His Excellency Said Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and Deputy Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, has affirmed that Dubai today possesses the world's strongest electricity and water infrastructure, with the highest levels of availability, reliability and efficiency — a feat achieved thanks to the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
He noted that DEWA ranks first globally in 13 key performance indicators, most notably achieving the world's shortest electricity outage duration, averaging 49 seconds per customer per year, the lowest transmission and distribution losses in electricity at 2%, and in water at 4.4% — figures that reflect the emirate's advanced and exceptional infrastructure readiness.
This came during a dialogue session organised by the Dubai Press Club under its 'Media Sessions' initiative, held in the presence of Her Excellency Mona Ghanem Al Marri, Deputy President and Managing Director of the Dubai Media Council and President of the Dubai Press Club. The discussion covered the dimensions of the strategic vision for energy and water sustainability in Dubai, the emirate's advanced infrastructure and high readiness to accommodate growth and adapt to rapid change, as well as the innovation ecosystem, crisis management and business continuity systems that support the efficiency of vital sectors and reinforce Dubai's resilience, competitiveness and global leadership.
On the subject of energy and water security, His Excellency Said Al Tayer stressed that energy and water security in the UAE is an inseparable part of national security. He noted that Dubai's electricity production capacity currently stands at approximately 18,000 megawatts, drawing on a balanced mix of conventional and renewable and clean energy sources through the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park — the largest of its kind in the world — which employs advanced technologies including photovoltaic and concentrated solar power, batteries and green hydrogen. The park's clean energy production capacity is set to exceed 8,000 megawatts by 2030. He also pointed out that the park has achieved 4 Guinness World Records: the highest capacity for a concentrated solar power plant at a single site at 700 megawatts, the tallest concentrated solar power tower at over 263 metres, the largest thermal energy storage capacity at 15 hours, and the longest operating concentrated solar power plant.
On water supplies, His Excellency Said Al Tayer confirmed that DEWA employs the latest desalination technologies, including high-efficiency reverse osmosis, alongside a desalinated water aquifer storage and recovery project — the largest of its kind in the world, with a storage capacity of 6 billion gallons that can be retrieved immediately in emergencies — as well as a water interconnection system with other emirates that allows import and export as needed.
His Excellency affirmed the role of innovation and technology in enhancing readiness, through the deployment of artificial intelligence technologies and smart systems for crisis prediction and risk management, underpinned by an advanced digital infrastructure.
He explained that DEWA was a pioneer in adopting artificial intelligence technologies as early as 2017, working with numerous companies over three years, including Microsoft, to train the virtual employee 'Rammas', which operates around the clock to answer public enquiries.
He noted that smart meters and systems connected to telecommunications networks have enabled DEWA to monitor consumption, detect leaks or abnormal spikes, and send instant alerts to customers, adding that these technologies are an extension of the authority's smart transformation journey. DEWA has also launched the Moro integrated solutions data centre, part of DEWA Digital, to enhance the use of artificial intelligence and big data applications and to support the cybersecurity ecosystem.
His Excellency Said Mohammed Al Tayer concluded by affirming that Dubai guarantees the continuity of energy and water supplies at all times, even during crises and emergencies, through an integrated system built on proactive planning, smart operations, resilient and diversified infrastructure, strategic reserves, effective partnerships and investment in human capital — making DEWA's services a world-leading model in reliability and sustainability, and reinforcing the emirate's standing as a city capable of confronting challenges and shaping the future with confidence.
Her Excellency Mona Ghanem Al Marri expressed her deep thanks and appreciation to His Excellency Said Mohammed Al Tayer for the information he shared during the session, which painted a comprehensive picture of a critically important sector — energy in the Emirate of Dubai. She said: "The electricity and water sector is the lifeline underpinning the journey of comprehensive and sustainable development; it is the foundation upon which modern cities and thriving economies are built, and through which quality of life standards are determined.
"It is for this reason that sharing information about this vital sector with the media carries exceptional importance, as it promotes transparency, deepens public awareness, and sheds light on achievements and future projects — reflecting the scale of efforts made to ensure the sustainability of resources and supporting the building of an informed partnership between institutions and society in achieving development targets."
She praised the role of DEWA as a model national institution that contributes fundamentally to cementing Dubai's status as a globally inspiring model in the production and deployment of clean and renewable energy, adding: "There is no doubt that informing the public about developments in this vital sector helps entrench a culture of responsible resource use and builds confidence in the plans and investments that guarantee the sustainability, reliability and continuity of electricity and water services.
"Effective media communication is undoubtedly an important pillar supporting the development journey, by highlighting qualitative achievements that contribute to building a more sustainable and prosperous future for coming generations."
For her part, Maryam Al Mulla, Director of the Dubai Press Club, affirmed that 'Media Sessions' is an initiative born of the club's commitment to opening spaces for direct dialogue with national leaders who contribute their expertise and insights to cementing Dubai's status as a global model in planning for the future and managing vital sectors efficiently.
Maryam Al Mulla expressed her appreciation for the valuable information His Excellency shared during the session, which gave media representatives a complete picture of the comprehensive system Dubai has adopted to ensure energy and water security, enhance readiness and maintain business continuity under all circumstances.