His Excellency Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), met with a high-level delegation from Finland, led by Anna-Kaisa Heikkinen, Director General of the Department for Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America at Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The visit aimed to explore new avenues for bilateral collaboration in sustainability, innovation, and technology.
The Finnish delegation, which included representatives from leading companies, research institutions, and government organizations, focused on sectors such as renewable energy, smart solutions, logistics, and advanced technologies.
Advancing Clean Energy and Technology
Al Tayer commended Finland’s expertise in sustainable innovation and highlighted DEWA’s key initiatives in renewable energy, green hydrogen, smart grid technologies, and digital transformation. “DEWA’s efforts align with the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050, positioning Dubai as a global leader in clean energy and sustainability,” Al Tayer remarked during the meeting.
The CEO of DEWA also shared details of prominent projects, such as the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the largest single-site solar park globally, and DEWA’s investments in advanced energy storage systems. Notably, he discussed the concentrated solar power (CSP) storage project, battery energy storage systems, and the Green Hydrogen pilot project—the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa, using solar energy to produce hydrogen.
Water Desalination and Digital Transformation
Al Tayer also outlined DEWA’s strategic plans for energy-efficient reverse-osmosis water desalination plants, aiming for 100% clean energy use in desalinated water production by 2030. Additionally, DEWA’s Digital DEWA Strategy was highlighted, with plans to transform the utility into the world’s first digital utility, utilizing renewable energy systems with autonomous control and AI-driven services.
Al Tayer emphasized DEWA’s outstanding performance in comparison to major utilities in Europe and the US, with reduced electricity transmission and distribution losses (2%) and water network losses (4.6%). He also noted the world’s lowest electricity Customer Minutes Lost (CML) per year, which averaged just 1.06 minutes in 2023.
Strengthening UAE-Finland Ties
During the meeting, Heikkinen expressed Finland’s interest in further strengthening ties with the UAE and collaborating with DEWA to advance innovation and sustainability. She highlighted the potential for Finnish companies and organizations to partner with DEWA on clean energy and smart technology initiatives.
The visit underscores the growing importance of international cooperation in driving forward sustainability and innovation goals, aligning with the UAE’s vision for a greener future.
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