With over 300 sunny days per year and some of the world’s highest solar irradiance, the UAE offers exceptional conditions for solar power generation. The Dubai DEWA Shams net metering programme allows property owners to export excess solar power to the grid, dramatically reducing electricity bills.
Our Solar Panel ROI Calculator gives UAE property owners, developers, and businesses instant calculations for system size, installation cost, annual savings, payback period, and 25-year lifetime returns.
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter your monthly DEWA electricity bill in AED
- Enter available unshaded roof area in square metres
- Enter system size in kWp if known — or leave blank for auto-sizing
- Select your electricity tariff slab
- Click Calculate for system size, cost estimate, annual savings, payback period, CO2 saved, and 25-year total savings
🇦🇪 UAE Tip: Apply to the DEWA Shams programme at shamsdubai.com before installation — NOC approval is required before any solar system can be connected to the grid. The approval process typically takes 4 to 8 weeks. Specify Tier 1 solar panels (Jinko Solar, LONGi, Trina Solar) with a 25-year performance warranty.
The Formula Explained
Annual Generation = System Size (kWp) x 5.5 peak sun hours per day x 365 days. Annual Savings = Annual Generation x Electricity Tariff (AED/kWh). Payback = System Cost divided by Annual Savings years.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size solar system for a UAE villa?
A typical 3-bedroom UAE villa with AED 800 to 1,200 monthly electricity bill needs approximately 8 to 12 kWp. This requires roughly 50 to 75 m2 of unshaded south or west-facing roof area.
What is the DEWA feed-in tariff for solar?
DEWA Shams programme credits excess generation at the retail tariff rate — effectively giving you full value for exported electricity. The programme is available to all DEWA customers in Dubai.
How long do solar panels last in UAE?
Quality solar panels carry a 25-year performance warranty (minimum 80% of rated output). The UAE dry climate is good for solar panel longevity — though regular cleaning is needed to remove dust.
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