DEWA’s two stands at WETEX highlight its role in advancing energy and water security and sustainability
Under the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and under the patronage of HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) organised the 28th edition of the Water, Energy, Technology and Environment Exhibition (WETEX) from 20 to 22 October 2026 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
DEWA showcased a comprehensive range of its key projects, initiatives and innovative solutions across its two main stands, A1 in Za’abeel Hall and A2 in Sheikh Saeed Hall 1. The stands highlighted DEWA’s pioneering experience in implementing major projects to diversify energy production, encompassing various clean and renewable energy technologies and sources. These efforts support the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050, which seek to provide 100% of Dubai’s energy production capacity from clean sources by 2050. They also contribute to the UAE Water Security Strategy 2036, the Dubai Integrated Water Resources Management Strategy 2030 and the UAE Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031.
The stands also showcased DEWA’s key achievements, including ranking first globally in 13 key performance indicators (KPIs) across its areas of operation and achieving leading results in regional indicators. DEWA recorded the world’s lowest customer minutes lost (CML), at just 0.82 minutes (approximately 49 seconds) per customer annually. Losses in the electricity transmission and distribution network stood at 2%, the lowest rate globally, while water network losses stood at 4.4%, among the world’s lowest rates. The reliability and availability of Dubai’s electricity system also exceeded 99.99%.
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park
DEWA’s main stand, A1, featured a model of Phase 7 of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the largest single-site solar park in the world based on the independent power producer model (IPP). This phase will add 2,000 megawatts (MW) of capacity from photovoltaic solar panels and include a 1,400MW battery energy storage system with a six-hour storage capacity, providing a total storage capacity of 8,400 megawatt-hours. This makes it one of the world’s largest solar-plus-storage projects. The project will be implemented using the independent power producer model.
The project supports DEWA’s ongoing efforts to increase the share of clean energy in Dubai’s energy mix and to raise the solar park’s total production capacity to more than 8,000MW, compared to the original plan of 5,000MW, representing an increase of 60%.
Al Shera’a
DEWA’s new headquarters, Al Shera’a, is the world’s tallest, largest and smartest net-positive government building in the world. It has achieved the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)Platinum certification for New Construction, awarded by the US Green Building Council (USGBC).
Green Hydrogen Project
DEWA’s Green Hydrogen project is the first project of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa to produce green hydrogen using solar energy. The project produces about 20 kilogrammes of hydrogen per hour, with a gas tank that can store up to 12 hours of hydrogen produced using solar energy. Besides its current applications in green power generation and refuelling hydrogen-powered vehicles, the Green Hydrogen project has been built to accommodate future hydrogen applications across the energy and industrial sectors, and in aerial, land and sea transport.
Hassyan Seawater Reverse-Osmosis Project
The Hassyan Reverse-Osmosis Seawater Desalination Plant is the world’s largest seawater desalination project using reverse-osmosis technology. With investments totalling AED 3.377 billion, the project is DEWA’s first under the independent water producer (IWP) model and will this year reach a production capacity of 180 million gallons of desalinated water per day.
DEWA International
DEWA International is a wholly owned independent subsidiary that seeks to develop conventional and clean energy projects worldwide and export Dubai’s successful energy and water infrastructure model to global markets.
Hatta Pumped-Storage Hydroelectric Power Plant
The Hatta Pumped-Storage Hydroelectric Power Plant is the first of its kind in the GCC region, with a production capacity of 250 megawatts, a storage capacity of up to 1,500 megawatt-hours and an operational lifespan of up to 80 years.
DEWA’s Distribution Network Smart Centre (DNSC)
The DNSC enables advanced features such as the upgrade of automatic decision-making capabilities. It also ensures the management and sustainability of three smart DEWA initiatives – advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) for electricity; Shams Dubai, which allows owners to instal photovoltaic systems on buildings to generate solar power; and the EV Green Charger initiative.
Unified Operations Technology Lab Project
The project consolidates existing operations technology (OT) laboratories in the Power Transmission division, including the Protection Lab, SCMS Lab, RTU Lab, RTDS Lab and OT Security Lab, into a centralised facility with standardised processes, improving work efficiency, enhancing collaboration and optimising resource use. Its flexible, scalable design and infrastructure allows for future expansion and additional use cases. It also supports DEWA’s vision of developing digital twins for substations while providing a platform to test emerging technologies and assess their potential applications.
Transmission Power AI Knowledge Hub
The centre uses AI-powered solutions to provide faster, easier access to technical and operational information. The Transmission Power Chatbot gives users quick access to method statements and specifications, improving operational efficiency and reducing the time spent searching for information across separate documents.
The Transmission Power Zone Chatbot enhances the TP Zone platform through ‘Rammas at Work’, a digital assistant that provides real-time access to digital application manuals. Users can submit natural-language queries and receive instant, accurate responses, simplifying information retrieval and supporting DEWA’s digital transformation objectives.
