RO Water Filter Supply and Installation in Dubai
We supply, install and service reverse osmosis drinking water filters across Dubai: under-sink systems with a storage tank, compact tankless units, and systems for offices and cafés. We carry all the main brands, and we install units you have already bought.
An under-sink RO system costs AED 1,200 to 2,500 supplied and installed. Before you buy, read the first section below: in some Dubai homes the better fix is a clean tank or a simple carbon filter, and we’ll tell you if yours is one of them.
AED 1,200+
Under-sink RO installed
~AED 9
Monthly waste water, older units
AED 300–600
Filters per year
Do You Need an RO Water Filter in Dubai?
You need an RO water filter in Dubai if you want to drink and cook with tap water instead of buying bottled water. The water DEWA supplies is treated to a high standard, but it passes through your building’s storage tank and pipes before it reaches your glass, and that last stretch is where taste and quality change. RO at the kitchen sink fixes the drinking tap. It doesn’t fix the tank.
DEWA itself has made the same point: its water meets WHO guidelines, but it advises customers to have home and building tanks cleaned regularly, because residue and mould build up over time, and notes that poor-quality pipes can corrode and contaminate the water. So match the fix to the complaint.
| Your concern | The right fix | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You want to stop buying bottled water | Under-sink RO system | This is what RO does best: drinking and cooking water from its own tap |
| Water tastes of chlorine | Carbon filter, or RO (which includes carbon stages) | Carbon alone removes chlorine taste for a fraction of the cost |
| Musty or earthy smell, cloudy water, grit in the glass | Clean the water tank first | A filter treats the symptom at one tap; the tank feeds every tap in the house |
| Rusty or brown water when you first open the tap | Check the pipework | Usually old galvanised pipes; RO protects the drinking tap only |
| Scale on the kettle, shower glass and taps | Whole-house water softener | RO treats one tap and does nothing for showers or appliances |
| Tank not cleaned for a long time and you’re worried about bacteria | Tank cleaning and a lab test, then RO with a UV stage if you want extra protection | Test first so you know what you are treating |
| Water tastes flat or slightly salty | RO with a mineral stage | Removes the dissolved salts, then adds back a small, controlled amount of minerals |
You want to stop buying bottled water
- The right fix
- Under-sink RO system
- Why
- This is what RO does best: drinking and cooking water from its own tap
Water tastes of chlorine
- The right fix
- Carbon filter, or RO (which includes carbon stages)
- Why
- Carbon alone removes chlorine taste for a fraction of the cost
Musty or earthy smell, cloudy water, grit in the glass
- The right fix
- Clean the water tank first
- Why
- A filter treats the symptom at one tap; the tank feeds every tap in the house
Rusty or brown water when you first open the tap
- The right fix
- Check the pipework
- Why
- Usually old galvanised pipes; RO protects the drinking tap only
Scale on the kettle, shower glass and taps
- The right fix
- Whole-house water softener
- Why
- RO treats one tap and does nothing for showers or appliances
Tank not cleaned for a long time and you’re worried about bacteria
- The right fix
- Tank cleaning and a lab test, then RO with a UV stage if you want extra protection
- Why
- Test first so you know what you are treating
Water tastes flat or slightly salty
- The right fix
- RO with a mineral stage
- Why
- Removes the dissolved salts, then adds back a small, controlled amount of minerals
If your complaint is in the third or sixth row, start with water tank cleaning. A filter fitted downstream of a dirty tank works harder, its filters clog sooner, and the showers and the washing machine still run on the same water. If the complaint is scale, you want whole-house water softening, not RO. Many villas end up with both: a softener for the house, RO for drinking.
You can get a quick picture of your own supply with our free Water Report Card before deciding.
