: October 2026 against DEWA’s slab tariff and VAT pages, and Dubai Municipality’s announced sewerage fee schedule. The fuel surcharge changes monthly; examples are illustrative.
Written by Roman Shah · Reviewed by the UAEexplained editorial team
Sources: Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), Dubai Municipality
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