DEWA approval is the sign-off from Dubai Electricity and Water Authority that a new or changed electrical installation is designed and built to its rules, and that it can be connected and metered. For a fit-out or a renovation that changes the electrical load, it is usually the last approval before the power goes on, so a late or rejected application holds up handover. This guide covers who can apply, when you need it, the documents DEWA asks for, its published service times, and how to check whether a contractor is DEWA approved. Every requirement below links to the DEWA page it comes from, checked on 25 September 2026.
What is DEWA approval?
DEWA approval is not one certificate. For a fit-out, it is a short sequence run through DEWA’s Getting Electricity Fit-out Connections service, which lets enrolled contractors and consultants get a power connection for a shell and core or fit-out installation (DEWA service guide).
The sequence has three checkpoints:
- Design approval: DEWA reviews the load schedules and wiring layouts.
- LV inspection: a DEWA inspector checks the low-voltage installation on site.
- Connection: once any snags are fixed, the meter is installed and the supply is released.
New buildings go through a longer version of the same process, which adds a building NOC and substation approvals (DEWA, getting electricity).
When do you need DEWA approval in a renovation or fit-out?
The trigger is a change to what DEWA approved and connected, not the size of the project. As a rule of thumb:
| Work | DEWA application? |
|---|---|
| Fit-out of an empty shell and core unit (office, shop, restaurant, clinic) | Yes. A fit-out connection through DEWA’s fit-out service (DEWA) |
| Renovation that adds distribution boards, changes the load schedule or moves the meter | Usually yes. Ask the enrolled consultant or contractor to confirm which DEWA service applies before design starts |
| Moving a water meter or water pipes inside the plot | Yes. DEWA’s water network modification service (DEWA) |
| Like-for-like replacement of sockets, switches or light fittings | Usually no DEWA application, but the building or community will normally still want a work permit or NOC |
| Painting, flooring, joinery with no electrical change | No |
If you are taking an empty unit, the shell and core vs fit-out guide explains what the landlord hands over and what the fit-out has to add, including the electrical distribution that DEWA will inspect.
Who can apply for DEWA approval?
Only a DEWA enrolled consultant or contractor can submit. DEWA’s fit-out service and its main connection service both say the same thing: “Enrolled Consultant and Contractor only” (DEWA, DEWA).
That means an owner or tenant cannot file the application themselves. What the owner does provide is the landlord NOC in DEWA’s prescribed format, and a signature on DEWA’s terms and conditions for supply on a new connection.
Before you sign a fit-out or renovation contract, ask in writing which company’s DEWA enrolment will be used to submit, and whether that cost is in the quote.
What documents does DEWA need for a fit-out connection?
DEWA lists these for a fit-out connection (DEWA service guide). The first three are marked mandatory:
| Document | What it is |
|---|---|
| Copy of the DEWA approved TCL/MD and MDB/SMDB schedule of the main project (mandatory) | The building’s approved total connected load and maximum demand, and the board schedule your unit hangs off |
| Load distribution schedule for the final distribution board (mandatory) | The circuits and loads in your unit’s own board |
| Landlord NOC in DEWA’s prescribed format (mandatory) | The owner’s consent to the connection |
| Wiring layouts: lighting | Drawing of the lighting circuits |
| Wiring layouts: power | Drawing of the power circuits |
| Site photo | Uploaded when the LV inspection is requested |
A new building connection needs more: single line diagram, LV room and substation details, floor plans and a setting-out plan with the meter location (DEWA). The MEP guide explains what these electrical systems are if the terms are new.
What are the steps to get DEWA approval for a fit-out?
Based on DEWA’s service guide (DEWA):
- Prepare the design and collect the landlord NOC and the main project’s approved load schedule.
- Submit online. The enrolled consultant or contractor logs in to the DEWA website, selects the main project reference and attaches the documents.
- Design approval. DEWA approves, rejects or returns the application for corrections.
- Invoice and payment. DEWA issues the connection invoice, and it has to be paid before inspection.
- LV inspection. Requested with a site photo once the installation is complete.
- Snags and meter. Any snag list is fixed, then the meter is installed and the supply released.
Most delays happen at step 3 and step 6: drawings that do not match the main project’s load schedule, and site work that does not match the approved drawings.
