Top officials during the 2nd France-Dewa Business Forum in Dubai on Wednesday. WAM

Business Bureau, Gulf Today

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) has organised the second France-DEWA Business Forum, in collaboration with the French Business Council in Dubai and the Northern Emirates and Business France.

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dewa, welcomed French participants, headed by  Ludovic Pouille, Ambassador of the France to the UAE; Raja Rabia, Consul General of France to Dubai, Geoffroy Bunetel, President of the French Business Council in Dubai and the Northern Emirates; representatives of French companies in the UAE, and senior Dewa officials.

Al Tayer in his welcoming note, “I am pleased to welcome you to the second France-Dewa Forum organised by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) with the French Business Council of Dubai and the Northern Emirates and Business France, at the Dewa Sustainable Building with the theme of “Future of Energy & Innovation”. This forum aims to strengthen cooperation with French institutions and companies and exchange experiences and best practices. We work to achieve the directives of our wise leadership represented by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, President of the UAE and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make the UAE the world’s leading nation. Our leadership has established strong historical ties between our two nations based on peace, dialogue, cooperation, and openness, and the UAE and France are keen to support and consolidate these relations for their mutual benefit. French companies and the French investors in the UAE play an important role in strengthening the bonds of friendship and human and social relations, which positively reflects the economic, trade cooperation between the two countries, and achieves common interests.”  

Al Tayer emphasised the importance of strengthening cooperation and French companies contributing to electricity and water projects in Dubai and the UAE as well as their forming strategic partnerships with DEWA, especially in generation, transmission, distribution, renewable energy, energy efficiency, digital transformation, and automation.

Al Tayer talked about DEWA’s key projects, initiatives, and programmes to achieve the vision of the wise leadership of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. DEWA’s strategy is aligned with the UAE Centennial 2071, the UAE Vision 2021, and the Dubai Plan 2021 to ensure a sustainable, happy future and support the UAE to be number one in all areas. He also explained DEWA’s efforts to achieve its vision to become a globally leading sustainable innovative corporation.

Al Tayer confirmed that Dewa has an installed capacity of 11,100 megawatts (MW) of electricity and 470 Million Imperial Gallons (MIG) of water per day, adding that Dewa’s expertise and experience in anticipating and creating the future of energy by innovating a future model for utilities in the production, transmission, and distribution of electricity and water. He noted that Dewa provides services to over 900,000 customers and has investments valued at more than Dhs86 billion over the next five years to meet the increasing demand for electricity and water in Dubai.

Al Tayer added that DEWA’s Digital DEWA is redefining the concept of a utility to create a new digital future for Dubai. DEWA will disrupt the entire business of public utilities by becoming the world’s first digital utility to use autonomous systems for renewable energy and storage while expanding the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital services. The initiative has four pillars to deliver a new utility experience for Dubai and the world. The first pillar is launching advanced solar power technologies in Dubai. The second is deploying a renewable energy grid with innovative energy storage technologies. The third pillar is expanding its use of integrated AI solutions to make Dubai the first city to provide AI-based electricity and water services. The fourth pillar is using connected technologies to provide around-the-clock world-class services through the MORO data hub that provides advanced and innovative digital solutions and promotes smart-city applications.

said Pouille said, “Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, together with the French Business Council in Dubai & Northern Emirates and in collaboration with Business France have demonstrated the strength of the French Emirati cooperation and partnership by organising this France-DEWA Business Forum 2019 for future of energy, water and innovation. In the energy and water sector, Dubai remains a privileged destination for our companies wishing to reach a wide range of international markets, due to a common vision and openness to sustainable development and innovation. French expertise in these fields is undeniable; not to mention their innovative technologies, which allows several companies to be involved in different projects. Environment and climate change are one of the many topics on which UAE and France are perfectly aligned, with a shared vision and a strong commitment towards renewable and clean energy; both countries are implementing exemplary strategies to become leaders.”