MD & CEO of DEWA shows how digitalisation is managing the COVID-19 pandemic

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has stated that the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed organisations around the world to work in a new normal and focus on digitalisation as one of the most important major trends and tools to manage the situation. Al Tayer made this statement during his keynote speech at the ‘Leading Digital Transformation in an Era of Uncertainty’ international virtual conference, which started today and lasts until Thursday 27 May 2021. The conference brings together speakers and experts from major international technology companies. DEWA is the diamond sponsor of the conference.

Al Tayer noted that the conference plays a crucial role in promoting skillsets and exchanging knowledge among participating organisations as they focus on excellence, performance improvement, and ways to turn the COVID-19 crisis into an opportunity for growth. He noted that the pandemic has resulted in every organisation around the world now working in a new normal. Public and private sectors have changed their strategies to focus on digitalisation as one of the most important major trends and tools to manage the situation.

“Guided by the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and with the steadfast support and follow-up of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, Dubai has proactively applied Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies and strong precautionary measures to control the spread of COVID-19 and ensure business continuity. As a result, Dubai has presented a successful model for designing the future and ensuring high levels of preparedness to deal with unforeseen challenges. In line with this success, DEWA continues to implement the forward-thinking vision of the leadership, which focuses on anticipating and preparing, for future challenges, to enhance the UAE’s leading global position in various sectors,” said Al Tayer.

Al Tayer also said that DEWA has been able to easily transform its operations and adjust its strategy to deal with the challenges of COVID-19 pandemic. DEWA activated its crisis and business continuity plans across the organisation, and reviewed and reinforced its plans to manage the location and timings for critical staff. This is part of a comprehensive policy to reduce the impact of the global pandemic, and in line with the directives of the wise leadership.

Al Tayer said that the secret of DEWA’s success lies in applying the principles and practices of excellence across all its operations and activities as well as in strategic planning and within its corporate culture. DEWA has established best practices of its own to become a global role model for its key performance indicators. DEWA’s dedicated workforce has made unprecedented achievements locally and globally. For example, the UAE, represented by DEWA, has maintained its first global ranking for the third year in a row, with scores of 100% in all Getting Electricity indicators in the World Bank's Doing Business 2020 report. DEWA has reduced its customer minutes lost to 1.66 minutes, compared with 15 minutes recorded by leading utilities in the European Union and the USA. DEWA has further reduced its power transmission and distribution network losses to 3.3%, compared to 6-7% in Europe and the USA. DEWA’s water network losses have decreased to 5.1%, compared to 15% in North America, making it one of the lowest in the world. DEWA improved the sustainability of its water and power infrastructure, to increase fuel consumption efficiency up to 90%, and generation efficiency by 33.41% between 2006 and 2020. DEWA won the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) Global Award in 2020. It is the first and only organisation outside Europe to have done so, and on its first application as well. DEWA has also received the highest accolades from the Dubai Government Excellence Program, in addition to 290 other international, regional and local awards.

“Achieving results depends on innovation, adopting disruptive technologies, and keeping pace with the Fourth Industrial Revolution. As a globally leading sustainable innovative corporation, DEWA supports Dubai’s progress in leading the future by reworking the traditional concepts of work mechanisms to suit the rapid global changes and strengthen Dubai’s position as an incubator for creativity and a beacon of innovation. To support the Dubai 10X initiative, which mandates the Government of Dubai to be a global leader that is 10 years ahead of all other cities, we launched Digital DEWA, our digital arm, to reshape the concept of utilities and build a digital future for Dubai and achieve government plans and strategies. DEWA’s success during these critical times has demonstrated the effectiveness of its state-of-the-art digital infrastructure that provides its customers with access to all its services anytime, anywhere. DEWA has continued to meet all its customers’ needs, and received the 100% Paperless Stamp from Smart Dubai, in recognition of its success in completing the digital transformation of all its operations,” added Al Tayer.

“While we feel proud of DEWA’s achievements, we will continue developing unique experiences that enhance the happiness of all stakeholders and contribute to making Dubai the happiest and smartest city in the world. We will work to innovate proactive solutions for the challenges over the next 50 years to achieve the vision of the wise leadership to make the UAE the world’s leading nation by its Centennial in 2071,” concluded Al Tayer.

Over three days, the conference discusses several topics including ‘How AI Initiatives and solutions are Helping Nations Recover and Emerge Even Stronger after the Pandemic;’ Innovation in Remote Hiring and the Skills for Success;’ Innovation & Growth, Lessons Learnt from Silicon Valley;’ ‘Optimising Your Organisation's Innovation Strategy in Times of Uncertainty;’ and ‘New Virtual World: How Digital Is Crucial in The Post Pandemic World,’ among other topics.