Solar panels in Dubai: the Shams Dubai rules, cleaning and maintenance

Updated 17 October 2026. Every rule in this guide links to its official source at the end of the page.

Key facts

• Law: Executive Council Resolution No. (46) of 2014: DEWA's prior approval and a connection agreement are required before connecting.
• Net metering: exported units are set off against imported units; surplus carries forward and is not paid in cash.
• Who installs: consultants and contractors registered with DEWA for grid-connected solar (DRRG Solar PV Consultants and Contractors).
• Labels: dual-source caution labels on DC junction boxes, labelled AC isolator, displayed wiring diagram and emergency shutdown procedure.
• Metering: accessible meter cabinet for DEWA's PV generation check meter and tariff meter.
• Fines: AED 1,500 to 75,000 per violation, doubled on repeat within a year, up to AED 150,000.

Solar in Dubai: grid-connected by design

The Dubai Building Code describes solar energy as clean and secure, notes that DEWA encourages its use to reduce reliance on diminishing traditional sources such as gas, oil and coal, and sets the default model for buildings: onsite generation from solar photovoltaics is a grid-connected system, connected to the DEWA network and operated and maintained in line with the applicable legislation and DEWA's Shams Dubai regulations. The code also states that DEWA's published specifications, standards and procedures for solar, updated regularly on DEWA's website, form an integral part of the Dubai Building Code.

This guide explains the legal framework and building code rules that apply to rooftop solar in Dubai, and how to keep panels clean and producing. One limitation should be stated plainly: DEWA's own Shams Dubai documents could not be accessed for this guide, so it quotes them only as the Dubai Building Code describes them, and owners should check DEWA's current requirements with a DEWA-registered contractor.

The law: Resolution No. 46 of 2014

Executive Council Resolution No. (46) of 2014 regulates the connection of photovoltaic generation units to the power distribution system in the Emirate of Dubai. It applies to all producers with consumer accounts in the emirate, including special development zones and free zones such as the Dubai International Financial Centre, though not to projects governed by Law No. 6 of 2011. Its key provisions:

The text above follows the resolution as published on the Dubai Legislation Portal; DEWA may vary its connection terms under Article 10, so the current terms should always be confirmed with DEWA or a DEWA-registered contractor. The resolution defines a generation unit as one or more units generating electricity exclusively from solar power for a single consumer account, and the connection terms as the requirements and standards approved by DEWA, including safety, health, environment and quality standards.

How net metering works

Article 9 of the resolution sets the rules for using and exporting solar electricity:

1. Electricity generated on a property with a single consumer account is consumed within that property; with several accounts, it is consumed by the units on the same land plot.
2. When generation exceeds consumption, the excess is exported to the distribution system under the resolution and the connection agreement.
3. Exported units are set off against imported units for the same billing period, and the account is adjusted.
4. When exported units exceed imported units in a billing period, the excess accrues to the producer's account to be set off against imports on later bills.
5. A producer is not entitled to any money for surplus electricity, only to the set-off.

As guidance, this means a system sized well beyond a property's own consumption builds up credits it cannot cash, so sizing to actual use is usually the sensible target.

What owners must do

Article 8 of the resolution lists the producer's obligations:

• before installing and connecting, obtain approval from the competent entities in charge of licensing buildings and land use classification;
• meet all requirements and supply all equipment DEWA requires for installation and connection, including security and safety requirements and electricity meters;
• comply with the connection agreement, the connection terms and any other relevant DEWA terms;
• not exceed the export limit DEWA has authorised;
• not do anything that may affect the safety and efficiency of the distribution system;
• cooperate with DEWA employees, including allowing them to measure exported electricity.

As guidance, the practical meaning for owners is that solar is not a do-it-yourself project in Dubai: approvals come first, the installer must be the right kind of company, and changes to a connected system, such as adding panels or replacing an inverter, should go through the same channels.

