Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) | DEWA’s female employees win many local and international awards, contributing to its global success

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) follows the approach of the Founding Fathers and the wise leadership vision to empower women and increase their participation in the productive and operational sectors as well as in the decision-making process. Its female employees have recorded an active and distinguished presence in its excellence journey. They constitute a qualitative addition to DEWA’s efforts, enhancing the renaissance in Dubai and the UAE. The awards and certificates of appreciation won by its female employees strengthen DEWA’s balance of global and local success, and its position as one of the most prominent national institutions supporting women in the energy sector, especially renewable and clean energy and sustainability.

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA, expressed his pride in the achievements of female employees, noting their diligence, perseverance, dedication, keenness on self-development and expertise. These successes also confirm that the DEWA is on the right path to translate the vision of the wise leadership in empowering and supporting women, institutionalising a culture of excellence, providing equal opportunities for men and women and focusing on empowering women in leadership and technical positions. This has made DEWA a role model for institutions, government and private entities within the country and abroad. These achievements demonstrate the relentless efforts made by the UAE over the past five decades to make women successful. They also herald 50 years full of excellence and leadership.

“We are guided by the approach established by the late Founding Father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan,  and supported by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE; His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; and Her Highness 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) to empower society by empowering women and creating a competitive environment based on efficiency, excellence and appreciation of talents and capabilities. This is in accordance with the best local and international standards. We provide all elements of support to female employees and DEWA Women’s Committee to enhance the contribution of female employees in shaping the future and achieving the UAE Centennial 2071, to make the UAE the world’s leading nation. Emirati women prove their competence every day to consolidate DEWA’s achievements and take on responsibilities in national work effectively,” added Al Tayer.

DEWA’s female employees number 1961 across all its divisions. This includes 737 female employees in the technical and engineering sector, while 364 female employees occupy leadership positions. Emirati women form 81.8% of the total female workforce at DEWA. Female employees participate in several volunteering activities with a total of more than 13,300 hours of volunteer work in 2021, across 40 social and humanitarian initiatives.

Motivating Environment

DEWA attaches great importance to women’s empowerment and provides a conducive and positive work environment that supports female employees and helps them balance their personal and professional lives. This gives them full confidence to harness their potentials to achieve success, excellence and reach top positions.

Khawla Al Mehairi is one of the distinguished female figures at DEWA. She is the first woman to assume the position of Executive Vice President in DEWA’s history thanks to her competence and extensive experience in various fields. She is a graduate of the Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Leadership Development’s Impactful Leaders Programme. As a member of DEWA’s senior management team, she participates in corporate decision-making and ensures that DEWA’s strategies and plans are aligned with governance models, plans and policies to achieve the best results. Reaching this position has encouraged female employees to look forward to taking advantage of the opportunities DEWA provides for women across all positions.

“The awards won by our female employees are proof of their competence, responsibility and high qualifications. It is also evidence of the journey of women empowerment as an institutional culture and work approach. This is by enabling women to be active partners in growth and development and a fundamental supporter of the national vision and goals as well as the UAE’s global position in gender equality. We are fully confident that Emirati women will continue achieving more accomplishments and developments. This will have a greater momentum thanks to the wise leadership that supports women to cope with all obstacles in all areas, build on achievements to sustain the gains. This will ensure Emirati women continue to be pioneering and active players in sustainable development, and to have the proper position, and be role models of women leadership regionally and internationally. This contributes to creating cohesive families and society that is capable of adjusting to emerging changes,” said Khawla Al Mehairi, Executive Vice President of Strategy and Government Communications at DEWA. Khawla helped DEWA win several awards and was honoured several times by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

 “The directives of the wise leadership guide DEWA’s vision for female staff to make the UAE a model for women’s leadership in all local, regional, and international forums amidst the advanced stages achieved by the country in several international indicators. DEWA’s female employees have succeeded in leaving a legacy and proved that women are influential partners and critical for development. They are also the main pillar for building cohesive families and societies capable of keeping pace with evolving changes. DEWA focuses on empowering women at all levels starting from leadership positions to technical ones. It adopts fair policies and an inclusive environment for all men and women to make them role models for national work and key partners for sustainable development. This enhances DEWA’s global position and leadership in all areas. DEWA’s female employees have raised the bar and proven their competence and important role to make a difference, shape and anticipate a brighter future,” said Amal Koshak, Vice President of Marketing and Corporate Communications at DEWA. Amal’s initiatives have raised public awareness and added value and credentials to Dubai’s sustainable development efforts. She also helped to achieve significant savings in electricity and water consumption.

