In celebration of World Youth Skills Day, which falls on 15 July each year, the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) Youth Council organised the "Agentic and Self-Driving AI Hackathon" at Al Sheraa building, DEWA's new headquarters, with the participation of more than 50 young employees.
The hackathon ran for three days and included practical workshops and interactive competitions on advanced artificial intelligence technologies and methodologies, with the aim of raising young employees' awareness of agentic and self-driving AI and honing their capabilities and skills.
The event also enabled participants to develop innovative solutions using these technologies. Specialised experts oversaw the evaluation of solutions and ideas submitted by participants to proactively address various challenges and ensure maximum benefit is derived from the opportunities offered by artificial intelligence.
His Excellency Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, affirmed that organising the hackathon is in line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, that the UAE government should be first in adopting agentic and self-driving AI models across 50% of government services and operations, alongside training employees in AI technologies and tools.
He said: "We are committed to empowering young people and broadening the horizons of their experience and knowledge in how to engage with AI systems in a practical manner, and to use its tools effectively, qualifying them to deal efficiently, responsibly, and safely with challenges and to meet the demands of the future economy."
He noted that DEWA is the first government entity in the United Arab Emirates to deploy agentic and self-driving AI within its work ecosystem, and among the first service institutions globally to adopt AI solutions to enhance operational efficiency. He emphasised that strengthening young people's engagement with the latest AI models contributes to developing their capacity for independent decision-making and supports DEWA in sustaining its global leadership.