Fines and DEWA's powers

The resolution's schedule sets fines for producers, applied unless the producer complies with a notification of violation, which must state the violation, the deadline for remedy and the measures DEWA will take:

A repeated violation within one year doubles the fine, up to a maximum of AED 150,000. DEWA may also suspend the connection agreement for up to three months or revoke it, and claim compensation for damage to the distribution system. DEWA inspectors have law enforcement capacity to record violations, and an affected party may submit a written grievance to DEWA's chief executive within 30 days of being notified.

Who may design and install: DEWA-registered firms

The Dubai Building Code states that consultants and contractors registered with DEWA for grid-connected solar PV activities, known as DRRG Solar PV Consultants and DRRG Solar PV Contractors, follow DEWA's published guidelines, and that the designer must comply with DEWA specifications, acceptable standards, procedures and other requirements published in the Shams Dubai section of DEWA's website. Solar generation systems must also conform to Section 2, Chapter 14 of the UAE Fire and Life Safety Code of Practice. The code notes that connecting a solar PV system or distributed renewable resource generation (DRRG) to the DEWA grid is subject to DEWA approval.

As guidance, the first question to ask any company offering grid-connected solar in Dubai is whether it is enrolled with DEWA as a DRRG Solar PV Consultant or Contractor, and to check that on DEWA's published lists.

Documents for the DEWA application

The code requires solar connection applications to be submitted online with basic system information, details of the system designer, and details of the installer and the operation and maintenance procedure. An annotated single line wiring diagram must be uploaded with the application, covering:

Labels every system must carry

The code requires a solar PV installation to meet DEWA's Shams Dubai labelling rules together with these requirements:

• all circuits, protective devices, switches and terminals labelled to identify the relevant parts;
• all DC junction boxes (PV generator and PV array boxes) with caution labels showing the risk due to the dual source;
• the main AC isolating switch clearly labelled;
• a single line wiring diagram displayed in the relevant electrical rooms or panels;
• inverter protection settings and installation details displayed as applicable;
• the emergency shutdown procedure displayed;
• all signs and labels suitably fixed, and durable copies of all test and commissioning data provided to the consumer.

As guidance, these labels matter for everyone who works near the system later, from AC technicians to firefighters: a solar system can keep DC cables live in daylight even when the AC side is switched off, which is what the dual-source warning is about.

Metering

DEWA requires access to meter cabinets to install smart meters: a PV generation check meter and a tariff meter for net metering. The code requires contractors to install the meter cabinet in an easily accessible location. As guidance, cabinets placed behind locked gates, inside private rooms or where they are hard to reach create problems for every later meter reading and inspection.

Fire safety rules for panels

The code requires photovoltaic cells or panels installed on roofs or facades to conform to Section 2.2, Chapter 14 of the UAE Fire and Life Safety Code of Practice, and PV panels attached to or integrated in the facade to be tested to Section 4, Chapter 1 of that code. Building attached photovoltaic (BAPV) systems on roofs, excluding curved or special roofs, may achieve a minimum fire classification of Class C under the fire code's tests, while the minimum classification for building integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) and other BAPV systems must be confirmed with DEWA and Dubai Civil Defence at the start of design.

Villas: grid-connected or off-grid

The code's villa part says a villa with onsite solar generation can have a grid-connected system or an off-grid system. Grid-connected generators are connected to the DEWA network and operated and maintained according to DEWA regulations, while for an off-grid system the backup allowed for emergency load must be indicated in the total connected load, with any grid-based battery charger load. The same documentation, labelling and metering rules apply to villas. Separately, the villa part requires solar thermal or heat pump technology for domestic hot water, explained in Power Zone's water heater guide.

Why cleaning matters in Dubai

As guidance, dust and sand settle on panels quickly in Dubai, bird droppings and construction dust add to it, and as soiling builds up less light reaches the cells and output falls. Because a grid-connected system's value comes through net metering set-off, lost output simply shows up as a higher DEWA bill. The loss varies by site, tilt, nearby construction and time since the last clean, so the most reliable measure for a particular system is its own output before and after cleaning.

How panels should be cleaned

As guidance, panel manufacturers' cleaning instructions should be followed to protect warranties, and high-pressure jets should be avoided because they can force water into frames and connectors.

