Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) | DEWA's female leaders

The UAE has achieved considerable progress in enhancing women’s participation in different areas of life since the foundation of the Union. The wise leadership of the UAE follows the footsteps of the late Founding Father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who believed that the development of our society is achieved by empowering women, encouraging their participation and enabling them to perform their roles to the fullest. Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) plays a pivotal role in empowering and enabling women while building their capabilities. This is by providing a positive and stimulating work environment that supports working women and helps them balance their professional and social lives. It also grants them the full confidence to harness their scientific and practical potential to achieve success and excellence, and actively participate in development efforts, building the homeland, and in preparing future generations.

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, highlighted that the accomplishments of Emirati women are the result of the approach to empowering women, which was established by our Founding Fathers, and the unlimited support provided by the wise leadership of HH Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE; HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation, and President of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood (Mother of the Nation); HH Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum, wife of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum; HH Sheikha Manal bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, President of Dubai Women Establishment, and wife of HH Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.

“DEWA is one of the leading government organisations in empowering women both professionally and socially. Themed "2020: Towards the next 50", the year 2020 will witness the launch of the biggest national strategy to prepare the country for the coming 50 years in all vital sectors. This underlines the need for maximising individual efforts and mobilising all sectors to enhance the role of women, who are key partners in sustainable development, to write a new chapter in the comprehensive development journey. We support the Women’s Committee at DEWA to perform its tasks to the fullest, and harness the scientific and practical potential of our female employees to achieve success and excellence. This will promote loyalty and social cohesion. It will also encourage women to actively participate in serving and developing the nation in all areas. Every day, our female employees demonstrate their competence and effective role in consolidating DEWA’s achievements and position. They are always trustworthy and responsible and show great merit in their tasks and responsibilities. We will spare no effort in preserving our gains in women empowerment and motivating them to perform their roles to the fullest,” said Al Tayer.

We aim to increase female participation in innovation and energy

“DEWA is one of the most appealing places to work for women. The top management works on increasing women’s participation in all sectors, including its operations and generation. It also focuses on engaging women in the decision-making process, and in anticipating and shaping the future. DEWA is committed to supporting women’s roles and increase their participation in energy, innovation and creativity. DEWA plays a pivotal role in women’s empowerment through a motivational work environment, that has a positive impact on DEWA, and society as a whole,” said Khawla Al Mehairi, Executive Vice President of Strategy and Government Communications at DEWA.

“DEWA has 1,933 employees, including 646 in the engineering and technical sector. This makes DEWA one of the largest government organisations in Dubai to employ women in technical positions within the energy sector. 80% of DEWA’s female workforce are UAE nationals. This number increases to 87% in the engineering sector. Our Emirati employees represent a bright future for Dubai and the UAE. This makes them role models for effective national work and in building a strong and cohesive society that is capable of keeping pace with changes. Our female employees do a lot of voluntary work, inside the UAE and abroad. In 2019, DEWA’s female employees spent 13,300 volunteering hours in 40 different humanitarian and social initiatives. They also participated in several conservation programmes and awareness projects, especially ones that target women,” Al Mehairi added.

DEWA follows the footsteps of the wise leadership

Amal Koshak, Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communications at DEWA, affirmed that its female employees have managed to make a difference and prove that women are critical and influential partners in development. “Early on, DEWA realised the importance of providing all capabilities to empower its female employees to make a sustainable and positive change. It is one of the leading government organisations in Dubai for engaging women in the decision-making process. This makes DEWA a role model for public and private government organisations inside and outside the UAE. Statistics show that women represent 32% of employees in renewable energy, compared to 22% in conventional energy sectors such as oil and gas. DEWA spares no effort in providing opportunities and overcoming challenges to enhance gender equality as part of the global transformation of the energy sector. DEWA is also committed to building on previous achievements by Emirati women as key partners in the sustainable development process and of DEWA’s renowned global position,” she said.

Attracting talents and inspiring female calibres

“We exert maximum efforts at the Human Resources department to attract female talents who can contribute effectively to DEWA’s success story. DEWA’s female employees represent 40 nationalities capable of teamwork. This is a source of motivation and inspiration, which enhances the harmony, cohesion and friendly relations among all employees. DEWA is committed to achieving the wise leadership vision to support and encourage Emirati women and provide them with all the necessary tools to succeed and take top positions, as well as establishing gender equality as a priority in the UAE,” said Maryam Al-Mutaiwei, Vice President of Human Resources at DEWA.