What’s in Dubai Tap Water, and What RO Removes
Dubai’s drinking water is made from seawater by desalination, using thermal distillation and reverse osmosis, and then treated to Dubai’s water quality regulations. Those regulations, issued by the Regulatory and Supervisory Bureau in 2019, are measured where the water leaves the production plant. Everything after that, from the DEWA network to your building’s tank to the pipe behind your sink, is outside that measurement.
| Parameter | Dubai regulation | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Where compliance is measured | Where water leaves the production plant | Nothing after that point is covered, including your building’s tank and pipes |
| E. coli and enterococci | 0 per 100 ml | Zero at the plant; what happens in a warm, uncleaned tank is a separate question |
| Conductivity (water entering DEWA’s network) | 200 to 900 µS/cm | Roughly 100 to 630 mg/L of dissolved solids, so a wide range is normal |
| Sodium (entering the network) | 2 to 35 mg/L | Low by international standards |
| pH (entering the network) | 7.9 to 8.5 | Slightly alkaline, which protects pipes |
| Primary disinfectant | Chlorine dioxide for water entering DEWA’s network | Leaves a residual that fades as water sits in tanks |
| Lead / copper (from pipes and fittings) | 10 µg/L / 2 mg/L maximum | Listed because they can come from plumbing, not from the source |
Where compliance is measured
- Dubai regulation
- Where water leaves the production plant
- What it means for you
- Nothing after that point is covered, including your building’s tank and pipes
E. coli and enterococci
- Dubai regulation
- 0 per 100 ml
- What it means for you
- Zero at the plant; what happens in a warm, uncleaned tank is a separate question
Conductivity (water entering DEWA’s network)
- Dubai regulation
- 200 to 900 µS/cm
- What it means for you
- Roughly 100 to 630 mg/L of dissolved solids, so a wide range is normal
Sodium (entering the network)
- Dubai regulation
- 2 to 35 mg/L
- What it means for you
- Low by international standards
pH (entering the network)
- Dubai regulation
- 7.9 to 8.5
- What it means for you
- Slightly alkaline, which protects pipes
Primary disinfectant
- Dubai regulation
- Chlorine dioxide for water entering DEWA’s network
- What it means for you
- Leaves a residual that fades as water sits in tanks
Lead / copper (from pipes and fittings)
- Dubai regulation
- 10 µg/L / 2 mg/L maximum
- What it means for you
- Listed because they can come from plumbing, not from the source
Source: RSB Water Quality Regulations, September 2019, Annex I. Ranges marked “entering the network” apply to water entering DEWA’s potable network.
What reverse osmosis takes out
An RO membrane holds back most dissolved salts and metals, including the lead and copper that can come from old fittings, along with nitrates and fluoride. The carbon stages before and after the membrane take out chlorine and chlorine dioxide taste and most odours. Sediment filters catch rust flakes and grit from tanks and pipes before they reach the membrane.
RO is not a sterilising system on its own. The membrane blocks bacteria, but the storage tank and tubing after it can grow a film over time if filters are left too long or the system sits unused. That is why regular filter changes matter, and why some households add a UV stage at the end.
Putting minerals back
RO removes the calcium and magnesium along with everything else, which leaves water tasting flat. A WHO-commissioned review of demineralised water cites a recommendation that such water carry at least 100 mg/L of dissolved salts and 30 mg/L of calcium, and a WHO expert group found that adding calcium and magnesium back to demineralised water would likely benefit health. Most of the minerals you take in come from food, not water, so this isn’t a reason to fear RO. It is a good reason to choose a system with a mineral stage, which also improves the taste.
TDS Meters: What the Number Means in Dubai
A TDS meter measures total dissolved solids, the minerals and salts dissolved in water, in parts per million or mg/L. It tells you how much is dissolved, not whether any of it is harmful. It can’t detect bacteria, and it can’t tell calcium from lead.
Sellers in Dubai quote “normal” tap readings that don’t agree: 70 to 120, 150 to 350, 150 to 500. The regulation explains why. The allowed conductivity range for water entering DEWA’s network is 200 to 900 µS/cm, and dissolved solids run at roughly half to two-thirds of the conductivity figure, which works out to about 100 to 630 mg/L. A reading of 300 at your tap is normal Dubai water.
