Guide to the Sharjah Electricity and Water and Gas Authority (SEWA)
- Apply for a Electricity Connection
- Apply for Water Connection
- Apply for SEWA Gas Connection
- E-Services
- Customer Care Centres
- FAQs
Thinking of moving to Sharjah? There are plenty of reasons why people prefer to live in the cultural capital of the UAE. One of the main reasons is affordable rental properties and its proximity to Dubai. If you are moving into a new flat or villa, it is essential to register with the Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (SEWA) for electricity, water and gas connections. Let’s learn more about the services offered and SEWA connection procedures.
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SEWA SHARJAH
Regardless of your property type or size, you need to register with SEWA Sharjah. Here’s a detailed guide about the utility provider, its services and how you can get a connection.
ABOUT Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority
The Sharjah Electricity Water and Gas Authority was previously known as Sharjah Electricity & Water Company. It operated as a private entity even before Sharjah became part of the United Arab Emirates. Afterwards, it became part of the government as the Electricity and Water Department.
SEWA operates as an independent entity, following the directives of His Highness Sheikh Dr Sultan Bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the Supreme Council Member and the Ruler of Sharjah. The current chairman of the service is His Excellency Saeed Sultan Al Suwaidi.
SEWA Sharjah has power stations and water plants in locations like Wasit, Layyah, Hamriya, Kalba and Khorfakkan. Apart from this, the company also has ISO 50001 certifications. In 2015, they opened a new SCADA centre in Nasseriya, which has one of the region’s largest monitoring control smart screens.
SEWA CONNECTION PROCEDURES
What documents are required for activation?
For a new (provisional) SEWA connection in Sharjah, you need to submit the following things at your nearest customer care centre:
- Application for the connection
- Trade licence copy of SEWA approved electrical contractor
- The professional licence of the Economic Development Department contractor
- Tenancy contract
- Emirates ID
- Ownership certificate
- Affection plan
- Building permission
- Passport copy
- Licence copy (for companies)
If you need a permanent connection, you also need to submit:
- Initial electrical inspection application
- Thermal insulation inspection application
- SEWA-approved drawings
- Building permission
If you need to relocate the metre, change it, increase the load or install another metre, additional requirements include:
- Previous invoice
- NOC from owner
- A/c No. and Metre No.
- Building permission
HOW TO APPLY FOR A NEW CONNECTION FOR WATER SUPPLY IN SHARJAH
Here are the requirements to get a permanent water connection for your home:
- Copy of affection plan
- Copy of Municipality issued completion certificate
- Trade licence copy of the building contractor
- SEWA-approved drawings
- Tenancy contract
- Emirates ID
- Ownership certificate
To relocate or change your metre, you require:
- Previous invoice
- Copy of affection plan
- Confirmation letter from the customer care centre
HOW TO GET A SEWA GAS CONNECTION IN SHARJAH
To install a new gas connection (or convert your existing one) in the emirate, you need to approach contractors licenced by the Directorate of Natural Gas. You can find a list of contractors on the SEWA website. Go to the home page, followed by ‘GAS’ and click on ‘SERVICE GUIDE.’ You can download the list of contractors from this page.
Once you enter into an agreement with the approved gas contractor, you can submit a connection application with the following:
- Passport copy
- Building permission
- Affection plan
- SEWA approved drawings of gas pipe
- Trade licence copy of the contractor
- Letter from the gas contractor
- Payment of relevant charges if building completion certificate is required
If you want to convert your cooker to natural gas, you can directly apply through the official website. For more info, contact the service at +971-600-56-665.
HOW MUCH IS THE SEWA DEPOSIT?
New connection charges in terms of the security deposits are as follows:
- Two-bedroom flat: AED 2,000
- One-bedroom Apartment: AED 1,000
- Studio flats: AED 500
SEWA ONLINE AND MOBILE APP
The service has digitised many of its processes for the convenience of consumers. Once you create a SEWA online account, you can avail the following services:
- Activate SEWA
- Edit or update your profile
- Check SEWA bill online
- Bill payment
- Consumption graphs
- Account cancellation
To register on the online portal, you should have updated the information in the new SEWA billing system. To update your details, submit a copy of your Emirates ID (front and back) along with the tenancy contract/ownership certificate to regsupport@sewa.gov.ae. You also have to mention your account ID found on the bill, (email address) and mobile number.