Virtualisation of Protection, Automation and Control (vPAC) Project
The vPAC project transforms conventional substation protection systems by replacing multiple dedicated hardware devices with virtualised software applications running on a standardised computing platform. The demonstration rack showcases protection, automation and control functions operating as virtual applications on open, vendor-neutral hardware, in accordance with IEC 61850 standards. The project reduces the hardware footprint and lifecycle costs, accelerates deployment, enhances cyber security and strengthens IT/OT convergence. This supports DEWA’s digital transformation vision and paves the way for future-ready digital substations.
Secondary Reserve Calculation System
The system combines a probabilistic algorithm with the categorisation of solar power forecasting errors to calculate secondary reserve values using standard data commonly available within utilities. This enables faster calculations, strengthens reliability and governance, and supports more timely operational decision-making. Tailored to DEWA’s requirements, the methodology optimises secondary reserve values to help reduce costs. It also makes a complex methodology accessible through a simple, easy-to-use application that maintains data integrity and improves operational efficiency.
Technical Guide for Infrastructure Projects No-Objection Certificate
The guide covers 67 projects and serves as a reference for all contractors, consultants and developers approved by DEWA. It also includes standard and specific requirements for water assets, updates to technical specifications, protection details and electricity-specific assets.
Intelligent Control System for Gas Turbines
The system is the world’s first AI-driven Gas Turbine Intelligent Controller (GTIC), enhancing the operational efficiency of gas turbines and increasing the generation capacity of 14 gas turbine units at the Jebel Ali Power and Desalination Complex.
Digital DEWA
Digital DEWA, the digital arm of DEWA, is showcasing the latest products and advanced solutions from its three subsidiaries: Data Hub Integrated Solutions (Moro Hub), recognised by Guinness World Records as the world’s largest solar-powered data centre, InfraX and DigitalX.
Green Charger Initiative for Electric Vehicles
Dubai has 2,826 electric vehicle charging stations across the emirate, comprising DEWA’s Green Charger stations and charging stations operated by independent charge point operators (CPOs) licensed by DEWA, in collaboration with public and private sector partners. DEWA offers four types of Green Charger stations: ultra-fast charging stations, fast charging stations, public charging stations and wall-box chargers.
Space-D
DEWA’s Space-D programme uses nanosatellites and advanced space technologies to enhance the planning, operation and maintenance of electricity and water networks. DEWA successfully launched two nanosatellites, DEWA-SAT 1 and DEWA-SAT 2, under the programme, becoming the world’s first utility to use nanosatellites to optimise the maintenance and planning of electricity and water networks.
Research and Development (R&D) Centre
By the end of 2025, DEWA’s R&D Centre had published a total of 347 scientific and research papers and registered 65 patents, of which 19 had been granted, in fields including solar energy, water, AI and 3D printing, among others. The centre developed the two nanosatellites launched by DEWA, as well as DEWA’s ground station, capable of tracking and communicating with the DEWA’s satellites at their low-Earth orbit of 400km to 700km. The centre has also developed the GENOS 2.0 platform for the integrated planning of electricity, water, green hydrogen and energy storage systems. The ‘Tadfuk’ project uses advanced sensors and AI to provide a more comprehensive approach to monitoring feedwater quality at RO desalination plants. It also incorporates a digital simulation platform for the electricity network.
Suqia UAE
Suqia UAE works to alleviate the suffering of communities most affected by the global water scarcity crisis. Since its launch in 2015, sustainable water projects implemented by the organisation have benefited approximately 15 million people in 37 countries. Suqia UAE oversees the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award, which offers total prize money of USD 1 million. The award aims to encourage the development of sustainable solutions to the global water crisis using renewable energy. Across its four previous cycles, the award has honoured 43 winners from 26 countries.
Rammas
DEWA’s virtual assistant, powered by generative AI and ChatGPT technology, responds to customer inquiries in Arabic and English and provides a range of procedural services. Rammas uses the latest AI model to generate real-time responses by retrieving relevant information directly from DEWA’s website content.
Social Corporate Responsibility
Between 2013 and the first half of 2026, DEWA launched 515 community initiatives. During this period, DEWA employees contributed 271,433 volunteer hours to humanitarian and community programmes that positively impacted communities around the world. Reflecting the success of these initiatives, DEWA achieved a societal happiness score of 95% in 2025.
My Sustainable Living Programme
The My Sustainable Living Programme enables customers to compare their consumption with that of similar, energy-efficient in their area, encouraging them to adopt more sustainable lifestyles.
Smart Response
The service enables customers to self-diagnose technical electricity and water interruptions and reduces the time required to handle reports if a technical team visit is needed.