Reading your meter
Tap water, 100–600: normal range for Dubai supply
RO tap, under 50: membrane working
RO tap, 20–80 with a mineral stage: normal, the stage adds some back
RO tap creeping towards the tap-water reading: membrane or filters due
The meter is useful for one job: checking that an RO system is still working. Test the tap water and the RO tap on the same day. A healthy membrane removes most of the dissolved solids, so the RO reading should be a small fraction of the tap reading. If the gap narrows over the months, the membrane is wearing out.
Be wary of anyone who dips a meter in your tap water, shows you a number and tells you the water is unsafe. The number doesn’t measure safety. If you want to know what is in your water, a laboratory test does that; a TDS meter doesn’t.
Types of Reverse Osmosis System in Dubai
For a Dubai home, the choice is almost always between an under-sink RO system with a storage tank and a tankless under-sink unit. The tank type costs less and needs no power. The tankless type is smaller, faster and wastes less water, but needs a socket under the sink. Countertop units suit renters, and whole-house RO is rarely worth it.
| Type | Best for | Strengths | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under-sink RO with storage tank | Most apartments and villas; the lowest price | A small pressure tank fills slowly and holds a few litres ready; no power needed on basic models | Water sits in the tank; older designs waste more water |
| Tankless under-sink RO | Households that drink a lot, or have little cabinet space | Filters on demand with a built-in pump; compact; more efficient | Needs a power socket under the sink; higher price |
| Countertop RO | Renters who can’t drill a worktop | Sits beside the sink and is filled by hand or from the tap | Small capacity; you refill it |
| Whole-house RO | Rarely the right choice for a Dubai home | Treats every tap | Large waste stream; stripped water attacks metal pipes unless re-mineralised; storage tank and pump needed |
| Office and café systems | Pantries, coffee machines, ice machines, clinics | Higher output; can feed several points | Check each machine’s water specification first |
Under-sink RO with storage tank
- Best for
- Most apartments and villas; the lowest price
- Strengths
- A small pressure tank fills slowly and holds a few litres ready; no power needed on basic models
- Trade-offs
- Water sits in the tank; older designs waste more water
Tankless under-sink RO
- Best for
- Households that drink a lot, or have little cabinet space
- Strengths
- Filters on demand with a built-in pump; compact; more efficient
- Trade-offs
- Needs a power socket under the sink; higher price
Countertop RO
- Best for
- Renters who can’t drill a worktop
- Strengths
- Sits beside the sink and is filled by hand or from the tap
- Trade-offs
- Small capacity; you refill it
Whole-house RO
- Best for
- Rarely the right choice for a Dubai home
- Strengths
- Treats every tap
- Trade-offs
- Large waste stream; stripped water attacks metal pipes unless re-mineralised; storage tank and pump needed
Office and café systems
- Best for
- Pantries, coffee machines, ice machines, clinics
- Strengths
- Higher output; can feed several points
- Trade-offs
- Check each machine’s water specification first
Why we don’t push whole-house RO
Water that has been through reverse osmosis is low in minerals and slightly aggressive: it dissolves metal from the pipes it runs through. DEWA puts minerals back into desalinated water before it enters the network for this reason, and Dubai’s regulations set minimum conductivity and pH values for water entering the network. A whole-house RO system strips those minerals out again and sends the result through every copper pipe and brass fitting in the house. It can be done, with a mineral stage, pH correction, a storage tank and a pump, but for scale on showers and appliances a whole-house softener is the simpler answer, with RO at the kitchen sink for drinking.
Coffee machines and ice makers
An RO line can feed a fridge ice maker or a coffee machine as well as the drinking tap. For espresso machines, check the manufacturer’s water specification first: some ask for a minimum mineral content, and very low-mineral water can affect both taste and the machine. A mineral stage usually covers this.
