AC servicing — frequency and typical cost
Filters monthly, deep service every 6 months. Expect AED 150–400 per unit per service in Dubai.
Dubai runs hard on AC for nine months of the year. Skipping servicing is the #1 cause of mid-summer breakdowns.
What the tenant should do
- Clean filters monthly in summer (May–September), every 2 months otherwise. It's a five-minute job.
- Watch for water leaks at the indoor unit — usually a blocked drain line.
- Notice cooling falling off — a sign of filter clogs or refrigerant issues.
What needs a technician
- Deep service every 6 months: chemical wash of the indoor coil, drain-line flush, condenser cleaning. Recommended for hot climates.
- Refrigerant top-up only when actually low (a competent tech checks pressures rather than topping up by default).
- Compressor noise / vibration — diagnose before it gets worse.
Typical Dubai costs
- Standard service per unit: AED 150–250.
- Deep / chemical service: AED 300–400.
- Annual maintenance contracts: AED 800–1,500 for a typical 2–3 bedroom flat covering twice-yearly servicing plus call-outs.
Whether the landlord or the tenant pays depends on the contract. Many Dubai leases require the tenant to maintain a service contract — read yours.
Sources: market quotes from licensed maintenance providers.
Related questions
Landlord vs tenant: who pays for what?
Major issues are landlord; minor wear and a small per-incident threshold (typically AED 500–1,000) sit with the tenant.
A leak or burst pipe — what to do first
Stop water at the main, kill power if it's near electrics, document, then call the building/landlord. Don't wait — water damage compounds.
Reporting a community-wide issue (potholes, lighting, security)
Most master-developer communities have an app or hotline. For roads outside private communities, use the RTA or municipality channels.