Air conditioning is the biggest part of most Dubai utility bills. How your building is cooled can change your monthly costs a lot, so it is worth asking before you sign.
The three common set-ups
1. Chiller-free (cooling included)
The building's cooling cost is covered — usually by the landlord or through the building's service charges. You pay DEWA for electricity and water, but no separate cooling bill.
2. District cooling (separate cooling bill)
The building is cooled by a district cooling provider. You open an account with that provider and pay a cooling bill on top of DEWA. These bills can include a fixed monthly part as well as the amount you use.
3. Split or individual AC units
Each unit has its own AC. There is no separate cooling bill — the AC runs on electricity, so it shows up on your DEWA bill instead.
How to tell which one a home has
Why it matters
Two similar apartments at the same rent can cost quite differently to live in once cooling is added. When comparing homes, compare rent + expected monthly bills, not rent alone.
Moving out
If you have a district cooling account, close it and get a clearance along with DEWA's — the landlord will usually ask for both before returning your deposit. See [how to get your security deposit back](/blog/get-security-deposit-back-dubai).
Looking for a home? Tell us your budget and whether you want chiller-free on WhatsApp, or browse [homes for rent](/rent).