If you have recently rented or purchased a home, you may notice a housing fee on your DEWA bill. Many new settlers have questions about housing fees in Dubai, including who pays them, how they are calculated and who is exempted, according to the law. To help clarify all these concerns, we have answered some of the most important FAQs about Dubai Municipality housing fees.
List of FAQs About Dubai Municipality Housing Fees
Some of the most common questions about Dubai Municipality fee and their detailed answers are below:
What is the Dubai Municipality Fee?
The Dubai Municipality housing fee is a government fee charged to non-UAE nationals occupying residential properties, either as a tenant or a homeowner. The fee is collected through the monthly DEWA bill in accordance with the applicable regulations.
How is the Dubai housing fee calculated?
The Dubai housing fee calculation differs for tenants and homeowners.
- For rented homes: The fee is 5% of the annual rent stated in the registered Ejari tenancy contract.
- For owner-occupied homes: The fee is 5% of the property’s estimated annual rental value, based on the Rental Index published by the Real Estate Regulatory Agency (RERA), which is updated periodically.
This is how housing fee calculator works.
Who is required to pay the housing fee?
The housing fee applies to non-UAE national residents occupying residential properties in Dubai. This includes both tenants and homeowners, provided they meet the applicable eligibility criteria.
How do I pay the Dubai housing fee?
The fee is billed through your DEWA account. It appears as a monthly charge alongside your electricity and water bill. This means when you make a DEWA bill payment, the housing fee is paid automatically.
Does the housing fee apply to commercial properties?
No. The fee is only applicable to residential properties. If a commercial property has been incorrectly classified as residential and charged the housing fee, the property classification must first be updated with DEWA before submitting a correction or housing fee adjustment request to Dubai Municipality.
Why am I paying the housing fee for a vacant property?
The housing fee begins once the DEWA account is created for the property, regardless of whether the property is occupied. To avoid charges on an unused property, the DEWA account should be closed or deactivated when the property becomes vacant.
Why was I charged for a full month even though I moved in during the month?
The housing fee is linked to the tenancy contract period rather than calendar months. It starts from the tenancy commencement date and continues until the contract expires, even if occupancy begins partway through a month.
Can I get a refund if I was charged incorrectly?
Yes. If the Dubai Municipality housing fee was applied incorrectly or calculated inaccurately, you can submit a correction request. Once approved, the refunded amount will be credited to your DEWA account.
Do I need to submit supporting documents for a housing fee correction?
Most applicants do not need to provide supporting documents. However, tenants living in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) must submit a copy of their tenancy contract when requesting a correction.
How can I check my property’s rental value?
Property owners can view the estimated rental value using the Rental Index Calculator available on the Dubai Land Department (DLD) website. This value is used to calculate housing fees for owner-occupied residential properties.
What should I do if my housing fee request is taking longer than expected?
Housing fee correction requests are typically processed within three working days. If your request is delayed, you can check the status through your registered email, contact the housing fee support team or schedule an appointment through the Dubai Municipality website.
Are there any exemptions from the Dubai Municipality housing fee?
Yes. Certain categories may qualify for exemptions under applicable laws and government decisions. These include:
- UAE nationals
- Consulates, based on reciprocal agreements
- Entities granted official exemptions by the relevant authorities
What happens if there are two DEWA meters for the same residential property?
Where a single residential unit has two DEWA meters installed for technical reasons, such as additional electrical load requirements, the housing fee should only be charged on one account. However, both meters relate to the same ownership title or tenancy contract.
What should I do if the housing fee has been charged on the wrong DEWA meter?
You should submit a housing fee correction request through one of Dubai Municipality’s approved service channels. Requests cannot be submitted through DEWA. Once received, Dubai Municipality will coordinate with DEWA to verify the information and process the correction. This process generally takes around five working days. It is one of the important queries about Dubai housing fee.
How can I track my housing fee correction request?
After the processing period, you can check the status of your request and any account updates through digital platforms, including the DEWA Smart App, website or other approved online services.
These are the answers to some of the important FAQs about Dubai Municipality housing fees. Knowing how the fee is calculated, who is required to pay it and when, will help you avoid unnecessary charges and ensure your billing remains accurate.
Knowledge of the applicable housing fee and billing process is useful for anyone who is buying or renting a property in Dubai to keep track of the recurring expenses.
For more information on different types of property service fees and municipality service charges, stay connected with the UAE’s leading property blog.