Once your details are updated in the billing system, visit eservices.sewa.gov.ae to register for an online account.
E-PAY SERVICES
You can also register for the SEWA e-pay services. Visit the official website to register for the service by opening a SEWA Online Account. Once you’re registered, it’s easy to make SEWA bill payments with the ePay on the smart app or website option.
SEWA SMART APP
The utility provider also has a bilingual app that provides the following functionalities:
- Bill enquiry and payment history (for 12 months)
- E-pay through credit card
- Consumption stats
- Locate nearest customer care centre
- Fault reporting with Photo capture and GPS location
- News and updates
SEWA Smart App is available for both iOS and Android, but you need to have an online SEWA account to use the payment feature on the app.
Customer Care Centres
SEWA is the supplier of electricity, water and piped gas in the emirate. The company also has a drinking water subsidiary, Zulal, which has a factory in Rahmania. Here’s a list of SEWA offices in Sharjah:
- Al Majaz
- Industrial Area
- Al Marijah
- Al Jazzat
- Halwan
- Al Qasimia
- Al Taawun
These are convenience centres with state-of-the-art facilities to facilitate customers. Furthermore, the SEWA e-portal and SEWA app have made it easier for consumers to make bill enquiries, bill payments, update their profiles and even cancel their accounts.
FAQs
HOW TO REQUEST GAS CONNECTION IN SHARJAH?
As discussed above, you can request a gas connection by visiting the service centres.
WHERE TO PAY YOUR BILL THROUGH SEWA?
You can easily pay your SEWA bill online or from the app. The government utility also issues a ‘Green Bill’, as part of its conservation efforts. You can only make online payments using your credit card (VISA and Master), which are subject to bank service charges of 1.25%.
There are several banks in Sharjah that facilitate SEWA bill payment, including:
- Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank
- Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank
- Ajman Bank
- Al Hilal Bank
- Citi Bank
- Commercial Bank of Dubai
- Dubai Islamic Bank
- Emirates Islamic Bank
- Emirates NBD Bank
- First Abu Dhabi Bank
- Invest Bank & Public
- Mashreq Bank
- National Bank of Fujairah
- Noor Islamic Bank
- Sharjah Islamic Bank
- Standard Chartered
- United Arab Bank
- Arab Bank
- Al Masraf
- RAKBank
- CBI
- NBQ
What are the alternate SEWA bill payment ways?
You can also pay your monthly bills using the any Etisalat electronic payment machine in Sharjah. Or other options are to pay your bills through SEWA customer care centres, Emirates Post office and UAE Exchange centres
How to cancel your SEWA account in Sharjah?
Cancelling your SEWA account is fairly easy, as you can do it directly through the website or app. Documents required for cancellation include:
- Clearance certificate from Sharjah Municipality
- Tenancy contract
- Sharjah SEWA deposit payment receipt
- Copy of your Emirates ID
The Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority will assign a technician for service disconnection and final meter readings. You will have to pay any outstanding dues. If you need urgent disconnection, you will have to pay AED 200.
Does SEWA offer scholarships?
Sharjah Electricity & Water Authority also launched a university scholarship program in 1997 to help students pursue higher education. Hundreds of students have availed of these scholarships and received the opportunity to study at institutions like the American University of Sharjah and the University of Sharjah. Interested students can directly apply to the ‘SCHOLARSHIPS’ page on the SEWA website.
What are the SEWA contact details?
- Primary address: Sharjah Electricity & Water Authority Building, Al Khan Area, Al Majaz District 3, 135
- SEWA office timing: May vary depending on the location
- Website: www.sewa.gov.ae
- SEWA contact number: +971-600-566-665
- SEWA emergency call centre number: 991
Have more questions? You can find answers in SEWA FAQs in Sharjah. Do you live in the northern emirates? Learn all about Etihad Water and Electricity (Etihad WE) which handles distribution of utilities in emirates including UAQ, RAK and Ajman.
This wraps up our SEWA guide. Hopefully, this information will be valuable as you move to the emirate. If you’ve found the perfect rental apartment, read more about your rights and responsibilities as a tenant in Sharjah.
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How can I pay SEWA bill without registration, Please advise.
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