How long does DEWA approval take?
DEWA publishes service times in working days. These are DEWA’s own targets for each step once a complete application is in, not the time for the whole job:
| Step | DEWA published time | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Fit-out design approval | 1 working day | DEWA fit-out |
| LV inspection | 1 working day from submission | DEWA fit-out |
| Connection invoice (fit-out) | 3 working days | DEWA fit-out |
| Building NOC (new connection) | 2 working days | DEWA connection |
| LV design approval, new connection | 1 working day up to 150 kW; 2 up to 400 kW; 3 above 400 kW | DEWA connection |
| Water network modification | Varies per case | DEWA water |
Each rejection or snag restarts the clock for that step, so the real timeline depends on how clean the drawings and the site are. Plan for DEWA in the programme from the start rather than at the end.
How much does DEWA approval cost?
DEWA lists the fit-out connection service itself as free (DEWA). What you do pay is the connection cost on the invoice DEWA issues, and on new connections DEWA says that cost is valid for one year from issue (DEWA). For water network changes, DEWA calculates a cost estimate from the pipes, fittings and services involved (DEWA).
The other cost is the consultant’s or contractor’s fee for preparing drawings and handling the submission, which is set by them, not DEWA. Ask for it as a separate line in the quote.
What is a DEWA NOC?
“DEWA NOC” is used for different things, so check which one you are being asked for:
- Building NOC: part of DEWA’s new connection process for a building, with a published time of 2 working days (DEWA).
- Landlord NOC: the owner’s consent in DEWA’s prescribed format, required for a fit-out connection (DEWA).
- Building management or community NOC: not a DEWA document, but usually the first thing you need before any work starts.
If you are a tenant moving out and closing your DEWA account, that is a customer account matter, not a building approval.
How do you check if a contractor is DEWA approved?
DEWA publishes a public classification of its enrolled consultants and contractors (DEWA classification list). Companies are grouped into four grades, Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze, and DEWA awards the grade for each application it processes, shown once the supply is fully released.
The list shows the category each company is enrolled under, for example Contractor – Electrical, Contractor – FitOut, Consultant – Electrical or Consultant – General. To check a company:
- Ask for the company’s name exactly as it appears on its trade licence.
- Find it on DEWA’s list and check the category matches the work.
- Confirm in the contract that this company will be the one submitting to DEWA.
Our guide to choosing a renovation contractor covers the other checks worth doing before you sign.
How does DEWA fit with the other approvals?
DEWA is one of several approvals on a fit-out or renovation, and they run in a set order:
| Who | What they approve |
|---|---|
| Building management or community | NOC, working hours, access and service shutdowns |
| Dubai Municipality, DDA, Trakhees or the relevant free zone | Renovation or fit-out permit, depending on where the building is |
| Dubai Civil Defence | Fire alarm, firefighting and voice evacuation drawings (DCD) |
| DEWA | Electrical design, LV inspection and the connection or meter |
For villas, the villa permit guide explains where Dubai Municipality draws the line between decoration and modification. For offices, see our office fit-out page, and for electrical and AC upgrades in a villa or building, the MEP works page.
DEWA updates its services and service times. Check the current requirements on the DEWA website, or with the enrolled consultant or contractor on your project, before work starts.
Frequently asked questions
What is DEWA approval?+
DEWA approval is Dubai Electricity and Water Authority’s sign-off on a new or changed electrical installation. For a fit-out it covers design approval, an LV inspection on site and the connection or meter.
Can I apply for DEWA approval myself?+
No. DEWA accepts these applications from enrolled consultants and contractors only. The owner provides the landlord NOC in DEWA’s prescribed format.
How long does DEWA approval take for a fit-out?+
DEWA publishes 1 working day for fit-out design approval, 3 working days for the connection invoice and 1 working day for the LV inspection from submission. Rejections and snags add time.
Is DEWA approval free?+
DEWA lists the fit-out connection service as free. The connection cost on DEWA’s invoice is paid before the LV inspection, and consultant or contractor fees are separate.
How do I know if a contractor is DEWA approved?+
Check DEWA’s public classification list of enrolled consultants and contractors. It shows each company’s category, such as Contractor – Electrical or Contractor – FitOut, and its grade: Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze.
