Abu dhabi: Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), hosted a distinguished delegation including Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure; Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications; and Marwan bin Ghalita, Director General of Dubai Municipality, at DEWA's new headquarters, Al Shera'a. Also present was Majid Hamad Rahma Al Shamsi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of DEWA, as they explored Al Shera'a, noted as the tallest, largest, and smartest net-positive government building globally.
According to Emirates News Agency, the delegation received a comprehensive briefing on DEWA's milestones, projects, and strategic initiatives, which encompass electricity and water generation, transmission, and distribution systems. Highlighted clean energy projects included the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park and the 250MW Hatta Hydroelectric Power Plant, acknowledged as the first pumped-storage hydroelectric facility in the Arabian Gulf.
DEWA's progression in digital transformation and artificial intelligence was also discussed, focusing on Digital DEWA, its digital division that integrates cutting-edge digital technologies into their operational framework. DEWA's ownership of the world's largest solar-powered green data centre, as certified by Guinness World Records, was emphasized.
The visitors were introduced to the innovative concept behind Al Shera'a, which advocates for sustainable building designs that integrate smart solutions with a cognitive system capable of sensing, analyzing, and responding to various factors. This positions Al Shera'a as the smartest government building worldwide, utilizing technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data analytics, and AI.
Al Shera'a is set to establish a global benchmark for net-positive buildings by generating more clean energy than it consumes, creating a smart and sustainable working environment focused on human-centric design. The structure spans over two million square feet and aims for LEED Platinum and WELL Gold certifications, representing excellence in sustainable, healthy, and people-oriented building standards.