RO Stages Explained, and Which Ones Matter Here
Every RO system is built around four stages: a sediment filter, a carbon filter, the membrane, and usually a post-carbon filter. Anything beyond that is an extra, such as a mineral stage or a UV lamp. A “7-stage” or “10-stage” label often counts functions inside one cartridge, or adds cartridges that each need replacing.
| Stage | What it does | For Dubai water |
|---|---|---|
| Sediment filter | Catches rust, sand and grit from tanks and pipes | Essential in Dubai, where the water has sat in a tank |
| Carbon filter (pre-membrane) | Removes chlorine and chlorine dioxide, which damage the membrane | Essential; it protects the most expensive part |
| RO membrane | Holds back dissolved salts, metals and most contaminants | The part that makes it RO |
| Post-carbon filter | Polishes the taste after the storage tank | Worth having on tank systems |
| Mineral stage | Adds back a small amount of calcium and magnesium | Recommended for taste; see the section above |
| UV lamp | Disinfects the water just before the tap | Optional extra protection; needs power |
Sediment filter
- What it does
- Catches rust, sand and grit from tanks and pipes
- For Dubai water
- Essential in Dubai, where the water has sat in a tank
Carbon filter (pre-membrane)
- What it does
- Removes chlorine and chlorine dioxide, which damage the membrane
- For Dubai water
- Essential; it protects the most expensive part
RO membrane
- What it does
- Holds back dissolved salts, metals and most contaminants
- For Dubai water
- The part that makes it RO
Post-carbon filter
- What it does
- Polishes the taste after the storage tank
- For Dubai water
- Worth having on tank systems
Mineral stage
- What it does
- Adds back a small amount of calcium and magnesium
- For Dubai water
- Recommended for taste; see the section above
UV lamp
- What it does
- Disinfects the water just before the tap
- For Dubai water
- Optional extra protection; needs power
More stages means more cartridges, and every cartridge has a price and a replacement date. When comparing two systems, count the cartridges you will buy each year and ask what they cost here, not how many stages are printed on the box.
The sediment and carbon stages matter more in Dubai than in many places, because the water has usually spent time in a rooftop or basement tank. A sediment filter that clogs quickly after installation is often a sign that the tank needs cleaning.
RO Waste Water and Your DEWA Bill
Every RO system sends part of the water it takes in to the drain, carrying away the salts the membrane held back. Older under-sink designs typically send 3 to 5 litres to drain for every litre of drinking water. Newer tankless units commonly run between 1:1 and 3:1 the other way round: one to three litres of drinking water for every litre sent to drain.
In dirhams, the difference is smaller than the marketing suggests.
Worked example: 10 litres of drinking water a day
Older unit, 4 L to drain per 1 L: 40 L a day to drain
40 L × 30 days = 1.2 m³ a month
At DEWA’s first-slab rate of AED 7.70 per m³: about AED 9 a month
Tankless unit, 2 L drinking per 1 L to drain: 5 L a day
5 L × 30 days = 0.15 m³ a month: about AED 1 a month
So a less efficient unit costs about AED 100 a year more in water. That matters, but it shouldn’t decide the purchase on its own. The bigger reasons to choose an efficient unit are that it uses less water in a desert city and usually produces water faster.
Waste also rises when the inlet pressure is low. Most manufacturers specify a minimum inlet pressure, commonly around 2.8 bar (40 psi). Villas fed by gravity from a rooftop tank, and top-floor apartments just below a building’s roof tank, often sit below that, and the system then runs slowly and sends more to drain. We check the pressure before recommending a unit. If it is too low, a model with its own pump solves it, or the building needs a booster pump.
