DEWA: A cornerstone of Dubai’s ambitious growth

As Dubai’s exclusive provider of electricity and water services, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) serves as a key pillar of the Emirate’s development. DEWA’s continuous progress contributes to Dubai’s advancement and sustainable growth, bolstering its global leadership across various sectors. Since its establishment, DEWA has been instrumental in shaping Dubai’s journey of progress. Its landmark achievements are closely intertwined with the pivotal stages of Dubai’s extraordinary transformation over the years. Today, DEWA remains integral to realising the Emirate’s ambitious goals through pioneering projects in clean and renewable energy, sustainability, smart grids, space science and research and development, as well as its efforts to achieve global excellence in all areas of its work. This strengthens Dubai’s global competitiveness and consolidates its global leadership.

“DEWA is proud of its pivotal role in driving Dubai’s development. We strive to realise the Emirate’s ambitious goals set by Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum, may his soul rest in peace, and carried forward under the wise leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. DEWA embraces Dubai’s vision of building a sustainable, future-ready city with advanced and resilient infrastructure capable of adapting to change and meeting the evolving needs of residents to the highest standards of quality, efficiency and sustainability. We leverage the latest digital tools and disruptive technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution to enhance our services and expand clean and renewable energy projects. This supports the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050, which aim to provide 100% of the Emirate’s energy production capacity from clean energy sources by 2050, and promotes Dubai’s global competitiveness in all areas. We continue to innovate and drive progress in utilities, energy, water systems, space and sustainable development, helping to shape a better future,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.

Establishment

In the 1950s and 1960s, Dubai laid the foundation for modern services, particularly in electricity and water, under the leadership of the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum. He envisioned a city designed for the future. In 1959, Sheikh Rashid established the Dubai Electricity Company and the Dubai Water Department to meet the essential needs of Dubai’s 7,000 households at the time. These organisations provided the foundation for the rapid transformation that followed.

Development of electricity services

In 1961, Dubai Electricity Company switched on the first 21 electricity connections. Power was provided by four diesel generators with a capacity of 360 kilowatts (kW) each. The number of connections increased as the population grew, with electricity demand increasing from 1.4 megawatts (MW) in 1961 to 42MW in 1972. During that period, the company built Dubai's first two power plants – A and B – with a combined capacity of 60MW. They were retired in 1983 following the construction of new, larger and more economical stations. In 1974, work began on the construction of Al Satwa Gas Plant (C Station), which was completed in 1978, with 16 gas turbines for power generation and a total capacity of 320MW. The year 1979 marked the beginning of a new phase of the company's development, with the operation of a steam plant for electricity generation and desalination (D Station) at Jebel Ali and the introduction of the 132 kV transmission system. In 1984, the company also established an electric power plant with gas turbines, using natural gas as the primary fuel and liquid fuel as a secondary option.

Development of water services

The main task of the Dubai Water Department when it was established was to find new sources of groundwater. The late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum oversaw its early stages during the 1950s and 1960s, until these efforts resulted in the discovery of a groundwater reserve, suitable for human consumption, which had accumulated rainwater over thousands of years. The Dubai Water Department extended its distribution network, including pipes four inches in diameter and 1,500 metres in length, and other pipes that were two inches wide and 1,480 metres long, along with a number of small pumps that supplied water to 49 residents by the end of 1961. By 1972, as the number of homes, industrial and commercial facilities increased in Dubai, new wells were dug and new distribution lines opened, covering all parts of the Emirate. The total extraction of water from groundwater wells – found in Al Aweer, Al Wuhoosh and Lahbab – exceeded 15 million gallons per day in 1977, and the need to find alternative and economical water sources arose, amid concerns about the conservation of natural water resources. The late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum ordered the establishment of seawater desalination plants annexed to the Jebel Ali Electric Power Plant (D Station), and the production of potable water began in June 1979. With the establishment of new desalination plants in the following years, the quantity of water extracted from underground wells has declined considerably.

DEWA

DEWA was formed on 1 January 1992 through a decree issued by the late Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum to merge Dubai Electricity Company and Dubai Water Department, which had operated independently before then. With the full support of Dubai’s government, these entities were tasked with meeting the electricity and water needs of Dubai’s citizens and residents. Today, DEWA extends its services to 3.6 million people residing in the city and to an active daytime population exceeding 4.8 million. DEWA’s total capacity now stands at 17,179MW of electricity and 495 million imperial gallons per day (MIGD) of desalinated water.

Since its establishment, DEWA has witnessed a qualitative shift in its services and projects by embracing innovation and digital transformation. DEWA has consistently sought to use the latest technologies and tools to enhance electricity and water infrastructure in Dubai, while ensuring it provides top-quality, efficient and reliable services to meet the expectations of customers. Over the last 10 years, DEWA has outperformed leading utility companies in the EU and the US, recording the world’s lowest electricity customer minutes lost (CML) per year, with an average of 0.94 minutes in 2024. Moreover, water distribution system losses stood at 4.5%, ranking among the lowest globally.

DEWA is further working to increase the share of renewable energy in Dubai's energy mix as part of its vision to become a globally leading, sustainable, and innovative corporation committed to achieving net zero by 2050. This is being accomplished through several leading projects and initiatives, including the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the largest single-site solar park in the world, based on the independent power producer (IPP) model. The solar park will have a production capacity of more than 7,260MW by 2030, with a total investment of AED 50 billion.

The total capacity of the solar energy projects commissioned at the solar park has reached 3,460MW from photovoltaic (PV) solar panels and concentrated solar power (CSP). Projects under construction at the solar park have a combined capacity of 1,800MW from photovoltaic solar panels. DEWA has also implemented the Green Hydrogen project, the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa to produce hydrogen using solar energy. The project produces 20 kilogrammes of hydrogen per hour, with the hydrogen storage tank capable of storing up to 240 kilogrammes.

Clean energy currently accounts for 20% of DEWA's total power capacity. DEWA continues to advance its modern and sophisticated projects, including the Hydroelectric Power Plant in Hatta and the EV Green Charger initiative, to achieve the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050, ultimately providing 100% of Dubai's energy production capacity from clean energy sources by 2050.

DEWA has developed a pioneering model of partnership between the public and private sectors to attract investments in energy and water in Dubai, enhance innovation and achieve its strategic goals in clean energy and sustainability. In April 2022, DEWA achieved a significant milestone after it was listed on the Dubai Financial Market (DFM). DEWA became the largest listed company in the market, with a market value of AED 124 billion (USD 33.8 billion). The offering included the sale of nine billion shares, with DEWA’s shares oversubscribed 37 times. DEWA continues to achieve record financial performance, having recorded the highest top-line results in its history with a record third quarter, and total revenue for first nine months of 2024 amounting to AED 23.5 billion.

DEWA is an inspiring success story, driven by Dubai’s visionary leadership and ambitious strategies to become a global role model in implementing major pioneering projects. Over the decades, DEWA has undergone significant development, evolving from modest beginnings to a leader in clean energy and digital transformation. It has also intensified efforts to address future challenges and ensure energy and water sustainability for future generations by adopting future-focused plans centred on innovation, technology, artificial intelligence and sustainability.