Supportive and motivating work environment

“DEWA provides a supportive environment for women empowerment and leadership, making full use of their innovative and creative potential. This positively reflects on their professional and social lives and has a significant impact on society as a whole. In line with DEWA’s top management directives, the Women’s Committee attaches great importance to supporting its female staff and encouraging them to succeed, prove their capabilities, and promote their role in DEWA’s achievements in different areas. Throughout the year, the committee organises various motivational and awareness lectures on maintaining a balance between work and personal life, successful education for children, and health awareness. The committee provides multiple sports activities, supervised by certified trainers, for the female employees. It also organises educational visits to key and modern landmarks in Dubai, in addition to developing the personal abilities of female employees, through art and craft workshops. The committee organises several events that consolidate the national identity and contributes to empowering women and enhancing their role in society,” said Fatima Mohammed Al Jokar, Chairperson of DEWA Women’s Committee.

Promoting volunteering among female employees

“DEWA Women’s Committee adopts a comprehensive approach that explores the different aspects that matter to women such as personal and career development, and translates them into plans and programmes that contribute to balancing between their social and professional lives. It also develops their personal skills to best deal with challenges and take advantage of available opportunities. DEWA staff happiness towards the Women’s Committee events in end of 2019 reached 93%. This is a result of our commitment to work closely with DEWA’s female employees, to be fully aware of their needs and suggestions. Thus, we can help them to achieve personal and professional development,” said Aysha Al Asam, Vice Chairperson of DEWA Women’s Committee.

Providing career stability

 Fatima Deemas, Senior Manager of Internal Communications at DEWA, said that DEWA’s leadership supports and empowers women across all domains. This paved the way for them to occupy key positions and has increased the number of female employee in the field, reflecting a bright image about women in DEWA, which has, in a short period, succeeded in bridging the gender gap. DEEWA provides equal opportunities and privileges for women and men in the workplace, while enabling female staff to achieve a balance between their personal and professional lives, ensuring their happiness.

Continuous training and development

Fatima Al Marzooqi, Senior Manager of Learning and Development at DEWA, praised DEWA’s role and strategy to ensure continuous training and development to all its female staff. “DEWA encourages its employees to take part in training courses and provides them with opportunities to continue education and receive prestigious certificates inside and outside the UAE. DEWA ensures that women empowerment starts by enhancing their capabilities and advancing their performance to the highest levels,” said Al Marzooqi.

Significant milestones of success and excellence

Engineer Laila A Ahli, VP - Operational Technology Security at DEWA highlighted that all DEWA’s female employees receive care and attention and work in a developed, safe, and stable environment that strengthens their skills and capabilities. It also inspires them to create and innovate. “DEWA’s experience in empowering society through women is a role model for the UAE’s experience in this area. The role of Emirati women at DEWA is witnessing constant development. Their effective and positive contribution in decision making and adaptation to change continues to evolve. The support of the wise leadership and DEWA’s top management as well as our employees’ efforts, persistence and commitment to the ethics and values of our ancestors, have helped Emirati woman lead and perform their tasks efficiently with merit. They are the source of motivation, inspiration, and examples of dedication, diligence, tolerance and acceptance of others,” said Al Ali.

Ideal environment for skills development           

“Women holding of leadership positions at DEWA highlights the top management’s trust in their capabilities in taking up responsibilities and effectively enhancing DEWA’s success and achievements to push forward sustainable development,” said Engineer Aysha Mohammad Alremeithi, DEWA’s Youth Council President. She also mentioned DEWA’s efforts to provide an ideal work environment that enables the maximum benefit from DEWA’s female employees in skills development.

Effective participation in leading the energy and water sectors

“DEWA attaches special importance to women’s employment in the engineering and technical sectors, and the Emiratisation of those specialisations, as well as preparing generations of UAE nationals who can keep pace with DEWA’s needs and expansion plans. We are deeply grateful and happy with DEWA’s keenness to provide their employees with technical and engineering skills according to the highest international standards. It also trains and qualifies them theoretically and practically through pioneering training programmes in research and development; shaping the future; keeping pace with the Fourth Industrial Revolution; and using disruptive technologies. This enables them to participate in leading the energy and water sectors effectively,” said Engineer Haifa Busamra VP Transmission Commissioning, Transmission Power at DEWA.