Kahramaa, the Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation, is the sole utility provider for every home in the country. This guide explains how to set up a connection, the refundable deposit, expat tariffs and how much a typical apartment or villa pays each month in 2026.
Setting up a Kahramaa connection
You cannot connect a property until your tenancy is properly registered, so a signed and registered lease comes first. To apply, download the Kahramaa app or log in at km.qa, create a user ID and register your details. Kahramaa sends an activation code by SMS, and it usually takes around 48 hours for a meter reading to be taken and the connection transferred into your name.
The deposit
New residential customers pay a refundable security deposit of QAR 2,000, which covers both the electricity and water supply for a typical home. You can pay it by credit or debit card during registration, and it is returned when you close or transfer the account on leaving the property.
Expat tariffs
This is where Qatari citizens and expats differ. Citizens receive a free consumption band on residential electricity and water; expatriate residents do not, and are billed from the very first unit. Even so, the rates remain heavily subsidised compared with much of the region.
| Item | Expat residential |
|---|---|
| Electricity | Around QAR 0.32 per kWh, billed from the first unit |
| Water | Billed separately per cubic metre, tiered by usage |
| Meter fee | A small fixed monthly charge applies |
| Free band | Not available to expats (citizens only) |
Typical monthly cost
For most apartments, monthly utility bills land in the low hundreds of riyals, while villas with gardens, more air-conditioning and higher water use pay noticeably more. Air-conditioning is the single biggest driver in Qatar’s long summer, so the gap between winter and peak-summer bills can be large. Households on tight budgets should read our wider Qatar living costs coverage before committing to a large villa.
Understanding your bill
A Kahramaa bill separates electricity and water, each with its own consumption charge, plus a small fixed meter fee. Water is tiered, so the more cubic metres you use, the higher the rate on the upper bands, which rewards households that keep consumption modest. Because expats have no free allowance, every unit counts from the start of the month, and the bill is issued monthly based on the meter reading. If a reading looks unusually high, you can submit your own meter photo through the app to have it checked.
Keeping bills down
Air-conditioning and water heating dominate a Qatari home’s energy use, so a few habits make a real difference. Setting the thermostat a couple of degrees higher, servicing AC filters, using timers and fixing leaks quickly all trim the bill. Kahramaa’s national conservation programme, Tarsheed, promotes exactly these measures and provides efficiency guidance for homes. Choosing a right-sized apartment over an oversized villa is the single biggest saving for many new arrivals. Note that cooking gas is separate from Kahramaa: many homes use LPG cylinders supplied by Woqod rather than piped gas, which is a small additional running cost to budget for.
Paying your bill
The official Kahramaa app is the easiest route: view and pay electricity and water bills, manage multiple properties, submit meter readings, track service requests and request a no-objection certificate when you leave. Bills can also be paid at km.qa and through the apps of major banks. When you move out, closing the account and requesting a clearance certificate through the app releases your deposit, so never simply abandon a connection when you leave the country.
How it fits with the rest of your setup
Kahramaa registration slots in between signing your lease and completing residency-linked services, and a Kahramaa bill is frequently accepted as proof of address when opening a bank account. Residents relocating from Dubai will notice the process mirrors setting up DEWA and utilities in Dubai. If you are still choosing where to live, our Qatar real estate guide covers the Pearl and Lusail, and your Qatar ID is needed across all of these steps.
Frequently asked questions
Is the deposit really refundable?
Yes. The QAR 2,000 deposit is returned when you close or transfer the connection, provided your final bill is settled, so always close the account properly before leaving.
Do expats get any free electricity or water?
No. The free consumption band applies only to Qatari citizens. Expat residents are billed from the first unit, though the rates remain subsidised versus the region.
How long does a new connection take?
Around 48 hours once you have registered and Kahramaa has taken a meter reading, assuming your tenancy is already registered.
Bottom line
Budget QAR 2,000 refundable for the deposit, expect utility bills in the low hundreds for an apartment and more for a villa, and manage everything through the Kahramaa app. Remember that a registered tenancy comes first, and closing your account properly on departure is what gets your deposit back.
Primary source: Kahramaa, the Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation.