How often to clean

As guidance, many arrays in Dubai benefit from cleaning two to four times a year, more often near construction, desert edges, roads or bird roosts, and after sandstorm seasons. The right frequency for a particular roof is found from its own data: if output recovers noticeably after each clean and drops steadily between cleans, the interval is too long. Scheduled cleaning also gives regular eyes on the roof to catch damage early.

What a maintenance visit checks

As guidance, electrical work on a grid-connected system, such as replacing an inverter or changing protection, belongs with qualified electricians and, where DEWA's rules require it, with a DEWA-registered contractor.

Safety on solar roofs

As guidance, solar roofs combine three hazards: height, heat and electricity. Roof edges need guardrails or fall protection, and where rope access is used, Dubai Municipality's rope access guideline applies, as explained in Power Zone's facade and rope access guide. Panels and roofs get extremely hot in summer, so work is scheduled for cooler hours with water and shade. And because the DC side stays live in daylight, nobody should open connectors, junction boxes or isolators without training; the dual-source labels and displayed emergency shutdown procedure the code requires exist for exactly this reason. Panels themselves are not walking surfaces.

Common faults and what they mean

Monitoring output

As guidance, most modern inverters log generation and show it in an app or portal. Comparing daily or monthly output with the same period last year, and with cleaning dates, is the simplest way to know when to clean and to catch faults early. Without monitoring, an owner may only notice a dead string when the DEWA bill rises; monitoring can show it within days.

Solar on jointly owned buildings

Law No. 6 of 2019 on jointly owned real property lists roofs and facades among the structural components that form a building's common parts. As guidance, an apartment owner in a jointly owned building cannot treat the roof as their own for solar; any rooftop or facade system is a matter for the owners association and its management entity, together with the approvals Resolution 46 of 2014 and DEWA require. In villa communities, master developers and community rules may add their own conditions, which should be checked before design.

Selling, renting or changing a solar property

Article 6 of Resolution 46 of 2014 allows a producer to assign the rights and obligations of a connection agreement to a third party only with DEWA's prior approval. As guidance, that matters when a villa or building with solar is sold or when the account holder changes: the connection agreement does not simply transfer with the keys, and the buyer should ask for the DEWA approval, the agreement and the system's records as part of the handover. Expanding a system, replacing inverters or adding batteries should likewise be checked against the connection terms and the export limit DEWA set, since exceeding the export limit carries fines from AED 6,000 to AED 60,000.

Batteries and backup

The Dubai Building Code's villa part recognises off-grid systems and requires the backup allowed for emergency load to be shown in the total connected load, along with any grid-based battery charger load. As guidance, batteries add value where backup matters but also add maintenance and safety considerations: ventilation and temperature control in hot plant spaces, protection and isolation, and replacement at the end of their cycle life. For essential backup in larger buildings, the code's standby generator rules, explained in Power Zone's generator guide, still apply.

Inverters: placement and heat

As guidance, inverters are the part of a solar system most sensitive to heat. In Dubai, an inverter mounted in full sun or in an unventilated cupboard can reduce its output to protect itself and age faster. Shaded, ventilated locations with clear access for maintenance, and keeping the displayed protection settings and installation details the code requires next to the unit, make inverters last longer and faults quicker to diagnose.

Shading, layout and the rest of the roof

As guidance, small shadows have large effects on panels wired in strings, so the roof layout should consider shading from parapets, water tanks, AC condensers, satellite dishes and future structures. Solar also shares the roof with other systems: roof waterproofing, whose penetrations for mounting must be sealed, as explained in Power Zone's waterproofing guide; AC condensers, which need airflow; water tanks, which need access for cleaning; and lightning protection, whose connections the code requires to be shown in the wiring diagram. Planning these together avoids moving panels later.

Birds, debris and roof hygiene

As guidance, the space under panels can attract pigeons and collect debris, which soils panels, damages cables and blocks roof drains. Bird-proofing mesh around array edges, keeping drains clear and removing debris during cleaning visits protect both the panels and the roof. Power Zone's pest control guide covers bird control more broadly.

