His Excellency Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer receives female committee members on the occasion of International Women's Day 2023

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), highlighted DEWA’s support of women as influential actors in the UAE and Dubai on climate action nationally and globally. This is by enhancing their influential presence in the energy sector, especially renewable and clean energy and sustainability, by contributing to sustainability and the green economy.

During his meeting with members of DEWA Women’s Committee on the occasion of ‘International Women’s Day 2023’, Al Tayer said DEWA provided all elements of support, success and creativity. He praised female employees who contribute to creating sustainable solutions to transform the energy sector that is creating a legacy that is recognised internationally.

“The inspiring Emirati model for women empowerment established by the late Founding Father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan; supported by HH Sheikh Mohamed 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, and 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), emphasises the vital role of women in society to achieve national aspirations and ensure a brighter and more sustainable future for generations to come. In the Year of Sustainability, and with the country’s preparations to host the COP28 by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), we intensify our efforts to unleash the creative potential of DEWA’s female employees, and motivate them to develop professionally and personally as well as achieve success and excellence. We spare no efforts to honour the female employees who strengthen DEWA’s position as one of the most innovative and leading utilities worldwide. DEWA focuses on empowering women in leadership and technical positions. 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,” added Al Tayer.

The number of DEWA’s female employees has reached 1,940 women, working in all its departments. This number includes 813 female employees in the engineering and technical sector, while 1,071 female employees occupy supervisory positions. Emirati female employees constitute 83.56% of the total female workforce at DEWA, and the percentage of Emirati female employees in the Research and Development Centre is 31%, with higher qualifications in scientific and engineering fields.

Fatima Al Jokar, Legal Advisor and Chairperson of DEWA Women’s Committee, thanked the top management for their efforts in supporting the Committee to perform its tasks to the fullest. “DEWA provides a motivational, happy environment that achieves a balance between the professional and personal lives of female employees. This contributes to creating cohesive families and society. This promotes their contribution to sustainable development and in serving the nation in all fields. At the Women’s Committee, we are working to empower and support female employees, by launching programmes, and effective partnerships with the relevant authorities and institutions, to provide female employees with the necessary expertise and knowledge. We help them keep pace with the latest developments and turn challenges into promising opportunities,” said Al Jokar.

The Committee organised more than 50 community, professional and specialised activities during 2022, and received four delegations as part of benchmarking visits. The percentage of female employees’ satisfaction towards the Committee’s performance reached 94.5%. During the past three years, DEWA’s female employees obtained more than 50,000 training opportunities and 63 scholarships. DEWA also received 28 fresh graduates as interns during 2022, with 26 in engineering and other specialised fields.