Smart air conditioning control lets you set schedules, temperature limits and an away mode for every AC unit in your home. Your AC then cools only the rooms you are using, at the times you use them. This is the most direct way to bring a summer DEWA bill down.
We cannot promise how much you will save, because that depends on your home, your AC and how you live. We can show you where your cooling goes. Energy management means monitoring and reports that show how much electricity your home uses, and when.
This guide covers how AC control works, which features matter most in a Dubai summer and how to check that the changes are working.
What is smart air conditioning control?
It connects your AC to a smart home system. You then control it from keypads, the app and automatic rules, so you no longer need a separate remote in every room.
The connection usually runs through a gateway, a small device that lets the smart home system talk to your AC. We connect every brand and type of AC, and we work with gateways from any brand.
Once your AC is connected, it runs on the same system as your lighting, curtains and blinds. This matters because blinds and sensors can then reduce the work your AC has to do.
- Split units (one indoor unit per room)
- Ducted systems (one unit feeding several rooms through ducts)
- VRF or VRV systems (one outdoor unit serving many indoor units)
- Chilled-water fan coils, common in apartment towers
Why are DEWA bills so much higher in summer?
Your AC works harder in summer, and for more hours. DEWA says air conditioning accounts for 60 to 70 per cent of electricity use, so in summer it is by far the biggest part of your bill.
DEWA also uses a slab tariff, which means the price of each unit goes up as your monthly use rises. The last units you use each month cost the most. Cutting wasted cooling saves on the most expensive part of your bill first.
Which features actually cut AC use?
The features that save most are the ones that stop the AC cooling empty rooms or running at very low settings. Symphony is our automation platform, designed to make large, complex homes easier to manage. It includes away mode, temperature limits and usage reports.
- Schedules for each room: bedrooms cool before bedtime, living areas during the day, and guest rooms only when someone is staying.
- Temperature limits: you set a lowest allowed temperature, so nobody can leave a room on its coldest setting all afternoon. DEWA recommends setting your thermostat to 24°C and using auto mode if your AC has one.
- Away mode: one button on your way out sets every unit to a higher temperature. This helps during long summer trips.
- Cooling before you arrive: start cooling a room from the app, or let Symphony start it when your phone shows you are on the way home. You no longer need to leave the AC running all day.
- Presence sensors: small sensors that notice when a room is empty and turn the cooling down after a set time.
- Window and door sensors: the AC in a room pauses if its terrace door is left open.
- Motorised blinds that close against the afternoon sun, so less heat comes into the room.
How does energy monitoring show what is working?
Energy monitoring measures how much electricity your home uses. You can see what a new schedule or sensor has changed, so you do not have to guess.
Reports can be as detailed or as basic as you like. Some owners only want a figure for the whole home. Others want to see each circuit or each AC unit, which makes it easy to spot a room where the AC runs all night.
You can see your reports in the app, on a tablet or on your own computer.
How do I bring my summer DEWA bill down, step by step?
Start by checking what you use now. Then change one thing at a time and check the result. These steps work best in this order.
- Look at your past bills to see how much higher summer is than winter. Your DEWA online account and the DEWA Smart App show your past use.
- Note which rooms you actually use, and when, on a normal weekday and at the weekend.
- Set a schedule for each room around those times.
- Set a lowest allowed temperature for the whole home. DEWA's advice of 24°C is a good place to start.
- Use away mode whenever the home will be empty for more than a day.
- Close blinds or curtains on sunny windows in the afternoon. Set them to close automatically if you can.
- Keep your AC serviced. A clogged filter blocks the airflow, so the unit has to work harder to cool the room. Our team can advise you on servicing.
- After a month, compare your usage report or bill with the same month last year. The DEWA app also lets you compare your use with similar homes.
Wired or wireless AC control?
In a finished home, wireless control is usually the simplest choice. It needs no new cables in the walls, and installation usually takes a couple of days. For wireless systems we recommend Zigbee, a smart home radio standard, as the best option in the UAE.
In a new build or a major renovation, we recommend wired KNX, the wiring standard most wired systems use. We advise KNX for new villas, including three-bedroom builds. The cables go in before the walls are closed. Your MEP contractor (the firm handling mechanical, electrical and plumbing work) can run them, or our team can.
Our team does all the programming and setting up. If your home network goes down, you can still control everything from the keypads. Our guides to wireless smart homes and KNX automation explain the trade-offs in more detail.
What affects the cost of AC control?
The cost depends mostly on how many AC units you have, what type they are and how they are connected. Our engineer works this out at the home visit and sets it out in your written quote.
- The number of AC units or connections in your home.
- Wired or wireless control.
- New build or retrofit (adding control to a finished home).
- For VRF or VRV systems, the setup and equipment that came with the system when it was installed.
- How detailed you want your energy monitoring to be.
- What else you connect, such as lighting and motorised curtains and blinds.
What happens after it is fitted?
Warranties for the equipment itself come from its manufacturers.
To report a fault, use the support chat in our app. If you do not have the app yet, call us on +971 4 458 2205.
Our business hours are Monday to Saturday, 8am to 7pm. During these hours we reply in the chat straight away, and if a visit is needed we can be with you within 4 hours. We handle 90% of support remotely, and you approve each remote session.
We have designed and installed smart homes in Dubai since 2015, and we are a registered KNX Partner.
For architects and interior designers
AC control is easiest to get right at the design stage, while keypad and sensor positions are still on the drawings. One keypad per room can control the lighting, blinds and AC, so the walls look cleaner than they would with a row of separate controls.
We can work from your plans and with your MEP contractor. Our partner programme for interior designers and architects explains how we work with design teams.
Questions people ask
Will it work with my existing AC? Yes. We connect every brand and type, from split units to VRF and chilled-water fan coils. With VRF, the exact setup depends on the equipment installed with the system.
Can the AC start cooling before I get home? Yes. You can start it from the app, or Symphony can start it when your phone shows you are on the way.
Does it still work if the internet goes down? Yes. You can still control your home from the keypads.
How much will I save on my DEWA bill? We cannot promise a figure. It depends on your home, your AC and your habits, and energy monitoring shows you what actually changed.
How long does it take to fit? A wireless system usually takes a couple of days to install. Wired KNX goes in during a new build or a major renovation.
Next step
Our engineer visits, looks at your AC units and how you use your home, and you get a written quote within 2 days. Book a home visit or engineering survey to get started.
