AMC & asset care
Comprehensive vs non-comprehensive AMC in Dubai
Comprehensive or non-comprehensive AMC in Dubai: who pays for parts, what caps and exclusions to check, and which suits your home.
What is the difference between an AMC and a comprehensive contract?
Both are annual maintenance contracts. The difference is who pays for parts. In a non-comprehensive contract you pay for the visits and labour up front, and each part is quoted when it is needed. In a comprehensive contract the yearly price also covers parts, within whatever limits the contract sets.
Dubai law does not define either term, and providers use them differently. Treat the words as a label, and read the contract’s own definition of what is included.
To see exactly what each OMEGA plan includes, compare OMEGA plans side by side.
What to check in a comprehensive contract
“Parts included” rarely means every part. Ask for the answers to these questions in writing before you sign.
- Which parts are included, by name, and which are not?
- Is there a cap per part, per visit or per year?
- Is replacing a whole unit or a major component included, such as an AC compressor or a water heater?
- Are consumables such as filters, refrigerant gas and sealants included?
- Are existing faults, misuse and equipment past a certain age excluded?
Which type of contract suits your home?
A non-comprehensive contract suits a home whose equipment is in good condition, and owners who want to approve each part. A comprehensive contract can suit older equipment, or owners who want one fixed yearly cost and accept a higher price for it. Paying per visit suits a home with few faults.
| Compared on | Non-comprehensive AMC | Comprehensive contract | Pay per visit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parts | Quoted separately, for approval | Included, often up to a cap or a list | Quoted per job |
| Labour | Planned maintenance included; repair labour varies | Included | Paid per job |
| Planned visits | Included | Included | None unless you book them |
| Emergency call-outs | With OMEGA: unlimited free call-outs for listed emergencies; repairs quoted first | Check the contract | Booked and paid per call-out |
| Budget certainty | Planned work fixed; repairs and parts vary | Higher, apart from excluded items | Low: each job is a new cost |
| Best for | Equipment in good condition | Older equipment, one fixed yearly cost | Homes with few faults |
New homes, rented homes and who already pays
In a new home in a jointly owned building, Article 40 of Dubai Law No. 6 of 2019 makes the developer liable for one year from handover to repair or replace defective installations. Paying for parts cover in that first year can duplicate the developer’s duty, so report defects to the developer first.
In a rented home, Article 16 of Law No. 26 of 2007 makes the landlord responsible for maintenance and for repairing defects that affect the tenant’s use, unless the contract says otherwise. A tenant should read the lease before buying a contract that pays for repairs the landlord may owe.
For the full list of questions to ask any provider, read how to choose an AMC in Dubai.
How OMEGA’s plans work
OMEGA’s annual plans are non-comprehensive: they cover preventive maintenance, not repairs or parts. Every plan includes planned AC, electrical and plumbing maintenance, unlimited free call-outs for listed emergencies and a service record after every visit. For the 6 listed emergencies: one technician for up to 1 hour on site, with no labour charge in that hour. Parts, and work beyond that, are quoted first. A call-out means we come, find the cause and make it safe. Labour for planned maintenance is included. Repairs and parts are quoted first. Core includes 2 planned visits a year, Core Plus 3 and Perform 4. Consumables and additional work are also quoted separately, for your approval before work starts.
We reply within 1 working hour, and a technician is on site within 6 working hours (Mon–Sat 9am–5pm, excluding Sundays and UAE public holidays). Core starts from AED 1,995 incl. VAT for a studio apartment and AED 2,995 incl. VAT for a one-bedroom villa.
If you are still deciding whether a contract is worth it, read AMC or one-off maintenance.
Questions, answered.
What is a comprehensive AMC in Dubai?
It is an annual maintenance contract whose price includes parts as well as visits and labour, usually within a cap or a list of covered parts. The term has no legal definition in Dubai, so read the contract’s own list of what is included and excluded.
What does non-comprehensive AMC mean?
The contract covers planned visits and labour, and parts are quoted separately when they are needed. It costs less up front than a comprehensive contract, and you approve each part before it is fitted.
Is a comprehensive maintenance contract worth it?
It can be for older equipment that needs parts often. For a new home still within the developer’s one-year cover for installations, or equipment in good condition, the extra cost may buy little. Compare it with what you spent on parts last year.
Are OMEGA’s plans comprehensive?
No. OMEGA’s plans are non-comprehensive and cover preventive maintenance. Labour for planned maintenance is included, every plan includes unlimited free call-outs for listed emergencies, and repairs and parts are quoted first, for your approval. Core starts from AED 1,995 incl. VAT for a studio apartment.
Who pays for parts in a rented home in Dubai?
Article 16 of Law No. 26 of 2007 makes the landlord responsible for maintenance and for repairing defects that affect the tenant’s use, unless the contract says otherwise. Read your signed lease, because it can move some repairs to the tenant.
Does a comprehensive contract cover replacing an AC unit?
Do not assume so. Ask whether replacing a whole unit or a major component, such as a compressor, is included, and whether there is a cap. Get the answer in writing before you sign.
Sources
Laws and rules this guide relies on
This guide is general information, not legal advice.