Dubai thwarts 3,000 cyberattacks on electricity and water systems daily, says DEWA chief

Saeed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), has stated that Dubai’s electricity and water systems are subjected to 3,000 cyberattacks daily but they are countered 100 per cent, as DEWA employs more than 2,000 engineers and experts in various fields including AI and IT.

The reserve margin in water production capacity is 30 per cent, which is sufficient for population growth for three or four years, while the electricity and water network in Dubai is a model to be emulated and is one of the strongest networks in the world, he added, noting that artificial intelligence was introduced in water and electricity since 2017.

During a panel discussion organized by Dubai Press Club and moderated by Marwan Al Hal titled ‘How does Dubai ensure energy and water security in times of crisis?’ Al Tayer stated that during the weather conditions and geopolitical events that Dubai witnessed recently, no cases of power and water outages were recorded except for some cases, which were due to errors caused by real estate developers.

He noted that Dubai had the largest energy reserve in operation, reaching 15 hours, compared to two hours in the USA.

There is a water and electricity connection with all emirates of the country, which is a safety net to compensate in case of shortages, he said.

Work is also underway to build the largest groundwater reservoir capable of storing six billion gallons of water, which will be completed next year, he added.

DEWA has also an integrated system for managing risks and business continuity with the provision of necessary alternatives when needed, which ensures that customers are not affected and that basic services are not interrupted, he said.

As far as DEWA’s fuel tank that was targeted in the recent incidents are concerned, Al Tayer affirmed that it was being used as a reserve, did not cause any damage and had no impact on the electricity networks.

He affirmed that Dubai had succeeded in building an electricity and water network that was among the most advanced and reliable in the world, thanks to the forward-looking vision of the wise leadership and the continuous investment in technology, innovation and AI, which ensured the continuity of services and supported the path of sustainable development in the emirate.