DEWA advises setting air conditioning to 24°C in summer and using Auto mode. Comfort can still vary with humidity, airflow, sun exposure and the system, so a room that feels uncomfortable at a reasonable setting may need investigation rather than a much lower target.
The thermostat is the most visible part of an AC system, but it does not work alone. Setting a very low temperature does not make a correctly operating unit produce instant cooling. It asks the system to keep running until the sensor reaches that target—if the room and equipment can reach it at all.
A practical Dubai setting should balance comfort, humidity and energy use. It should also help reveal when the problem is not the set point but airflow, maintenance, heat entering the rooms or a system fault.
Start with Dubai’s 24°C guidance
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority recommends a 24°C thermostat setting during summer and Auto mode so the system cycles according to demand.
Treat 24°C as a sensible reference rather than a promise that every room will feel identical. Sensor position, humidity, clothing, activity and air movement all influence comfort.
Why Auto mode usually makes more sense
DEWA recommends Auto operation, but an Auto setting can control different functions on different equipment. Fan Auto and automatic heating/cooling selection are not necessarily the same setting. Follow the installed system instructions or ask the building team to explain the control rather than assuming every thermostat behaves alike.
Lowering the set point does not fix poor performance
If a room stays warm at 24°C, changing the target to 18°C does not repair weak airflow, dirty heat-transfer surfaces, duct leakage or an outdoor-unit fault. It may simply keep the system calling for cooling for longer.
Look at the room temperature, airflow and operating pattern. If the AC previously maintained comfort and no longer can, that change is more useful than the number selected on the thermostat.
If only one room stays warm, note the time of day, direct sunlight and whether furniture obstructs a supply or return grille. Share which rooms are affected and where the thermostat is located. This helps focus an airflow or controls inspection; do not remove panels, adjust internal dampers or attempt electrical or refrigerant work yourself.
Reduce the cooling load before blaming the AC
Sunlight through glass, open doors, damaged seals and heat-producing equipment add load. DEWA recommends keeping doors and windows closed while AC is operating and using curtains, shades or reflective measures to reduce heat entering through windows.
Practical comfort checks
- Close external doors and windows fully
- Use blinds or curtains on strongly exposed glazing
- Keep supply and return grilles unobstructed
- Follow the manufacturer guidance for filters designed for safe user access
- Use schedules or room controls where the installed system supports them
Why the DEWA bill can rise even at the same setting
Outdoor conditions, occupancy, humidity, longer operating hours and equipment condition can change consumption without a thermostat adjustment. A dirty filter or coil can reduce efficiency, while a door seal or duct problem lets cooled air escape.
Compare like with like: occupied days, weather period, thermostat schedule and other electrical loads. A sudden unexplained change together with poorer cooling deserves a system review.
Use 24°C and Auto mode as a practical Dubai baseline, manage heat entering the rooms and investigate persistent discomfort instead of repeatedly lowering the set point.
Explore AC Maintenance in Dubai
Related services and guides
If cooling remains uncomfortable despite suitable user settings, describe the rooms, system and operating pattern to Ultra Cool Technical Contracting FZE. Include your Dubai location when discussing a visit.
Frequently asked questions
Usually the set point changes how long the system is asked to run, not its basic cooling rate. If performance is weak, a lower target does not correct the cause.
It is DEWA’s recommended summer reference. Personal comfort and actual room conditions vary, so airflow, humidity, heat gain and system design still matter.
DEWA recommends Auto operation, but fan Auto and automatic heating or cooling selection are different controls. Check the manual or ask the building team which setting applies to your split AC or fan coil unit (FCU). Do not assume that a button marked Auto controls every part of the system.
