FAQ

Questions, answered honestly.

A growing library of practical answers for residents in Dubai — renting, buying, utilities, service charges, reporting issues, and how Sukkan Dubai works. Written by residents, sourced where it matters, updated as things change.

Moving in & settling
Renting in Dubai
Service charges & fees
Maintenance & repairs
Using Sukkan Dubai

Browse by topic

8 topics covered.

Getting started in your home

Moving in, taking handover, first paperwork, first utilities.

  • Why your Emirates ID comes first
  • Ejari registration: what it is and how to do it
  • What is handover, and what is snagging?
6 questions

Utilities & connections

DEWA, district cooling, Salik, Nol, internet.

  • DEWA: how billing works and what's actually on your bill
  • Empower and district cooling, explained
  • What is the Housing Fee on my DEWA bill?
5 questions

Renting as a tenant

Contracts, deposits, rent increases, eviction notices, disputes.

  • How a tenancy contract works in Dubai
  • Security deposits: typical amounts and how to recover them
  • Rent increases & the RERA Rental Index
6 questions

Renting out as a landlord

Listing, contracts, deposit deductions, maintenance, raising rent.

  • Listing your property: agent vs direct
  • What you can (and can't) deduct from a deposit
  • Forms A, B, F, and I — what each one is
5 questions

Buying & selling

Transfer fees, mortgages, NOCs, off-plan vs ready, title deeds.

  • The 4% DLD transfer fee — and what else you'll pay
  • Mortgage basics for residents and non-residents
  • NOC from the developer — what it is and how to get one
6 questions

Service charges & community fees

What service charges pay for, RERA & Mollak, disputes.

  • What service charges actually pay for
  • How service-charge rates are set and approved
  • Disputing your service charge
5 questions

Maintenance & reporting issues

Who pays for what, urgent issues, how to report community problems.

  • Landlord vs tenant: who pays for what?
  • AC servicing — frequency and typical cost
  • A leak or burst pipe — what to do first
6 questions

Sukkan & community life

What Sukkan is, what we collect, sub-communities, the committee.

  • What Sukkan is — and isn't
  • What information we collect about you
  • Sub-communities — how we group residents
6 questions
Most asked

Start with these.

Top 6 of the most-read questions.
Getting started in your home

Why your Emirates ID comes first

Almost every other step — tenancy, utilities, banking — depends on your Emirates ID being issued first.

Read answer
Getting started in your home

Ejari registration: what it is and how to do it

Ejari is the official record of your tenancy contract. You can't activate DEWA, get a parking permit, or sponsor family without it.

Read answer
Getting started in your home

Connecting DEWA in a new home

Most activations are done online in 1–2 working days. You'll pay a refundable security deposit upfront.

Read answer
Utilities & connections

DEWA: how billing works and what's actually on your bill

Your DEWA bill includes electricity, water, sewerage, the Housing Fee, and a few small charges. Here's what each one is.

Read answer
Renting as a tenant

How a tenancy contract works in Dubai

Standard contracts are 12 months, paid in 1–4 cheques. Ejari registration makes the contract enforceable.

Read answer
Renting as a tenant

Rent increases & the RERA Rental Index

Increases are capped by how far below market average your current rent is — 0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, or 20%. The Rental Index sets the ceiling.

Read answer

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