Abu Dhabi Distribution Company (ADDC) is the sole operator of low-voltage and medium-voltage electricity distribution networks in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, and the Western Region (Al Gharbia). ADDC manages over 34,000 distribution substations, 5,800 km of MV underground cables, and 38,000 km of LV distribution networks — an infrastructure density that makes construction NOC compliance virtually unavoidable for any project in Abu Dhabi’s developed urban areas. Unlike Dubai where DEWA handles both generation and distribution, Abu Dhabi’s utility structure separates generation (TAQA), high-voltage transmission (TRANSCO), and distribution (ADDC for most areas; AADC for Al Ain). This guide covers ADDC’s NOC requirements specifically — if your project is in Al Ain, the parallel process with AADC (Al Ain Distribution Company) applies with similar but distinct procedures and fee schedules.
ADDC NOC and Connection Services: 2026 Fee Schedule
| ADDC Service | Fee (AED) | Processing Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Construction Proximity NOC (small project) | AED 2,000 | 5–7 working days | GFA < 2,000 sqm or single residential |
| Construction Proximity NOC (large project) | AED 5,000 | 5–7 working days | GFA > 2,000 sqm or commercial/industrial |
| Infrastructure Survey (if required) | AED 1,500–3,000 | 3–5 working days | Dispatched when cables identified nearby |
| Residential New Connection | AED 3,500 + deposit AED 5,000 | 7–10 working days | Via TAMM or addc.ae |
| Commercial New Connection | AED 7,500 + deposit AED 20,000 | 10–14 working days | Medium voltage options available |
| Temporary Construction Supply | AED 1,000 + deposit AED 3,000 | 3–5 working days | Metered at standard commercial rate |
| NOC Extension (if expired) | AED 750/month | Next working day | Maximum 2 extensions before reapplication |
Understanding ADDC’s Infrastructure Protection Framework
ADDC defines a Protection Zone for each category of infrastructure: 3 metres from any LV (low-voltage, under 1kV) underground cable on each side; 5 metres from any MV (medium-voltage, 11kV/33kV) underground cable; 10 metres from the fence of any distribution substation; and a vertical clearance zone of 8 metres below overhead lines. Abu Dhabi’s mature urban areas — particularly Khalidiyah, Mussafah, Electra Street, Al Karamah, and Mohammed bin Zayed City — have high infrastructure density with MV cables running beneath most major and secondary roads. Developments in new master-planned areas (Saadiyat Island, Yas Island, Masdar City, Al Shamkha) face lighter cable densities in undeveloped zones but still require NOC checks before breaking ground, since ADDC pre-installs distribution infrastructure ahead of developer activity in allocated plots.
How to Get an ADDC NOC for Construction in Abu Dhabi 2026: Step-by-Step
Step 1: Conduct ADDC Infrastructure Pre-Check via TAMM or addc.ae Start your ADDC NOC process with an online infrastructure pre-check at tamm.abudhabi/addc-noc or addc.ae. Log in with UAE PASS and navigate to ‘ADDC Infrastructure Clearance’. Upload your plot plan (PDF, maximum 10MB) with project boundary coordinates. The ADDC GIS system runs automatically and returns an Infrastructure Proximity Report within 24 hours — earlier for plots in Al Gharbia (Western Region) where infrastructure is sparser. The report classifies your project as: Zone A (no ADDC infrastructure within 30 metres — no NOC required but site-start notification mandatory), Zone B (ADDC infrastructure 10–30 metres — NOC required), or Zone C (ADDC infrastructure within 10 metres — NOC required plus mandatory ADDC site supervision during critical excavation). Most Abu Dhabi urban plots fall in Zone B or C.
Step 2: Prepare and Submit the ADDC NOC Application Package If the pre-check confirms Zone B or Zone C proximity, proceed to the formal NOC application. Application documents required: a) Certified copy of Abu Dhabi Municipality building permit application (Tawtheeq-stamped title deed + ADM application reference), b) Site plan with ADDC infrastructure overlay (generated automatically from the pre-check report), c) Excavation method statement: depth, trench width, equipment type, timeline, contractor name, and the designated Infrastructure Protection Officer (IPO), d) Contractor’s ADDC registration certificate (contractors must register separately with ADDC at addc.ae/contractor-registration — free, 5 working days), e) Project engineer’s professional qualification certificate. Submit the complete package via TAMM or the ADDC business portal. Pay the NOC fee: AED 2,000 (small projects) or AED 5,000 (large projects) via credit card, e-Dirham, or linked TAMM account.
