HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), recently welcomed Vugar Ahmadov, Chairman & CEO of Azerishiq, the electrical grid operator in Baku, Azerbaijan. Their meeting aimed to discuss shared ambitions in fostering innovation and sustainability within the energy sector.

Credit: DEWA

The discussions included key DEWA executives such as Waleed bin Salman, Executive Vice President of Business Development and Excellence; Dr. Yousef Al Akraf, Executive Vice President of Business Support and Human Resources; and Marwan Bin Haidar, Executive Vice President of Innovation and the Future. The focus was on potential collaborations in the electricity sector, particularly in advancing sustainable energy solutions, enhancing grid resilience, and accelerating the transition to green energy.

Al Tayer emphasized Dubai’s ambitious clean energy goals, which are aligned with the UAE Net Zero Strategy 2050, the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050. These strategies aim for 100% of Dubai’s energy needs to be met through clean sources by 2050. He highlighted DEWA’s flagship initiative, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, recognized as the world’s largest single-site solar park. By 2030, the park is expected to achieve a production capacity of 7 260 megawatts, utilizing both photovoltaic and concentrated solar power technologies.

Moreover, Al Tayer pointed out DEWA’s leadership in key performance indicators. In 2024, DEWA recorded the world’s lowest electricity transmission and distribution network losses at just 2%, significantly better than the global average of 6%-7%. The water transmission and distribution losses were also impressive, standing at a global low of 4.5%. Additionally, DEWA set a world record for the lowest customer minutes lost, with only 0.94 minutes per year, compared to an average of 15 minutes in the European Union.

He also noted DEWA’s commitment to integrating advanced Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies to enhance Dubai’s leadership in artificial intelligence (AI). By incorporating AI across all operations and services, DEWA aims to improve the quality, efficiency, reliability, and sustainability of energy and water services.

Al Tayer reaffirmed DEWA’s dedication to supporting global sustainability agendas and welcomed the opportunity to share best practices with Azerishiq, especially in promoting clean energy adoption in Azerbaijan. The meeting highlighted the importance of international partnerships in accelerating the global energy transition, with both parties agreeing that collaboration in smart grid technologies, renewable energy integration, and capacity-building programs is vital for achieving energy security and sustainability.