Solar thermal and photovoltaics

As guidance, solar water heating and solar electricity are different technologies that often share a roof. The Dubai Building Code's villa part requires solar thermal or heat pump technology for domestic hot water, while photovoltaic panels generate electricity under the Shams Dubai framework. Both need cleaning and inspection, but solar thermal collectors also need their pump station, controller, expansion vessel and insulation checked, as Power Zone's water heater guide explains.

Signs it is time to call a professional

• Output has dropped and does not recover after cleaning.
• The inverter shows repeated errors or switches off in the afternoon heat.
• A residual current device on the solar circuit trips.
• Panels are cracked, discoloured or show burn marks.
• Cables are hanging loose, sun-damaged or chewed by birds or pests.
• Labels, the wiring diagram or the emergency shutdown procedure are missing.
• Roof leaks appear near mounting points.

As guidance, any of these should be checked by a qualified technician, and electrical changes to a grid-connected system should involve a DEWA-registered contractor.

A solar maintenance schedule

As guidance, adding these tasks to the property's maintenance calendar keeps solar from being forgotten; Power Zone's Dubai property maintenance schedule shows the whole-building view.

DEWA's supervision and inspections

Resolution 46 of 2014 gives DEWA the duty to audit and supervise producers, verify compliance with the resolution and connection agreements, and impose penalties and measures on violators. Producers must cooperate with DEWA employees, including allowing them to measure exported electricity, and DEWA inspectors nominated by its chief executive have law enforcement capacity to record violations. As guidance, keeping the system's labels, documents and meter access in order makes these visits straightforward.

Commercial roofs: offices, hotels and warehouses

As guidance, larger arrays on commercial buildings bring their own priorities: safe permanent access and walkways for cleaning crews, edge protection, coordination with building management for roof access, cleaning scheduled to avoid disturbing tenants, and monitoring through the building management system so the facility team sees output and faults alongside other building systems. A written maintenance procedure, which the Dubai Building Code asks to be included in the DEWA application, should name who cleans, who inspects and who responds to faults.

Summer heat and dust storms

As guidance, Dubai's summer reduces panel efficiency simply through heat, so output naturally peaks in cooler months for the same sunshine. Dust storms can cut output overnight, and an extra cleaning after a major storm can be worthwhile, which the array's before-and-after readings will show. Summer also makes cleaning harder: water evaporates on hot glass, leaving residues, and roofs become dangerous for workers, so cleaning in the early morning is better for both panels and people.

Warranties and long-term performance

As guidance, panels, inverters and mounting usually carry separate warranties with different terms, and many require evidence of proper installation and maintenance for a claim. Keeping the test and commissioning data the code requires, the cleaning and inspection logs, and photos of any damage makes warranty claims easier. Panels also lose a little output each year with age, which is another reason to compare output over time rather than relying on memory.

Questions to ask a solar cleaning company

1. What water and tools will you use, and how will you avoid scratching the glass or leaving residue?
2. Will you clean at a safe time of day and protect your workers from heat and falls?
3. Will you inspect modules, cables, connectors and mounting while on the roof and report problems with photos?
4. Will you record output before and after cleaning where the inverter allows?
5. How will you protect junction boxes, connectors and the inverter from water?
6. Can you clean on a schedule, and adjust it to our roof's actual soiling?

Holiday homes and empty villas with solar

As guidance, a solar system keeps generating whether or not anyone is home, and under net metering the units exported while a villa is empty are credited against later consumption. That makes it easy to ignore the system for months. Before a long absence, owners should check monitoring access works remotely, ask someone to look at the inverter and panels after storms, and keep cleaning on schedule so the credits keep building. On return, a quick check of output against previous periods shows whether anything failed while the property was empty.

