Solar EPC across the Northern Emirates
Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain are served by EtihadWE, whose Distributed Solar System programme opened grid-connected solar to customers across all four emirates.
- Utility
- EtihadWE
- Programme
- Distributed Solar System
- Launched
- 17 September 2024
- Covers
- Ajman, RAK, Fujairah, UAQ
EtihadWE and the DSS programme
Etihad Water and Electricity is the utility for the northern emirates. It absorbed the Federal Electricity and Water Authority under Federal Decree Law No. 31 of 2020, so permits and contracts referencing FEWA remain valid — EtihadWE took on those obligations, and existing projects do not need to reapply.
The Distributed Solar System programme launched on 17 September 2024 as EtihadWE's counterpart to DEWA's Shams Dubai. It covers Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, allowing customers to install grid-tied solar, export surplus to the EtihadWE network and receive bill credits.
How DSS settlement differs from Dubai
The mechanism is not identical to Shams Dubai, and the difference affects how a system should be sized.
| EtihadWE DSS | DEWA Shams Dubai | |
|---|---|---|
| Metering | Separate import and export meters | Single bidirectional meter |
| Settlement | Monthly comparison of the two readings | Net billing on one meter |
| Credit expiry | Valid within the same calendar year only | Credits carry forward |
Why the expiry rule changes the design. Because EtihadWE credits do not carry into the following year, oversizing a system on the assumption that surplus banks indefinitely will waste generation. In DSS territory we size to the consumption profile rather than to available roof area — a deliberately more conservative approach than the same building would justify in Dubai.
Where we work
- Ras Al Khaimah — industrial and quarrying operations, hospitality, RAK Economic Zone facilities
- Ajman — manufacturing and warehousing across the free zone and industrial areas
- Fujairah — port-adjacent industry, logistics and hospitality on the east coast
- Umm Al Quwain — light industrial, agricultural and residential systems
What we deliver
- Grid-tied rooftop PV under the DSS programme, residential through industrial
- Ground-mount systems where land adjoins the load
- Solar with battery storage for facilities operating past sunset
- Off-grid and hybrid systems for remote sites without economical grid access
- Long-term operations and maintenance
Free tool: our UAE solar calculator sizes a system against your emirate’s actual credit rules — the only one that does.
See how your emirate compares: all five UAE utilities side by side.
Frequently asked questions
Which utility covers Ajman, RAK, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain?
Etihad Water and Electricity (EtihadWE) serves all four emirates. It replaced the Federal Electricity and Water Authority (FEWA) under Federal Decree Law No. 31 of 2020, and permits or contracts referencing FEWA remain valid.
What is the Distributed Solar System programme?
DSS is EtihadWE's grid-connected solar scheme, launched on 17 September 2024. It allows eligible customers across the northern emirates to install solar, export surplus to the EtihadWE network and receive credits against their bills.
Do EtihadWE solar credits expire?
Yes. DSS credits are valid within the same calendar year only and unused credits do not carry over to the following year. This differs from DEWA's Shams Dubai programme in Dubai, and it is a reason to size systems to consumption rather than to roof area.
My permit says FEWA. Is it still valid?
Yes. EtihadWE absorbed FEWA's obligations in 2020, so existing permits, contracts and grid connection approvals referencing FEWA remain valid and do not need to be reapplied for.
How does DSS metering work?
EtihadWE installs two meters: an export meter recording kilowatt-hours fed into the grid and an import meter recording consumption drawn from it. The readings are compared monthly to calculate the net position and any credit.
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Solar across the Northern Emirates
Whether the site is in Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman, Fujairah or Umm Al Quwain, we handle the DSS application end to end.
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