Who pays for water, electricity and internet: the tenant or the owner?

In practice the tenant registers and pays for DEWA (water and electricity) and internet during the lease, while the owner remains responsible for the property itself. The exact split is confirmed in the tenancy contract registered through Ejari.

16 September 2026 · By Orven Properties · 2 min read

In practice, the tenant registers and pays for day-to-day utilities, DEWA for water and electricity, and their own internet connection, during the lease period. The owner remains responsible for the property itself, including service charges to the building and any structural or fixed-installation matters. The exact split for any given tenancy is set out in the lease contract registered through Ejari, so it is worth confirming before you sign rather than assuming a default.

How this works day to day

Once a tenancy begins, the tenant typically opens their own DEWA account for the unit and arranges internet directly with a provider, paying both as part of living there rather than through the owner. This keeps consumption billing tied to whoever is actually using the unit, which matters if the property changes tenants or sits vacant between leases. Our guide on what Ejari is explains how the registered lease sets out these responsibilities in writing.

What stays with the owner

Service charges for the building's shared facilities and common areas are billed to the owner, not the tenant, regardless of who occupies the unit. If a fixed installation in the unit needs repair, this is generally the owner's responsibility unless the lease states otherwise, which is another reason to have the lease terms clear from the outset. Our guide on who manages the property when I am abroad covers how these ongoing responsibilities are typically handled for owners based outside the UAE.

ORVEN PROPERTIES

Talk to an Orven adviser

Leave your number: an adviser calls you back or replies on WhatsApp, in your language. No commitment.

Your name

Phone (WhatsApp)

Budget (optional)Best time to call (your local time)

Why the lease contract matters here

Because the split is set by contract rather than by a single fixed rule, it is worth reading the tenancy agreement carefully or having a property manager review it on your behalf before it is registered through Ejari. This avoids disputes later about who owed what during the tenancy.

How Orven helps

We can put you in touch with a property manager who prepares and reviews the lease terms, including the utilities arrangement, before a tenant moves in. Write to us on WhatsApp at +971 52 776 1939 or at sales@orvenproperties.com once your unit is ready to let and we will help you set this up correctly from the start.

FAQ

Does the tenant open the DEWA account in their own name? Yes, this is the standard arrangement, with the tenant registering and paying for consumption during their tenancy.

Am I responsible for service charges as the owner? Yes, building service charges are billed to the owner, separately from the tenant's utility consumption.

Can the split be different from the standard arrangement? Yes, the lease contract sets the actual terms, so it is worth confirming this explicitly rather than assuming.

Where is this recorded? In the tenancy contract, which is registered through Ejari once agreed between owner and tenant.

Frequently asked questions