Common mistakes with solar in Dubai

What the Dubai Building Code means by array, string and module

The code's definitions help when reading quotations and wiring diagrams: a PV module is the smallest completely environmentally protected assembly of interconnected PV cells; a PV string is a circuit of modules connected in series for a PV array to generate the required output; a PV array is the mechanically and electrically integrated assembly of modules and other components forming a DC power supply unit; and a PV AC module is an integrated module and inverter assembly whose electrical interface is AC only, with no access to the DC side. As guidance, knowing these terms makes it easier to check that the wiring diagram submitted to DEWA matches what is actually on the roof.

Why the rules point back to DEWA

The Dubai Building Code repeatedly refers solar designers to DEWA's published Shams Dubai requirements and states that they are updated regularly and form an integral part of the code. Resolution 46 of 2014 likewise lets DEWA set and vary the connection terms. As guidance, that means the details of equipment, inspection and connection can change over time, and a reliable contractor should be able to show which version of DEWA's requirements their design follows.

Records to keep

• DEWA approval and the connection agreement, and the building or land-use approvals obtained before installation, as Resolution 46 of 2014 requires.
• The single line wiring diagram and datasheets submitted with the DEWA application.
• Durable copies of all test and commissioning data, which the code requires to be provided to the consumer.
• Details of the designer and installer and their DEWA registration, and the operation and maintenance procedure.
• Cleaning and maintenance logs with output readings, photos and repairs.
• Warranty documents for modules, inverter and mounting.

Before installing solar in Dubai: a checklist

1. Is the company enrolled with DEWA as a DRRG Solar PV Consultant or Contractor, and on DEWA's published list?
2. Will they obtain DEWA approval and the connection agreement before connecting, as Resolution 46 of 2014 requires?
3. Have the building licensing or land-use approvals the resolution mentions been obtained, and does the building management agree?
4. Is the system sized to the property's own consumption, given that surplus is credited, not paid?
5. Will the installation carry all the labels the Dubai Building Code lists, and will you receive the wiring diagram and test and commissioning data?
6. Where will the meter cabinet go, and is it easily accessible for DEWA?
7. Does the roof system meet the fire classification rules, and who maintains and cleans it afterwards?

What affects the price

As guidance, solar panel cleaning is priced by the number of panels and array layout, roof access and height, soiling severity, and whether it is a one-off clean or a scheduled contract, which usually costs less per visit. Installation and maintenance depend on system size, inverter and any batteries, roof type and mounting, and the approvals and documentation required. Power Zone quotes solar work after a site survey with an itemised quotation; see the Dubai rate card for related electrical items.

Solar with Power Zone

Power Zone provides solar panel cleaning in Dubai, part of all seven emirates, 20 in-house teams, with deionised water and soft rotary brushes, spot treatment of droppings and hardened dust, a visual inspection for hotspots, cracked glass, loose cabling and corroded connectors, mounting checks, output readings before and after where the inverter allows, and photos per array. Its solar system installation and maintenance service covers surveys, sizing, mounting, inverter and battery installation, testing and periodic maintenance checks; for grid-connected systems in Dubai, the rules above require DEWA approval and DEWA-registered consultants and contractors, so owners should ask any installer, including us, to confirm DEWA enrolment for the specific work. See also electrical maintenance and Power Zone Dubai, or request a site survey.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need DEWA approval to install solar panels in Dubai?

Yes. Executive Council Resolution No. (46) of 2014 allows connection to DEWA's distribution system only after DEWA's prior approval and a connection agreement.

Who can install grid-connected solar in Dubai?

The Dubai Building Code refers to consultants and contractors registered with DEWA for grid-connected solar: DRRG Solar PV Consultants and DRRG Solar PV Contractors.

Does DEWA pay for surplus solar electricity?

No. Under Article 9 of Resolution 46 of 2014, surplus exported units are set off against imported units on bills and carried forward, with no cash payment.

What are the fines for solar violations in Dubai?

From AED 1,500 to AED 75,000 depending on the violation, doubled for a repeat within a year up to AED 150,000, under the resolution's schedule.

Can DEWA disconnect my solar system?

Yes. DEWA may disconnect a generation unit at any time if the safety of the distribution system or the emirate's grid is compromised.

