DEWA CEO Al Tayer Showcases UAE’s AI-Driven Energy Transformation at WGS 2026

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), said that the global energy sector is undergoing a fundamental transformation, driven by the large-scale integration of artificial intelligence (AI) across production, transmission, and distribution systems, paving the way for more sustainable, resilient, and efficient energy ecosystems.

Speaking during his keynote address titled ‘AI-Driven Energy Transformation’ on the final day of the World Governments Summit (WGS) 2026, Al Tayer underlined that AI is reshaping the energy value chain by reducing environmental impact, enhancing infrastructure resilience, boosting competitiveness, and optimising resource efficiency.

He noted that the energy transition is not an end goal in itself but a catalyst for sustainable economic growth, stressing that a comprehensive transformation of the sector cannot be achieved without embracing Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, particularly AI. The global AI market, he added, is projected to expand from around US$300 billion in 2024 to US$4.8 trillion by 2033.

According to industry reports, by 2027, nearly 40% of utility control rooms worldwide will operate using AI-driven automation, predictive analytics, and intelligent decision-making systems. This rapid digital transformation is also expected to significantly raise global electricity demand, particularly from data centres, with consumption projected to exceed 2,000 terawatt hours annually by 2035—almost five times the 2024 levels.

Al Tayer said that guided by the vision of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, the UAE continues to strengthen its position as a global hub for sustainability and artificial intelligence.

He added that the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, has been instrumental in advancing Dubai’s AI strategy through initiatives such as the Dubai Centre for Artificial Intelligence, Dubai AI Campus, and the annual AI Retreat.

Citing global benchmarks, Al Tayer said that the UAE ranks among the world’s leading nations in AI adoption and readiness. According to Microsoft’s AI Economy Institute, the UAE leads globally in terms of the proportion of working-age population actively using AI, while Oxford Insights’ Government AI Readiness Index 2025 ranked the UAE among the top countries worldwide for translating AI strategies into large-scale implementation.

He further noted that through the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050, Dubai aims to generate 100% of its energy production capacity from clean sources by 2050.

Al Tayer said DEWA integrates AI deeply across its corporate strategy and operational framework, spanning power and water generation, transmission, distribution, and customer services. The adoption of AI has contributed to cost optimisation, productivity gains, enhanced customer experience, and the creation of new employment opportunities in digital engineering, data analytics, and smart systems maintenance.

He highlighted key milestones in DEWA’s AI journey, which began in 2017 with the launch of ‘Rammas’, the authority’s AI-powered virtual employee that has since handled more than 12 million customer interactions. This was followed by the establishment of Digital DEWA and Moro Hub, which operates multiple data centres, including the world’s largest solar-powered green data centre located at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.

Al Tayer added that AI-driven solutions under DEWA’s Space-D programme support predictive maintenance, asset monitoring, and operational planning, enhancing grid reliability and system performance.

AI is also playing a critical role in enhancing the efficiency of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the world’s largest single-site solar park, by optimising panel cleaning cycles, forecasting power generation, and improving energy storage integration. The park’s current capacity stands at 3,860 MW, contributing over 21% of Dubai’s energy mix, and is expected to exceed 8,000 MW by 2030, raising the clean energy share to more than 36%.

In power generation, Al Tayer said DEWA launched the world’s first AI-powered gas turbine intelligent controller at the Jebel Ali Power and Desalination Complex, enabling autonomous turbine operations through digital twin technologies. The authority is now preparing to deploy the ‘Virtual Engineer’, an advanced AI system scheduled to go live in June 2026, designed to deliver predictive failure alerts, root cause analysis, real-time optimisation, and scenario simulations.

Across electricity transmission networks, AI strengthens grid resilience through advanced machine learning algorithms, while in water networks, DEWA’s Smart Meter Operations Centre uses AI to enhance efficiency, minimise losses, and improve system visibility.

Al Tayer concluded that DEWA ranks first globally across 13 key utility performance indicators and remains committed to leading the future of intelligent utilities, reinforcing Dubai’s global leadership in innovation-driven sustainability.