Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) | DEWA signs Al-Shera’a headquarters contract with Ghantoot Group

Dubai Water and Electricity Authority (DEWA) has signed a contract for construction work of its new headquarters, called Al-Shera’a (Arabic for sail), with a consortium comprising Ghantoot Transport & General Contracting and Ghantoot Gulf Contracting. Construction. The AED 981,960,889 project is expected to be complete within 30 months.

The contract was signed by HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, and Ali Mohammed Sadeq Al Blooshi, Chairman of Ghantoot Group of Companies. The signing ceremony was attended by Mohammed Ali Al Blooshi, Managing Director of Ghantoot; Abdullah Obaidullah, Executive Vice President of Water & Civil Engineering at DEWA; Dr Yousef Al Akraf, Executive Vice President of Business Support and Human Resources at DEWA; and Khawla Al Mehairi, Executive Vice President of Strategy and Government Communications at DEWA.

Al Shera’a will be built in Jadaf in Dubai, and will be the tallest, largest, and smartest government Zero Energy Building in the world. Total energy used in the building during a year will be equal to or less than the energy produced on site during that year. DEWA previously awarded the first phase of construction, worth AED 46 million, to Dutco Balfour Beatty, which brings the total cost of the building’s construction to over one billion dirhams.

Al Tayer said that the building must adhere to the highest standards of sustainability and efficiency. By building Al-Shera’a, we establish a global benchmark for buildings that achieve a balance between development and the environment, to protect the right of future generations to live in a clean, healthy and safe environment. DEWA’s new headquarters has been designed to receive a platinum rating by LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and a silver rating from the WELL Building Standard. DEWA will later announce two more phases to implement work on the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the photovoltaic solar systems for the building.

Al-Sheraa’s built-up area is over 2 million square feet. The building will have 15 floors, a basement and 4 floors of car parking. The building can house 5,000 people. Facilities will include a 500-people auditorium, training halls, a creativity centre, an exhibition hall, a nursery for the children of female employees, and a gym, among others. The building will have over 20,000 square metres of photovoltaic solar panels rated to 4,000 kilowatts. There will be 1,000 square metres of Building Integrated Photovoltaics. The building will generate over 6,500 megawatt hours (MW/h) a year of renewable energy.

Al-Shera’a will use the latest technologies including IoT, Big Data and Open Data, AI, and the latest smart-building management technologies. The building is intended to use 50% less water than regular buildings. The new headquarters will be directly linked to Jadaf metro station by a bridge. This will encourage the use of public transport, to reduce traffic and the carbon footprint.

Al-Shera’a’s design was inspired by the UAE’s traditional houses, where enclosed spaces overlook an open courtyard. The courtyard will be the focal point and most prominent feature of the building. To reduce heat in the building was designed to provide shaded areas while providing sufficient natural light without the associated heat. The courtyard will also have sustainable gardens.