Choosing an RO System: What to Check Before You Buy
Choose an RO system by its certification, its real output at your water pressure, the cost and availability of its filters in the UAE, and whether it has a mineral stage. Stage counts and “99% pure” claims tell you little. We supply all the main brands, so this is the checklist we use to recommend one, and you can use it to compare any quote.
| Check | Ask for | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| NSF/ANSI 58 certification | Ask for the certificate and the performance data sheet | NSF/ANSI 58 is the standard for RO systems; the data sheet lists what the unit reduces and by how much |
| Waste ratio, with its direction | “3:1 pure to drain” or “1:3”? | The same numbers can mean opposite things |
| Output per day | Litres or gallons per day (GPD) at a stated pressure | A tank system rated at 75 GPD in a lab may produce much less at low Dubai pressure |
| Filter prices and availability | Price of each cartridge, and who stocks them in the UAE | Proprietary cartridges that must be imported are the most common reason systems are abandoned |
| Mineral stage | Included, or available as an add-on | Improves taste and replaces some calcium and magnesium |
| Tap | Lead-free, metal body, sized for your worktop hole | The tap is the part you touch every day |
| Leak protection | Leak-stop valve or water sensor in the cabinet | An apartment leak under the sink can reach the flat below |
| Power | Does it need a socket under the sink? | Tankless units and UV stages do; many cabinets have none |
| Warranty and service | Who services it in Dubai, and what the warranty covers | A good system with no local support is a poor purchase |
NSF/ANSI 58 certification
- Ask for
- Ask for the certificate and the performance data sheet
- Why it matters
- NSF/ANSI 58 is the standard for RO systems; the data sheet lists what the unit reduces and by how much
Waste ratio, with its direction
- Ask for
- “3:1 pure to drain” or “1:3”?
- Why it matters
- The same numbers can mean opposite things
Output per day
- Ask for
- Litres or gallons per day (GPD) at a stated pressure
- Why it matters
- A tank system rated at 75 GPD in a lab may produce much less at low Dubai pressure
Filter prices and availability
- Ask for
- Price of each cartridge, and who stocks them in the UAE
- Why it matters
- Proprietary cartridges that must be imported are the most common reason systems are abandoned
Mineral stage
- Ask for
- Included, or available as an add-on
- Why it matters
- Improves taste and replaces some calcium and magnesium
Tap
- Ask for
- Lead-free, metal body, sized for your worktop hole
- Why it matters
- The tap is the part you touch every day
Leak protection
- Ask for
- Leak-stop valve or water sensor in the cabinet
- Why it matters
- An apartment leak under the sink can reach the flat below
Power
- Ask for
- Does it need a socket under the sink?
- Why it matters
- Tankless units and UV stages do; many cabinets have none
Warranty and service
- Ask for
- Who services it in Dubai, and what the warranty covers
- Why it matters
- A good system with no local support is a poor purchase
The filter question deserves the most attention. The purchase price is paid once; the cartridges are paid every year for as long as you own the system. Two units at the same price can differ by several hundred dirhams a year in filters, and a unit whose filters are hard to find in Dubai will eventually run on overdue cartridges, which is worse than no filter.
If you have already bought a system online or brought one from abroad, we install it. Check that it runs on 220 to 240 volts if it has a pump, and that the tap and fittings are included; imported kits sometimes arrive with fittings sized for a different market.
Installing RO in Dubai Apartments and Villas
Installing an under-sink RO system needs four connections: a tee on the cold water supply, a drain connection on the sink waste pipe, a hole for the drinking tap, and space in the cabinet for the unit. The work is the same in apartments and villas; what differs is permission, water pressure and cabinet space.
Apartments
If you rent, ask the landlord before a hole is drilled in the worktop. Where drilling isn’t allowed, there are two alternatives: use an existing hole, such as a soap dispenser position, or replace the kitchen mixer with a three-way tap that has a separate filtered channel, which needs no new hole at all. When you move out, the system can be removed and the supply capped.
Cabinet space is the usual constraint. A tank system needs room for the unit and the pressure tank side by side; a tankless unit fits where the tank type won’t. Because a leak in an apartment can reach the unit below, we recommend a leak-stop valve on every apartment installation.
Villas
Villas usually have the space, but check the pressure. A villa fed by gravity from a rooftop tank gets roughly 0.1 bar for every metre of height between the tank and the tap, so even a ground-floor kitchen seven or eight metres below the tank sees well under 1 bar unless the house has a booster pump. That is far below what most RO membranes need, so a villa on gravity feed usually needs a model with its own pump. Villas are also where an RO line to the fridge ice maker makes most sense, since the run is usually straightforward.
