You can now apply to have the allowance paid in 6 month advance if you do not like the monthly payments. This change was put in place this year.
When first you obtain the Utilities Allowance payment 6 month advances are the norm for the first year as Rent Payments here in Dubai require you to make advanced post dated cheques which is a sizeable junk of money.
Payments can vary however the norm is usually 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 cheques post dated and given to the land lord or real estate agent.
Not so easy to cancel a cheque in this part of the world.
Procedure to cancel a cheque is painfull as you can not go to the bank and request the cheque to be canceled instead you make application to the courts and deposit yet another cheque with the courts for the same amount that you wish to cancel till the matter is sorted out or a ruling made.
Land Lords Nirvana