Electrical authorities & standards
Temporary site power is regulated by the supply authority of the emirate you are building in, layered with OSH requirements and international wiring standards. Last updated 2 August 2026.
By emirate
Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation / UAE Cabinet (MoHRE / Federal)
No single federal electrical code for construction sites. All emirates follow their own authority regulations built on IEC 60364 and BS 7671 principles. ADOSH-SF CoP 15.0 applies federally for OSH purposes.
Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE) / ADDC / ADOSH-SF (ADPHC) (DoE / ADDC / ADOSH-SF)
Abu Dhabi's DoE EWR 2020 is based on IEC 60364 and governs all low-voltage electrical installations. ADDC (Abu Dhabi Distribution Company) conducts inspections and energisation approvals. ADOSH-SF CoP 15.0 covers occupational electrical safety on construction sites. Temporary installations are covered under Section 9.6 of EWR 2020.
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) / Dubai Municipality (DEWA / Dubai Municipality)
Dubai follows the Dubai Building Code (2021) which supersedes the DEWA 2017 Regulations. General assemblies for distribution of electricity on construction sites must conform to BS 4363 and BS EN 61439. DEWA approves temporary power connections for construction purposes. The Dubai Municipality Code of Construction Safety Practice covers site electrical safety obligations.
Sharjah Electricity, Water & Gas Authority (SEWA) / OSHJ (SPSA) (SEWA / OSHJ)
Sharjah follows federal MoHRE standards supplemented by SEWA connection requirements. OSHJ (Occupational Safety and Health in Sharjah) enforces site electrical safety under the ADOSH-SF framework adapted for Sharjah. All installations must comply with the UAE Fire and Life Safety Code.
RAK Electricity / RAKEZ / Etihad Water and Electricity (EtihadWE) (EtihadWE / RAKEZ)
RAK follows federal MoHRE and ADOSH-SF standards. EtihadWE (formerly FEWA) provides power supply and connection approvals for the northern emirates including RAK. RAKEZ industrial zones have additional electrical safety requirements for managed worker accommodation.
Etihad Water and Electricity (EtihadWE) / Local Municipalities (EtihadWE / Municipalities)
Ajman, Fujairah, and Umm Al Quwain follow federal MoHRE standards and EtihadWE connection requirements. Local municipality building departments oversee electrical installation approvals. All installations must comply with IEC 60364 / BS 7671 principles as adopted in the UAE.
Trakhees (JAFZA/Dubai Free Zones) / RAKEZ / KIZAD / Other FZAs (Trakhees / FZAs)
Each free zone authority may impose supplementary electrical requirements. Trakhees enforces the UAE Fire and Life Safety Code and Dubai Building Code for JAFZA and other Dubai free zones. KIZAD (Abu Dhabi) follows DoE EWR 2020. RAKEZ follows its own managed industrial zone standards.
Standards & legal instruments
| Reference | Title | Authority | Scope / notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| DoE EWR 2020 | Abu Dhabi Electricity Wiring Regulations 2020 | Abu Dhabi DoE | All LV installations in Abu Dhabi — based on IEC 60364 |
| ADOSH-SF CoP 15.0 | Electrical Safety Code of Practice v4.0 (July 2024) | ADPHC / ADOSH-SF | OSH electrical safety — all construction sites UAE-wide |
| Dubai Building Code 2021 | Dubai Building Code — Electrical Engineering Works | Dubai Municipality / DEWA | All electrical installations in Dubai — supersedes DEWA 2017 |
| DEWA 2017 | DEWA Regulations for Electrical Installations (2017) | DEWA | Dubai — superseded by DBC 2021 but still referenced for temporary supplies |
| DM CCSP | Dubai Municipality Code of Construction Safety Practice | Dubai Municipality | Covers electrical safety obligations on Dubai construction sites including temporary installations, inspection requirements, and contractor responsibilities. |
| BS 4363:1998 | Distribution Assemblies for Reduced Low Voltage Electricity Supplies for Construction and Building Sites | BSI | Mandatory reference standard for all temporary site distribution boards in the UAE. Specifies construction, IP rating, socket types, and safety requirements for site DBs. |
| BS EN 61439-4 | Low-Voltage Switchgear and Controlgear Assemblies — Part 4: Particular Requirements for Assemblies for Construction Sites | BSI / IEC | Construction site DBs — required by DoE EWR 2020 and DBC 2021 |
| IEC 60364 series | Low-Voltage Electrical Installations | IEC | Foundation international standard series. Abu Dhabi DoE EWR 2020 is based on IEC 60364. Key parts: 4-41 (protection against electric shock), 4-43 (overcurrent protection), 5-52 (wiring systems), 5-54 (earthing), 6 (verification), 7-704 (construction sites). |
| IEC 60446 | Basic and Safety Principles for Man-Machine Interface — Identification of Conductors by Colours or Alphanumerics | IEC | Mandatory colour coding for all UAE electrical installations |
| IEC 61008 | Residual Current Operated Circuit-Breakers Without Integral Overcurrent Protection | IEC | Governs RCD performance requirements including trip current and trip time. 30 mA RCDs must trip within 40 ms at rated current. |
| UAE Fire & Life Safety Code | UAE Fire and Life Safety Code of Practice | Civil Defense / Ministry of Interior | Fire safety, fuel storage, emergency lighting — all emirates |
| NFPA 70E | Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace | NFPA (USA) | Not a UAE regulatory requirement but widely referenced by multinational contractors for arc flash assessment, PPE requirements, and electrical safety management systems on UAE industrial sites. |