Worktops and sinks
Granite and quartz worktops are drilled with a diamond core bit, cooled with water, to avoid chipping; stainless steel sinks are punched. The drinking tap needs a hole of about 12 mm on most models. We confirm the tap position with you before drilling, because a hole in stone can’t be moved.
The drain connection
The waste line from the RO unit joins the sink waste pipe with a drain saddle, fitted above the trap so waste water can’t siphon back into the system. A saddle fitted below the trap, or on a waste pipe that is already partly blocked, causes gurgling and slow filling. If your sink drains slowly already, have it cleared first; our sink plumbing repair page covers it.
How We Install a Drinking Water Filter
Drinking water filter installation takes about two hours for a standard under-sink RO system. We check the kitchen first, because pressure, cabinet space and the worktop decide which unit will work, then make four connections, flush the new filters and record a before-and-after TDS reading.
- 1
Check the kitchen
We measure the water pressure at the sink, check cabinet space and whether there is a power socket, note the worktop material, and test how well the sink drains. We also take a TDS reading of your tap water to compare against later.
- 2
Recommend or check the unit
We recommend a system that suits the pressure, space and your household's use, or check that a unit you already bought has everything it needs for your kitchen.
- 3
Connect the cold supply
The cold water line is isolated and a tee with its own shut-off valve is fitted, so the RO system can be turned off without cutting water to the sink.
- 4
Fit the drinking tap
The tap position is agreed with you, then the worktop is drilled with a water-cooled diamond core bit for stone, or the sink punched for stainless steel, and the tap is fitted.
- 5
Connect the drain
The waste line joins the sink waste pipe with a drain saddle fitted above the trap, so waste water can't siphon back into the system.
- 6
Mount the unit
The unit and any storage tank are secured in the cabinet, with a leak-stop valve where fitted and an optional line to the fridge or coffee machine.
- 7
Flush and leak-check
New filters and the membrane are flushed as the manufacturer specifies, usually by running the first batches of water to drain, while every joint is checked under pressure.
- 8
Test and hand over
We take a TDS reading at the RO tap and record it beside the tap-water reading, then give you the filter schedule and set up reminders if you join a service plan.
RO Maintenance Schedule and Running Costs
An RO system needs its sediment and carbon filters changed every 6 to 12 months and its membrane every 2 to 3 years, which comes to about AED 300 to 600 a year for a typical household. Overdue filters are the main reason RO systems stop working well, so the schedule matters more than the brand.
| Part | Replace | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sediment filter | Every 6 – 12 months | Sooner if the tank is dirty; a fast-clogging filter is a warning sign |
| Carbon pre-filter | Every 6 – 12 months | Overdue carbon lets chlorine reach and damage the membrane |
| RO membrane | Every 2 – 3 years | Replace when the RO tap’s TDS reading rises towards the tap-water figure |
| Post-carbon and mineral cartridges | Usually yearly | Follow the manufacturer’s interval |
| UV lamp (if fitted) | Yearly | The lamp dims before it fails, so it is changed on schedule |
| Storage tank (tank systems) | Sanitised at filter changes | Stops a film building up in the tank and tubing |
Sediment filter
- Replace
- Every 6 – 12 months
- Notes
- Sooner if the tank is dirty; a fast-clogging filter is a warning sign
Carbon pre-filter
- Replace
- Every 6 – 12 months
- Notes
- Overdue carbon lets chlorine reach and damage the membrane
RO membrane
- Replace
- Every 2 – 3 years
- Notes
- Replace when the RO tap’s TDS reading rises towards the tap-water figure
Post-carbon and mineral cartridges
- Replace
- Usually yearly
- Notes
- Follow the manufacturer’s interval
UV lamp (if fitted)
- Replace
- Yearly
- Notes
- The lamp dims before it fails, so it is changed on schedule
Storage tank (tank systems)
- Replace
- Sanitised at filter changes
- Notes
- Stops a film building up in the tank and tubing
RO against bottled water
Five-gallon (18.9 litre) bottles in Dubai cost roughly AED 8 to 12 each. Al Ain’s new-customer offer of 25 bottles from AED 210, for example, works out at about AED 8.40 a bottle.
