How much is the Dubai housing fee?

For tenants it is 5% of the annual rent, collected by DEWA on behalf of Dubai Municipality and split into 12 monthly instalments on your DEWA bill. On an AED 90,000 annual rent that is AED 4,500 a year, or AED 375 a month.

Which rent is the housing fee based on?

The annual rent registered in your Ejari contract. If the Ejari is out of date, for example still showing last year's rent, the fee will be calculated on the wrong figure.

Does the landlord or the tenant pay the housing fee?

The fee is billed to the DEWA account holder of the unit, which for a rented home is normally the tenant. Some landlords agree to cover it, but only if that is written into the contract.

Why am I still being charged after moving out?

Because the DEWA account in your name is still active. The fee stops when you close the account through DEWA's move-out service and settle the final bill.

The 5% Housing Fee on Your DEWA Bill: What It Is and When It Is Wrong

Open a Dubai DEWA bill and one line is neither electricity nor water: the housing fee. New residents often think it is a mistake, and flatmates often argue about it. It is a real municipal charge, but it can be charged on the wrong figure. Here is how it works and how to check yours.

What the housing fee is

The housing fee is a Dubai Municipality charge that funds municipal services. For tenants it is 5% of the annual rent. DEWA collects it for the Municipality and splits it into 12 monthly instalments on your bill, which is why it looks like part of your utilities.

Quick maths

AED 60,000 rent: AED 3,000 a year, AED 250 a month
AED 90,000 rent: AED 4,500 a year, AED 375 a month
AED 150,000 rent: AED 7,500 a year, AED 625 a month

It follows your Ejari

The fee is calculated from the annual rent registered in your Ejari contract, and DEWA's system is linked to Ejari so that the rent value updates when a contract is renewed. That link is also where most errors come from.

When the fee is wrong, and how to fix it

Charged on last year's rent. If your rent went down, or the renewal was never registered, the fee keeps using the old figure. Ask the landlord or agent to register the renewal in Ejari. Once the new contract is registered, the fee should follow.
Charged on the wrong rent altogether. Compare the Ejari certificate with your signed contract. If Ejari shows a higher rent than you actually pay, have it corrected. A wrong Ejari figure also weakens you in any rent increase dispute, because the RERA calculator and the RDC start from the registered rent.
No Ejari at all. This is a bigger problem than the fee. Without Ejari your tenancy is harder to enforce. See why your landlord must register Ejari.
Still charged after moving out. The fee is tied to the active DEWA account, not your lease. Close the account through DEWA's move-out service, settle the final bill and keep the confirmation. Your DEWA deposit refund depends on it.

Flatmates and shared units

DEWA bills one account holder per premises, and that person is liable for the whole bill, including the housing fee on the full unit rent. If you share, agree in writing how the fee is split. It is a private arrangement between you, not something DEWA or the Municipality will divide for you.

Can the landlord be made to pay it?

Only by agreement. The fee sits on the account holder's bill, which for a rented home is normally the tenant. If you negotiated "all bills included", make sure the contract says so explicitly, and that the DEWA account is in the landlord's name.

Monthly rent payments

If you pay rent monthly, the fee is still 5% of the annual rent in Ejari, billed monthly. It does not change with the number of cheques.

Renewing soon?

Your registered rent drives both the housing fee and any lawful increase. Check your allowed rent increase before you sign the renewal.

Fee rules are set by Dubai Municipality and collected by DEWA. If a figure on your bill does not match your Ejari, contact DEWA or Dubai Municipality (800900) directly: they are the only bodies that can correct it.