“I was the first Emirati woman to obtain a doctorate in nanotechnologies to develop solar cells and the first Emirati to manufacture crystalline silicon cells in clean rooms. My work at DEWA enables me to continue the path of leadership and develop my expertise in solar energy and nanotechnologies. DEWA implements the world’s largest and leading clean and renewable energy projects, including the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. It is considered one of the most prominent utilities around the world, and pioneering in all areas,” said Dr. Aaesha Alnuaimi, Director of the Solar Innovation Centre at DEWA, and winner of the Dubai Medal for Specialised Employee, at the Dubai Government Excellence Awards (DGEP) awards 2021; the International Solar Alliance Award and the Women’s Award in the Renewable Energy Sector in Asia 2020.

“I support the Innovation Centre and take a leading role in generating innovative cleantech concepts and develop projects in line with the vision of the Innovation Centre to become a clean technology innovation hub. I worked previously on ensuring that the designs of the DEWA’s buildings comply with the specifications of green buildings. This enables me to achieve my ultimate goal: achieve the triple bottom line of sustainability to enhance the UAE’s leading position worldwide. Besides, DEWA’s support for ambitious female employees helped me complete more than 955 volunteering hours, participate in more than five global pioneering and sustainable youth programmes, and develop my experiences and knowledge on both the personal and professional levels,” said Aysha Mohammad Alremeithi, Deputy Manager - Innovation Ecosystem at DEWA, President of DEWA’s Youth Council, and recipient of the Dubai Medal for Young Employee at the DGEP Awards 2021, 4 local and regional awards and more than 190 certificates of appreciation.

“At DEWA, I have an ideal opportunity to highlight the role of young people and implement initiatives that concern them and aim to hone their talents, as the senior management commissioned me to establish and chair the first youth council. Later, I was appointed as head of DEWA Women’s Committee and worked on effectively implementing and developing a strategy to support and empower women at DEWA. This is in addition to enabling me to invest my expertise in the legal field to establish many important legislation and policies related to sustainable development and support women and youth at DEWA.  I am grateful for DEWA’s trust through which I contributed to enhancing the UAE’s position and DEWA’s position in international forums,” said Fatima Al Jokar, Legal Advisor in Legal Affairs and Chairperson of DEWA Women’s Committee. Fatima was chosen by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum as a member of the Emirates Youth Council in its first session, and she was also honoured as the best legal advocate in the Middle East by the University of Oxford.

“I have received unlimited support during my career at DEWA, which started in 2005 as a graduate trainee. At that time, I was one of the first women to join the field of electrical network planning. DEWA provided me with all resources, training, professional and leadership development, in addition to opportunities to obtain professional certificates, and a scholarship to study for a master’s degree in electrical engineering, which I obtained with distinction. All this support reflects DEWA’s commitment to empower its female employees and give them all the rights and privileges that enables them to have active roles in society , thus helping them leave a legacy and setting them up as role models,” said Salha Ali Saleh Aldisi, Senior Manager - Development & Tech Support, Power & Water at DEWA and the winner of the Distinguished Employee Award for ‘Innovative Leader’ category at DEWA’s Internal Awards in 2015 and ‘Best Professional Personality in Energy Sector’ award in 2019 within ENOC’s ‘Women in Energy Awards’.

“DEWA’s top management provides a positive environment that encourages excellence, creating ideal opportunities for developing expertise and continuous support to meet new challenges that contribute to expanding our growth horizons and exploring and developing capabilities. I am proud and honoured to be part of DEWA and an effective contributor to its success, locally and globally,” said Dr. Dina Mohamed Ibrahim Mohamed, Senior Engineer - Protection Settings, Transmission Power at DEWA, who won the Best Technical Expert in Energy Award at ENOC’s ‘Women in Energy Awards’ in 2019, and the Distinguished Employee in Specialised Field Award at DEWA’s Internal Awards in 2018.

“DEWA considers its employees as genuine assets. It provides an environment that tries to inculcate one with the most relevant technologies of the day and upgrade knowledge to not only enhance their career growth paths but to also remain at the forefront and be capable and ready for any eventualities. It encourages employees to think beyond the obvious and not necessarily restricted to our work-sphere while balancing between their personal and personal lives. I feel that I am in safe and strong hands at DEWA, and that we are better prepared for tomorrow with more improvement and progress,” said Pallavi Vikas Jain, Software Developer, Transmission Power at DEWA and winner of Share K for knowledge management award, and Best Self Learner Award at DEWA in 2021.