Is Dubai Tap Water Safe to Drink? What DEWA and Dubai Municipality Say

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) says the water it supplies complies with the World Health Organization's drinking-water guidelines across generation, transmission and distribution. That assurance stops at your meter: after it, the building's tanks and pipes are the responsibility of the owner and the maintenance company.

What DEWA says

DEWA has repeatedly stated that its potable water is safe to drink. In a 2018 statement reported by Gulf News, it said water quality across its network meets WHO health and safety standards, and that samples taken from the network before the meter were clear of contamination and bacteria.

Testing is done by DEWA's Central Laboratory, which is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2017 by the Emirates International Accreditation Centre. According to a Dubai Media Office release from August 2023, the lab ran thousands of drinking-water tests in 2022 covering physical, chemical and biological parameters, with test volume up more than 200% over seven years.

Most of Dubai's tap water is desalinated seawater from the Arabian Gulf; the rest comes mainly from groundwater, according to Khaleej Times.

Where responsibility changes hands

This is the part that matters for drinking water at home. DEWA says it is the responsibility of the customer or owner, together with maintenance companies, to carry out regular maintenance of the internal network and water tanks after the meter. Water that leaves DEWA's network in good condition can still pick up problems in a poorly maintained rooftop or underground tank, or in old pipes.

Dubai Municipality's rules on tanks

Gulf News, summarising the Dubai Food Code 2020, reported these requirements in 2022:

• Landlords are accountable for keeping water storage tanks clean.
• Tanks should be cleaned and disinfected at least twice a year.
• Cleaning must be done by a company approved by Dubai Municipality.
• After cleaning, water samples should be tested by an approved laboratory.
• Extra cleaning is needed when a new tank is first used, if the tank or its source is polluted, or if the cover is missing or does not close properly.

Dubai Municipality publishes its list of approved cleaning and disinfection companies on dm.gov.ae, under its health and safety approved lists.

Signs to report

Gulf News lists warning signs that should be reported to building management: cloudy water, a rusty or unusual tint, an odd taste, a sulphur or rotten-egg smell, or particles floating in the water. Tenants can ask building management for tank-cleaning records, water test results and before-and-after photos of cleaning.

Tap water when you eat out

In November 2019 Dubai Municipality added guidance to the Dubai Food Code advising restaurants to offer tap water, as part of a push to cut single-use plastic; Gulf News reported it as advisory rather than mandatory. Public refill points are also available: the Dubai Can programme had 53 refill stations across the emirate as of February 2025, with water tested against Dubai Municipality, GCC and WHO standards, according to Dubai Media Office.

What to check

• Ask your landlord or building management when the tank was last cleaned, by which approved company, and for the latest lab results.
• If you live in a villa, find out where the tank is and who maintains it.
• Report any change in colour, smell or taste promptly.
• Filters are a personal choice; Gulf News and Khaleej Times both mention them as a guard against ageing pipes or tanks, not as a substitute for tank maintenance.

For general information. Details can change; check with DEWA or Dubai Municipality before relying on them.