Authority dossier · DEWA
DEWA Approval & NOC
DEWA approvals for fit-outs: NOCs, electrical load increases, new meters, temporary connections and inspections. FitOutPermits.ae coordinates DEWA alongside your fit-out permit.
All of Dubai — electricity and water connections, loads and meters
The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) approves the electrical and water side of your fit-out: new meters, load increases, temporary construction supplies, and any work that touches the connection between your unit and the grid. Most fit-outs of substance — commercial kitchens, clinics, gyms, salons — need a DEWA interaction alongside their building permit.
DEWA work must be designed and executed through DEWA-approved contractors, and its inspection regime checks installations against the approved single-line diagrams. We calculate loads honestly, file the applications, and coordinate the inspections so power is live when your programme needs it — not weeks after handover.
Content last reviewed July 2026 · requirements vary by building, community and scope — confirm your project’s specifics with us before committing to a lease or programme.
When DEWA approval is required
- 01Electrical load increase — new kitchens, HVAC, medical or gym equipment routinely exceed base allocations
- 02New or separated meters when units are split, combined or sublet
- 03Temporary construction power for the fit-out works themselves
- 04Water connection changes: new pantries, additional toilets, commercial kitchens
- 05Any modification to the unit's main distribution board or rising-main connection
Documents you'll need
- Trade licence and Ejari / lease for the premises
- Landlord NOC for load or meter changes
- Single-line diagrams and load schedules by a DEWA-approved electrical contractor
- Approved fit-out permit reference from the building authority
- Passport/Emirates ID of the authorised signatory
- Existing DEWA account details or final bill for meter transactions
The process, step by step
- 01
Load assessment
We calculate the true connected and demand loads of your fitted unit, compare them to the existing allocation, and determine whether an increase application is needed at all — often it isn't, and that saves weeks.
- 02
Design & documentation
Single-line diagrams and load schedules are prepared by DEWA-approved contractors to DEWA's submission standard.
- 03
NOC / application filing
The correct DEWA service is applied for — load increase, new meter, temporary supply — with the landlord and building-authority documents attached.
- 04
Installation & inspection
Works proceed with the approved contractor; DEWA inspects the installation against the approved diagrams before energising.
- 05
Meter release & activation
Meters are installed or re-rated, the account is activated, and your unit has legal, billed power and water matched to its actual demand.
Fees & charges
| Item | Indicative amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Load increase / connection fees | per kW of additional demand | per DEWA's published tariff |
| Meter installation & security deposits | AED 2,000+ commercial | deposit scales with expected consumption |
| Temporary construction supply | varies | by duration and capacity |
DEWA charges are tariff-based and predictable once the load is known — which is why the load assessment comes first. Deposits are refundable account items, not costs.
Common rejection reasons
- Load schedules inflated with unrealistic diversity assumptions
- Non-DEWA-approved contractor preparing or executing the electrical works
- Installation deviating from the approved single-line diagram at inspection
- Missing landlord NOC for the additional building load
- Meter applications with unresolved previous accounts on the premises
Timeline
Simple NOCs and meter transactions clear in days. Load increases involving the building's rising mains — or, rarely, the local substation — take longer; the load assessment tells us which path you're on before we promise dates.
DEWA approval — FAQs
Compare the fitted unit's demand load to its existing allocation. A standard office usually fits; a commercial kitchen, clinic, gym or salon usually doesn't. We run this calculation as part of every fit-out scope — it's the difference between a permit condition discovered in week one versus week ten.
Only DEWA-approved contractors can design, submit and execute works touching DEWA's network and metering. Fit-out wiring inside the unit is the fit-out contractor's job; the connection side is regulated.
No — they're complementary. The building authority approves the fit-out; DEWA approves the power and water serving it. Restaurants and clinics typically need both plus Civil Defence, all sequenced together.
A no-objection confirmation from DEWA for works near or affecting its assets — excavations, connections, load changes. Which flavour you need depends on scope; filing the wrong one is a common DIY delay.
Related authorities
Common project types here
Start with a free permit check
Need DEWA approval? Start with the free check.
Send the unit location and intended works — we'll confirm the exact DEWA requirements, fees and a fixed quote within one business day.
+971 55 969 3009 · hello@fitoutpermits.ae · Al Quoz, Dubai