Utility deposits in the UAE are typically Dh1,000 ($272), paid when establishing service and recoverable when a resident vacates a property. Taqa, the state-owned utility company, allows deposits to be transferred to another property or refunded to a local bank account; it also offers deposit donors the option of giving the amount to Emirates Red Crescent, a charity organization.
For residents leaving the country permanently, Taqa has limited options. The company requires either a power of attorney to transfer deposits to another UAE resident or allows deposits to remain in an inactive local account accessible only if the person returns as a resident. The company does not offer international transfers, and obtaining a power-of-attorney document typically costs nearly as much as the deposit itself.
Utility companies across the industry do not conduct overseas transfers, and no company will send money to a third party without proper legal documentation, according to financial advisory services. Residents planning to leave are advised to keep their bank accounts open until utility deposits are recovered, closing utility and other accounts only after the bank account is the last one remaining.
In some cases, banks may allow previously closed accounts to be reopened, or residents with remaining UAE visas may open another account. Those on cancelled visas during a grace period may have fewer options. Without an active local bank account and without paying for a power of attorney, a utility deposit may be forfeited.