What labels must a solar system in Dubai have?

Labelled circuits and switches, dual-source caution labels on DC junction boxes, a labelled AC isolator, displayed wiring diagram, inverter settings and emergency shutdown procedure.

What meters does DEWA install for solar?

A PV generation check meter and a tariff meter for net metering, in a meter cabinet the contractor installs in an easily accessible location.

Does the Resolution apply in free zones?

Yes. It applies to producers with consumer accounts in the emirate, including special development zones and free zones such as DIFC.

Can a villa have an off-grid solar system?

The Dubai Building Code's villa part allows grid-connected or off-grid systems; for off-grid, backup for emergency load is indicated in the total connected load.

What fire rating do rooftop panels need?

Building attached PV on roofs, excluding curved or special roofs, may achieve a minimum Class C under the UAE fire code; other cases are confirmed with DEWA and Dubai Civil Defence.

How often should solar panels be cleaned in Dubai?

As guidance, many arrays benefit from two to four cleans a year, more near construction, desert, roads or birds; the system's own output shows the right interval.

Can I clean solar panels with tap water?

As guidance, avoid it: tap water can leave mineral scale on hot glass; deionised or low-mineral water and soft brushes are safer.

Is it safe to touch solar connectors when the inverter is off?

No. The DC side stays live in daylight, which is why the code requires dual-source caution labels and a displayed emergency shutdown procedure.

Who bears the cost of connecting solar to DEWA's grid?

The producer bears all connection costs, as estimated by DEWA, under Article 7 of the resolution.

What documents come with a DEWA solar application?

Basic system information, designer details, installer and operation and maintenance details, and an annotated single line wiring diagram.

Can I install solar on my apartment building's roof?

Roofs are common parts under Law No. 6 of 2019, so rooftop solar in a jointly owned building is a matter for the owners association, with DEWA's approvals.

Does a solar connection agreement transfer when I sell my villa?

Not automatically: Article 6 of Resolution 46 of 2014 allows assignment to a third party only with DEWA's prior approval.

Can I add panels to an existing solar system in Dubai?

As guidance, check with DEWA first: changes must follow the connection terms and export limit, and exceeding the export limit carries fines of AED 6,000 to 60,000.

Can DEWA inspect my solar system?

Yes. Resolution 46 of 2014 lets DEWA audit and supervise producers, and DEWA inspectors can record violations; producers must cooperate, including allowing export measurement.

Why does my solar output drop in summer?

As guidance, panels are less efficient when hot, and dust storms add soiling; cleaning in cooler hours and after storms helps.

Should solar panels be cleaned after a dust storm?

As guidance, an extra clean after a major storm can help, once conditions are safe; before-and-after output readings show whether it was worth it.

Do I still get credit when my villa is empty?

Under Article 9 of Resolution 46 of 2014, exported units are credited against imported units and carried forward to later bills.

Where should a solar inverter be installed?

As guidance, in a shaded, ventilated place with clear access, with its protection settings and installation details displayed as the code requires.

What is a PV string?

Under the Dubai Building Code's definitions, a circuit in which PV modules are connected in series for a PV array to generate the required output.

Must the solar wiring diagram be displayed on site?

Yes. The Dubai Building Code requires a single line wiring diagram to be displayed in the relevant electrical rooms or panels.

Do I get test certificates for my solar system?

The Dubai Building Code requires durable copies of all test and commissioning data to be provided to the consumer.

Does Power Zone clean solar panels in Dubai?

Yes. Power Zone cleans panels with deionised water and soft brushes, inspects the array and logs output before and after where the inverter allows.

Sources

1. Dubai Legislation Portal, Executive Council Resolution No. (46) of 2014 Regulating the Connection of Photovoltaic Generation Units to the Power Distribution System in the Emirate of Dubai
2. Dubai Building Code, 2021 Edition: G.6 Renewable energy, K.9.3 villa renewable energy, E.10.10 solar panels
3. Dubai Legislation Portal, Law No. 6 of 2019 concerning ownership of jointly owned real property (Article 7)