Step 3: ADDC Technical Review and Cable Marking Survey ADDC’s Projects Clearance Division reviews the application within 5 working days. For Zone C projects (infrastructure within 10 metres), ADDC automatically dispatches a field survey team to physically verify and mark cable positions. The survey involves two ADDC engineers, a pipe-locator device, and ground-penetrating radar for areas with uncertain cable depths. Survey costs are AED 1,500–3,000 and are invoiced separately from the NOC fee, payable before survey commencement. Survey findings are documented in a Cable Identification Certificate that specifies exact cable depth (typically 800mm–1,200mm for MV cables under Abu Dhabi Municipality roads), cable direction, and recommended excavation method. This certificate becomes an appendix to the final NOC approval document.
Step 4: Receive NOC Approval and Comply with ADDC Supervision Requirements The ADDC NOC Approval Certificate is issued within 5–7 working days of the complete application (including survey results if required). The certificate specifies the project scope covered, valid dates, mandatory conditions, and the name of the ADDC Field Supervisor assigned to your project. For Zone C projects, the ADDC field supervisor must physically sign off each critical excavation phase. Contact the ADDC supervisor at least 48 hours before commencing work near identified cables (supervisor contact number on the NOC certificate). Key conditions include: no mechanical excavation within 500mm of identified cables; concrete ‘kicker’ protection to be poured around exposed cable segments before backfill; red warning tape and green marker tiles to be laid 300mm above all cable runs during backfill; and as-built drawing submission within 30 days of project completion showing any permanent infrastructure installed near ADDC cables.
Step 5: Obtain ADDC Completion Certificate and Activate Permanent Connection After construction is completed and all ADDC conditions have been met, submit the post-completion package via addc.ae: a) As-built survey drawing showing final excavation extents and cable positions, b) Photographic evidence of installed cable protection, c) Signed supervisor sign-off report from the ADDC field supervisor. ADDC issues a Completion NOC Certificate within 3–5 working days confirming no damage to the distribution network and all conditions complied with. This certificate is required by Abu Dhabi Municipality as part of the Occupancy Certificate (Shahadat al-Iskan) application. Simultaneously, apply for permanent ADDC electricity connection via TAMM, providing the Municipality Completion Certificate, approved electrical installation drawings (E drawings), and your Civil Defence fire safety certificate. ADDC permanent connection takes 7–14 working days; the security deposit is refunded when the account is closed (typically after the building’s useful life).
ADDC NOC Non-Compliance Penalties and Enforcement 2026
- Excavation without ADDC NOC: AED 50,000 minimum fine per violation instance. Second offence: AED 100,000 and referral to Abu Dhabi Public Prosecution.
- Damage to ADDC LV cable without NOC: AED 100,000 fine + full repair costs (LV cable repair: AED 10,000–30,000; includes splice joints, concrete reinstatement, and service restoration testing).
- Damage to ADDC MV cable without NOC: AED 100,000 fine + MV cable repair cost (AED 50,000–200,000 for MV splicing in confined underground conditions) + compensation to affected customers for service disruption.
- Expired NOC (working after validity lapsed): AED 25,000 fine and mandatory re-inspection before work can resume. Extension available (AED 750/month) only if applied for before NOC expiry.
- Failure to submit as-built drawings: AED 5,000 fine per month delayed, with ADDC withholding issuance of the Completion NOC Certificate until drawings are received.
Compliance, Renewals and Ongoing Requirements
ADDC compliance in Abu Dhabi extends through the full building lifecycle. Once the permanent connection is active, building owners must maintain the electrical installation in compliance with ADDC’s Network Code, which specifies maximum demand limits, power factor requirements (minimum 0.95 for commercial consumers above 100kVA), and harmonic distortion limits. Buildings with large motor loads (HVAC systems, elevators, industrial machinery) may be required by ADDC to install power factor correction capacitor banks — cost AED 30,000–150,000 depending on load — to avoid maximum demand tariff penalties (MDI charges: AED 15/kVA for power factor below 0.9).
For buildings with rooftop solar photovoltaic systems, ADDC’s Abu Dhabi Net Metering Regulation (Circular No. 2 of 2017, updated 2023) allows excess solar generation to be exported to the grid at AED 0.12 per kWh credit rate. Applications for net metering are submitted via the TAMM portal, with ADDC inspection and connection taking 14–21 working days. Solar systems not registered with ADDC and connected to the ADDC grid are treated as illegal connections, subject to AED 20,000 fine and mandatory disconnection.
