Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) | DEWA organises its 10th gala dinner under the theme ‘Be Proud, Together for Tolerance’

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) organised its 10th annual gala dinner under the theme ‘Be Proud, Together for Tolerance’ at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Dubai. The event supports DEWA’s commitment to enhancing communications with staff and providing a happy and positive work environment. The event was attended by HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA; Abdullah Mohammed Al Hashimi, Majed Hamad Al Shamsi, Saeed Mohammed Al Shared, and Nabil Abdul Rahman Arif, Board Members of DEWA; DEWA’s Executive Vice Presidents and Vice Presidents, and around 1,200 staff.

In his keynote speech, Al Tayer noted that the event’s theme ‘Be Proud, Together for Tolerance’ is in line with the values of the Year of Tolerance 2019, which embodies the UAE's approach in consolidating the values of tolerance, brotherhood, and co-existence. The Year of Tolerance is an extension to the Year of Zayed 2018, as it carries the values, that the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may his soul rest in peace, was keen on instilling among the people of the UAE, and which our wise leadership continues.

“Tolerance in the UAE is not a motto or an obsolete value, but a genuine commitment and sustainable organisational action that is based on a set of legislations and policies aimed at deepening the values of openness, dialogue, and acceptance. Our Founding Fathers have instilled these noble values and principles in the hearts of every UAE citizen and resident. These principles have flourished under the UAE’s wise leadership creating an oasis of happiness, prosperity, security, and safety, where everyone lives in harmony. The UAE has become a unique role model in the world for peace, tolerance, and giving. It gives everyone without discrimination, exactly like the Ghaf tree, the symbol of the Year of Tolerance, which has always been a source of life and a symbol of stability, co-existence, and common destiny,” added Al Tayer.

“While we are proud of the UAE as a homeland for tolerance, where over 200 nationalities from different cultures and beliefs co-exist, we are pleased that DEWA embraces more than 11,000 employees from 66 nationalities working in perfect harmony and team spirit, continuing the journey of success and excellence; and providing world-class services to over 900,000 customers in Dubai. Our employees contribute to the happiness of our customers, resulting in our first position, in the Happiness Index in the large Dubai Government entities category, for the second consecutive year with a 95% happiness score, as per Smart Dubai’s Happiness Index. Our achievements have become a role model for excellence locally and globally, with DEWA receiving over 190 prestigious local and international awards over the past four years. The UAE, represented by DEWA, has maintained its first position worldwide in Getting Electricity, for the second consecutive year, according to the World Bank's Doing Business report 2019, which measures the ease of doing business in 190 economies around the world,” noted Al Tayer.

“In the Ten Rules for Leadership detailed in his book ‘My Story…50 Memories from 50 Years of Service’, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said, ‘Those of us working in government are blessed. Our jobs are not ordinary ones; they are the most beautiful things in our lives. They are life. Our jobs are meaningful; they enable us to change the lives of millions of people for the better.’  I urge you to always keep these words in mind, to continue DEWA’s excellence and competitiveness, and achieve its vision to become a globally leading, sustainable, innovative corporation, strengthening its pioneering role in anticipating and shaping the future of energy and water, and supporting the shift towards a sustainable green economy in the UAE,” concluded Al Tayer, addressing the employees.

Khawla Al Mehairi, Executive Vice President of Strategy and Government Communications at DEWA, noted that organising the annual gala dinner supports the directives of DEWA’s top management, who are keen on achieving the happiness of staff in line with DEWA’s strategy 2021 to provide a happy working environment, build competent capabilities, and build a happy culture that fosters national identity. She affirmed that the management’s approval of this year’s theme ‘Be Proud, Together for Tolerance’ consolidates DEWA’s pride in the values of the Year of Tolerance as well as the spirit of togetherness and solidarity that brings staff together.

DEWA staff expressed their delight to be at the annual gala dinner, and commended the management for their commitment to staff happiness. They emphasised that they will always remember the slogan, especially as DEWA is home to different nationalities and cultures, working together in perfect harmony, without distinction or discrimination. The staff commended the event’s organisation and activities, noting that it strengthens communications between staff and the management; establishing a positive environment at DEWA and making them happier.