How Much Does It Cost to Rent a 1 MW Generator in the UAE?
The short answer: renting 1 MW of diesel generation in the UAE starts from about AED 35,000 per month for one 1,250 kVA unit, excluding fuel. For projects of 12 months or longer, the rate starts from about AED 32,000 per month. The final price depends on the rental term, redundancy, transformers, fuel storage and how remote the site is. Fuel is usually the largest cost of running a rental power plant, often several times the rental itself.
Monthly rental cost by capacity
Rates below are starting prices per month, excluding fuel, based on 1,250 kVA units. At a 0.8 power factor, one 1,250 kVA unit delivers about 1 MW.
| Capacity | Configuration | Units | Short term (from) | 12+ months (from) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 MW | N (no standby) | 1 | AED 35,000 | AED 32,000 |
| 1 MW | N+1 (one standby) | 2 | AED 70,000 | AED 64,000 |
| 2 MW | N | 2 | AED 70,000 | AED 64,000 |
| 2 MW | N+1 | 3 | AED 105,000 | AED 96,000 |
| 5 MW | N+1 | 6 | AED 210,000 | AED 192,000 |
N+1 means one extra generator on standby, so the site keeps full power if any single unit trips or goes down for service. It is standard for hospitals, data centres, utilities and any site where an outage costs more than the extra unit.
What drives the price
- Rental term. The minimum rental period is one month. Projects of 12 months or more start about 9% below short-term rates.
- Redundancy. N+1 adds a full unit to the fleet and to the bill.
- Transformers. Connecting to an 11 kV or 33 kV network needs a step-up transformer.
- Fuel storage. Tank size depends on consumption and how often fuel can be delivered. Remote and island sites need more storage.
- Mobilisation distance. Moving generators from our yard in KIZAD, Abu Dhabi to Dubai costs less than shipping to an island or another GCC country.
- Site conditions. Hazardous areas require ATEX Zone 2 certified units; SINTAQA has these in its fleet.
- Frequency and voltage. SINTAQA's fleet consists of new 1,250 kVA generators, all switchable between 50 Hz and 60 Hz, so 60 Hz marine or Saudi-standard loads do not require special equipment. See 50 Hz or 60 Hz? What frequency means for generator rental in the GCC.
Fuel: the biggest running cost
SINTAQA guarantees a specific fuel consumption of 0.21–0.25 kg/kWh for its 1,250 kVA units (approximately 0.25–0.30 litres per kWh) between 25% and 100% of prime rating at 50 Hz, under the fuel specification and site conditions stated in the quotation. At a steady 750 kW load, 24 hours a day, one unit uses an estimated 4,700 litres per day, or about 140,000 litres per month. Total litres depend on the real load, operating hours, load variation, ambient conditions and project configuration (engine data: Cummins KTA50-G3 datasheet).
| Average load on 1 MW | Fuel per day (approx.) | Fuel per month (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| 500 kW | 3,300 L | 98,000 L |
| 750 kW | 4,700 L | 140,000 L |
| 1,000 kW | 6,100 L | 183,000 L |
At commercial diesel prices, fuel usually costs several times the monthly rental. That is why correct sizing matters: an oversized generator running at low load wastes fuel and risks engine problems, while an undersized one trips. It is also why long-term projects near a gas supply should consider gas generation instead.
Need a price for your project? Request a quote with your load, rental period and site location, and we will send a costed proposal. For the full rental process, see our guide to diesel generator rental in Dubai.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to rent a 1 MW generator in Dubai?
From about AED 35,000 per month for one 1,250 kVA unit, excluding fuel. Projects of 12 months or more start from about AED 32,000 per month.
Is fuel included in generator rental prices?
No. Rental rates exclude fuel, because consumption depends on the actual load.
How many generators do I need for 1 MW?
One 1,250 kVA unit covers 1 MW. For critical loads, add a second unit on standby (N+1).
What is the minimum rental period?
One month. Longer terms get lower monthly rates, starting from AED 32,000 per MW for 12 months or more.
Is it cheaper to rent for longer?
Yes. Rental for 12 months or more starts from AED 32,000 per month per MW, compared with AED 35,000 for shorter terms.
Does SINTAQA rent generators outside the UAE?
Yes. SINTAQA supplies rental power across the GCC, including Kuwait, Qatar and Oman.