From a taxation perspective, ADDC deposits paid by companies are balance sheet current assets (not expenses). Connection fees are capitalised as part of the building cost and depreciated over 25–40 years (building’s useful life). Annual ADDC electricity bills are fully deductible business expenses under the UAE Corporate Tax Law (9% CIT applies to profits above AED 375,000, with the QFZP Free Zone regime exempting qualifying free zone entities from CIT on qualifying income).
Related: UAE Corporate Tax Guide 2026 | Free Zone License Renewal | UAE Golden Visa 2026 | UAE Business License Types
Frequently Asked Questions — ADDC NOC Construction Abu Dhabi 2026
These answers reflect ADDC’s current NOC procedures and fee schedule as of August 2026. For Al Ain and Western Region (Al Gharbia) projects, contact AADC (Al Ain Distribution Company) and Abu Dhabi National Energy Company for the parallel process. Always verify current fees at addc.ae before applying.
How much does an ADDC construction NOC cost in Abu Dhabi 2026?
ADDC charges AED 2,000 for small projects (residential villas, GFA under 2,000 sqm) and AED 5,000 for larger commercial or industrial projects. If an infrastructure survey is dispatched (for Zone C projects with cables within 10 metres), an additional AED 1,500–3,000 survey fee applies, invoiced separately. For temporary construction supply, the ADDC fee is AED 1,000 plus a refundable AED 3,000 deposit. Permanent connection fees range from AED 3,500 + AED 5,000 deposit for residential to AED 7,500 + AED 20,000 deposit for commercial. All fees are inclusive of 5% VAT.
How is the ADDC NOC process different from DEWA in Dubai?
Both ADDC (Abu Dhabi) and DEWA (Dubai) require pre-construction NOCs, but key differences include: a) ADDC distinguishes three proximity Zones (A, B, C) determining the level of supervision required; DEWA uses a single 5-metre threshold, b) ADDC NOC fees are AED 2,000–5,000 vs DEWA’s flat AED 1,000, c) ADDC uses the TAMM integrated government portal while DEWA has its own DCC contractors portal, d) ADDC assigns a named Field Supervisor to Zone C projects; DEWA requires a DEWA representative to be booked separately per excavation session, e) ADDC’s cable marking survey costs AED 1,500–3,000; DEWA does not charge separately for surveys in most cases. Processing times are similar: 5–7 working days for both.
What is the penalty for damaging ADDC cables in Abu Dhabi?
Penalties under Abu Dhabi Electricity Law (Law No. 2 of 1998, as amended) for damaging ADDC infrastructure are among the highest in the UAE utility sector: AED 50,000 for first offence without NOC; AED 100,000 for second offence or if damage causes service disruption; full repair cost liability (LV: AED 10,000–30,000; MV: AED 50,000–200,000); plus criminal referral to Abu Dhabi Public Prosecution for wilful damage or gross negligence. Contractors caught excavating near ADDC cables without an NOC are also blacklisted from ADDC’s contractor registry, preventing them from registering for future NOC applications — effectively barring them from construction work in Abu Dhabi.
Does an ADDC NOC cover Al Ain and the Western Region?
No. ADDC’s jurisdiction covers Abu Dhabi city and the Northern Region of Abu Dhabi Emirate. Al Ain city and Al Ain region are served by AADC (Al Ain Distribution Company), which has a separate NOC system and different fee schedule (generally 10–20% lower than ADDC). The Western Region (Al Gharbia — Madinat Zayed, Ghayathi, Liwa) is served partly by ADDC (some urban areas) and partly by remote generation — contact ADDC’s Al Gharbia office directly at 800-5501 to confirm the applicable authority for your specific project location in the Western Region.
Can a foreign-owned company apply for an ADDC NOC in Abu Dhabi?
Yes. ADDC NOC applications are open to any legally registered entity in the UAE — UAE national-owned, expatriate-owned LLC, free zone company, or foreign branch — as long as the applicant holds a valid trade licence and the contractor engaged is registered on ADDC’s contractor registry. Free zone companies (ADGM, Kizad, ICAD) with plots in free zone areas apply via the free zone authority’s infrastructure desk, which coordinates with ADDC directly. Foreign companies undertaking construction under government contracts apply through the relevant Abu Dhabi government entity (usually the Abu Dhabi Department of Infrastructure and Municipal Affairs — DIMA) which has framework NOC agreements with ADDC for public works projects.