DEWA’s published apartment move-in figures
| Item | Published amount | How to treat it |
|---|---|---|
| Residential apartment security deposit | AED 2,000 | Refundable deposit, subject to the applicable account conditions |
| Small-meter activation charges | AED 155 | Published total of connection, registration, knowledge and innovation fees |
| Electricity and water use | Depends on usage | Recurring bills rather than a fixed move-in amount |
Checked against DEWA’s official move-in page on 21 September 2026. Confirm the amount shown for your application; larger-meter charges differ.
Keep a deposit separate from a cost
The deposit still uses cash when you move, even though it is not the same as a permanently spent fee. Record it in the first-year cash requirement and separately in your paperwork so you can track the conditions for its return.
The calculator separates annual rent, monthly bills, refundable deposits and one-off amounts. Add only figures you have obtained for your own home. A cooling arrangement or building move-in payment can differ between apartments.
Avoid counting the same item twice
Ask whether a quoted moving package includes items that already appear in an agent’s or building manager’s estimate. Keep provider payments and agency charges on separate lines until you know what each covers.
Monthly bills in the calculator are your estimate. If you can obtain previous bills for the same apartment, check the dates and usage circumstances before assuming they represent your own future consumption.
Plan the payment dates as well as the total
A first-year total does not mean every payment is due on day one. Put rent instalments, deposits, utility activation, moving and any essential furniture on a calendar. That tells you the cash needed before handover and the costs that arrive later.
Confirm access cards, keys, the move-in slot and utility arrangements before booking a moving team. Keep receipts together with the handover record and the condition photographs.