Household using 10 litres of drinking water a day
Bottled: 300 L a month ÷ 18.9 L = about 16 bottles
16 bottles × AED 8.40 = about AED 133 a month, AED 1,600 a year
RO, year one: system AED 1,200 – 2,500 + filters AED 300 – 600 + water AED 12 – 110
RO, each year after: about AED 310 – 710
Break-even: about 1 year for a basic system, about 3 years for a premium one
The calculation leaves out the time spent carrying bottles and the plastic, and it assumes the filters are changed on time. A system left running on filters two years overdue is cheaper than bottled water only on paper.
RO Water Filter Prices in Dubai
RO water filter installation in Dubai costs AED 1,200 to 2,500 for an under-sink system with a storage tank and AED 2,000 to 3,500 for a tankless unit, supplied and installed. Installing a unit you already own costs AED 250 to 450.
| Work | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Under-sink RO with storage tank, supplied and installed | AED 1,200 – 2,500 |
| Tankless RO, supplied and installed | AED 2,000 – 3,500 |
| Installing a unit you already bought | AED 250 – 450 |
| Filter change visit (sediment and carbon) | AED 150 – 300, plus filters |
| RO membrane replacement | AED 300 – 600, including membrane |
| Annual filter costs, typical household | AED 300 – 600 |
| Whole-house RO, office and commercial systems | Quoted after survey |
| Filter-change service plan | Available; ask for details |
Under-sink RO with storage tank, supplied and installed
- Typical price
- AED 1,200 – 2,500
Tankless RO, supplied and installed
- Typical price
- AED 2,000 – 3,500
Installing a unit you already bought
- Typical price
- AED 250 – 450
Filter change visit (sediment and carbon)
- Typical price
- AED 150 – 300, plus filters
RO membrane replacement
- Typical price
- AED 300 – 600, including membrane
Annual filter costs, typical household
- Typical price
- AED 300 – 600
Whole-house RO, office and commercial systems
- Typical price
- Quoted after survey
Filter-change service plan
- Typical price
- Available; ask for details
Within each range, the price follows the system’s output and number of cartridges, whether it has a mineral stage or UV, and the installation: a stone worktop, a line to the fridge or a new socket under the sink all add work. We quote a fixed price once we have seen the kitchen.
When comparing quotes, add up the first three years: purchase, installation and the filters for three years at local prices. That figure separates a good buy from a cheap unit with expensive cartridges.
RO for Offices, Cafés and Clinics
Workplaces use RO the same way homes do, at higher volume: a pantry drinking tap, a line to the coffee machine and ice maker, and sometimes a chilled dispenser in place of bottled water coolers. The output is sized to the number of people and machines, and the filters are changed on a fixed schedule rather than when someone notices.
For cafés and restaurants, the coffee machine and ice machine decide the specification. Check each machine’s water requirements before choosing the system, and keep the filter records with your other maintenance records. For kitchen drainage, grease traps and larger plumbing work, see our commercial plumbing page.
RO Water Filter FAQ
How much does an RO water filter cost in Dubai?
Is Dubai tap water safe to drink without a filter?
Does RO remove minerals, and is that a problem?
How often do RO filters need changing?
How much water does an RO system waste?
Can I install RO in a rented apartment?
Will you install an RO unit I bought online?
Is a tank or tankless RO system better?
Why is my RO tap running slowly?
Can an RO system feed my fridge or coffee machine?
Do I still need tank cleaning if I have RO?
Do you offer RO service plans and warranty?
Drinking Water From Your Own Tap
Send us a photo of the space under your kitchen sink and tell us whether you rent or own. We’ll recommend a system that fits, or check the one you have, and give you a fixed installed price.
RO installation across Dubai, including: