Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is accelerating its digital transformation by embedding artificial intelligence (AI) deeply into its energy distribution operations. This effort is part of a broader vision to enhance operational efficiency, service reliability, and customer satisfaction, all integral to supporting Dubai’s rapid economic and urban growth. Central to this transformation is DEWA’s smart grid, which benefits from a substantial AED 7 billion ($1.9 billion) investment earmarked through to 2035. The initiative promises seamless and integrated 24/7 service provision, aligning with Dubai’s ambition to position itself as the smartest and happiest city globally.
At the core of DEWA’s enhanced energy distribution network is the Distribution Network Smart Centre, an advanced facility that processes over 15 million data points daily. This data is transformed into insightful reports and interactive dashboards, enabling data-driven operational decisions. The centre’s use of Big Data analytics, AI, and machine learning delivers sophisticated diagnostic and predictive maintenance capabilities, allowing for proactive responses that minimise disruptions and improve customer experience. DEWA’s MD & CEO, His Excellency Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, highlighted that these technologies have contributed to Dubai achieving the world’s lowest electricity customer minutes lost, with the 2024 figure standing at just 0.94 minutes per customer—dramatically lower than the 15-minute average recorded across leading European utilities.
The extensive smart grid infrastructure is impressive: by the end of 2024, DEWA operated 69 substations at 33kV and over 45,000 medium-voltage substations (11kV and 6.6kV). To meet the soaring electricity and water demand that accompanies Dubai’s development, more than 1.2 million smart electricity meters and over 1.1 million smart water meters had been deployed across the emirate, achieving full smart meter adoption among customers. This facilitates enhanced real-time monitoring and resource management, ensuring improved energy and water network efficiency.
Building on this foundation, DEWA launched a strategic roadmap in March 2025 to become the world’s first AI-native utility. This roadmap envisions the integration of AI technologies across all operational and service layers, aimed at boosting productivity, efficiency, and innovation. The initiative dovetails with the UAE National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031 and is closely aligned with the directive from His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, underscoring the UAE’s ambition to be a global leader in AI, a key driver for accelerating government progress and sustainable growth.
DEWA’s smart grid is not only about data and AI; it is also a cornerstone supporting the UAE’s sustainability goals. The grid utilises technologies from the Fourth Industrial Revolution, including AI and the Internet of Things (IoT), to enable automated decision-making and interoperability between electricity and water networks. This supports the UAE’s Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and Net Zero Emissions Strategy 2050, which aim to source 100% of energy production capacity from clean energy by mid-century.
In addition, DEWA has pioneered the region’s first Virtual Power Plant (VPP), an advanced platform that aggregates and manages Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) such as solar photovoltaic systems, battery storage, electric vehicle charging stations, and flexible loads. By using AI-based forecasting and optimisation, the VPP enhances grid stability and efficiency, enabling the aggregated DERs to function as a cohesive entity that delivers essential grid services — including peak shaving, frequency regulation, and energy balancing. This innovation not only maximises asset value for the grid operator and consumers alike but also exemplifies DEWA’s commitment to integrating smart, sustainable technologies within the grid ecosystem.
Overall, DEWA’s multi-faceted AI deployment and smart grid evolution firmly establish Dubai as a global leader in smart city technologies, setting a benchmark for efficiency, reliability, and sustainability in energy and water services. The integration of AI not only optimises operational readiness but also propels Dubai’s energy infrastructure towards a pioneering, digitally native future.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://economymiddleeast.com/news/dewa-leverages-ai-in-energy-distribution-to-boost-efficiency-reliability-within-1-9-billion-smart-grid-investment/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://mediaoffice.ae/en/news/2025/july/10-07/dewa-deploys-ai-in-energy-distribution-to-enhance-network-efficiency-and-service-reliability – Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is enhancing its digital transformation by integrating artificial intelligence (AI) technologies into its operations, particularly in energy distribution. This initiative aims to improve operational efficiency and service reliability. Central to this transformation is DEWA’s smart grid, supported by a AED 7 billion investment through to 2035, ensuring seamless, integrated services around the clock. The Distribution Network Smart Centre analyses over 15 million data points daily, converting this data into insightful reports and interactive dashboards to support data-driven decision-making. The centre also leverages Big Data, AI, and machine learning to provide diagnostic and analytical services, enhancing proactive maintenance responses and customer satisfaction. This deployment of AI in the energy distribution sector contributes to consolidating Dubai’s position as a globally leading city in adopting AI solutions and advanced digital technologies. In 2024, Dubai recorded just 0.94 minutes per customer for electricity customer minutes lost, significantly lower than the 15-minute average of leading European utilities. By the end of 2024, DEWA had 69 33kV substations and 45,317 medium-voltage substations in operation. To meet Dubai’s increasing electricity demand, DEWA deployed 1,202,411 smart electricity meters and 1,103,901 smart water meters across the emirate, achieving 100% smart meter adoption, thereby bolstering DEWA’s smart electricity and water networks.
- https://www.dewa.gov.ae/en/about-us/media-publications/latest-news/2025/07/dewa-deploys-ai-in-energy-distribution-to-enhance-network-efficiency-and-service-reliability – Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is enhancing its digital transformation by integrating artificial intelligence (AI) technologies into its operations, particularly in energy distribution. This initiative aims to improve operational efficiency and service reliability. Central to this transformation is DEWA’s smart grid, supported by a AED 7 billion investment through to 2035, ensuring seamless, integrated services around the clock. The Distribution Network Smart Centre analyses over 15 million data points daily, converting this data into insightful reports and interactive dashboards to support data-driven decision-making. The centre also leverages Big Data, AI, and machine learning to provide diagnostic and analytical services, enhancing proactive maintenance responses and customer satisfaction. This deployment of AI in the energy distribution sector contributes to consolidating Dubai’s position as a globally leading city in adopting AI solutions and advanced digital technologies. In 2024, Dubai recorded just 0.94 minutes per customer for electricity customer minutes lost, significantly lower than the 15-minute average of leading European utilities. By the end of 2024, DEWA had 69 33kV substations and 45,317 medium-voltage substations in operation. To meet Dubai’s increasing electricity demand, DEWA deployed 1,202,411 smart electricity meters and 1,103,901 smart water meters across the emirate, achieving 100% smart meter adoption, thereby bolstering DEWA’s smart electricity and water networks.
- https://www.dewa.gov.ae/en/about-us/media-publications/latest-news/2024/12/electricity-and-water-smart-grid-supports – Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is implementing a smart grid with total investments of AED 7 billion. This initiative supports the vision of the UAE’s wise leadership to make Dubai the smartest and happiest city in the world. The smart grid ensures seamless, 24/7 integrated services, offering advanced features such as automated decision-making and interoperability across the electricity and water network. By leveraging disruptive technologies from the Fourth Industrial Revolution, including artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT), the smart grid ensures efficient, reliable, and sustainable operations. The smart grid programme is a key element in DEWA’s strategy to develop an advanced infrastructure. It supports the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Emissions Strategy 2050 to provide 100% of the energy production capacity from clean energy sources by 2050.
- https://www.dewa.gov.ae/en/about-us/media-publications/latest-news/2024/04/dewa-advances-smart-and-innovative-solutions-to-ensure-a-sustainable – Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is enhancing its smart grid and Distributed Energy Resource (DER) integration through its Virtual Power Plant (VPP), the first of its kind in the region. The first phase has aggregated the DERs operated by DEWA’s R&D Centre, and managed them as a single mixed portfolio of generation and load connected to the grid. The VPP is an advanced technology based on aggregation, orchestration, Artificial Intelligence (AI) based forecasting, and optimisation to integrate various types of DERs to support DEWA’s smart grid. The VPP is a digital platform that establishes connectivity to many distributed, small and medium scale DER units such as solar photovoltaic, battery storage, electric vehicle charging stations, and other flexible loads. The aim is to enable the participation of these DERs to support the network operation and maximise their value to the grid operator and end customer by providing grid services such as peak shaving, frequency regulation or energy balancing.
- https://www.dewa.gov.ae/en/about-us/media-publications/latest-news/2022/07/dewa-enhances-its-smart-grid – Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has enhanced integration between different energy resources in its smart grid through its Virtual Power Plant (VPP), the first of its kind in the region. The first phase has aggregated the Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) operated by DEWA’s R&D Centre, and managed them as a single mixed portfolio of generation and load connected to the grid. The VPP is an advanced technology based on aggregation, orchestration, Artificial Intelligence (AI) based forecasting, and optimisation to integrate various types of DERs to support DEWA’s smart grid. The VPP is a digital platform that establishes connectivity to many distributed, small and medium scale DER units such as solar photovoltaic, battery storage, electric vehicle charging stations, and other flexible loads. The aim is to enable the participation of these DERs to support the network operation and maximise their value to the grid operator and end customer by providing grid services such as peak shaving, frequency regulation or energy balancing.
- https://www.dewa.gov.ae/en/about-us/media-publications/latest-news/2024/12/electricity-and-water-smart-grid-supports – Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is implementing a smart grid with total investments of AED 7 billion. This initiative supports the vision of the UAE’s wise leadership to make Dubai the smartest and happiest city in the world. The smart grid ensures seamless, 24/7 integrated services, offering advanced features such as automated decision-making and interoperability across the electricity and water network. By leveraging disruptive technologies from the Fourth Industrial Revolution, including artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT), the smart grid ensures efficient, reliable, and sustainable operations. The smart grid programme is a key element in DEWA’s strategy to develop an advanced infrastructure. It supports the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Emissions Strategy 2050 to provide 100% of the energy production capacity from clean energy sources by 2050.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative is recent, published on 11 July 2025. Similar content appeared on 10 July 2025 in DEWA’s official news release ([mediaoffice.ae](https://mediaoffice.ae/en/news/2025/july/10-07/dewa-deploys-ai-in-energy-distribution-to-enhance-network-efficiency-and-service-reliability?utm_source=openai)). The overlap suggests the article may be based on this press release, which typically warrants a high freshness score. However, the slight date difference indicates a possible minor delay in reporting.
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
The article includes direct quotes from His Excellency Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA. These quotes are consistent with those in the DEWA press release dated 10 July 2025 ([mediaoffice.ae](https://mediaoffice.ae/en/news/2025/july/10-07/dewa-deploys-ai-in-energy-distribution-to-enhance-network-efficiency-and-service-reliability?utm_source=openai)). The identical wording suggests potential reuse of content. No earlier instances of these specific quotes were found, indicating they may be original to this release.
Source reliability
Score:
6
Notes:
The narrative originates from Economy Middle East, a regional news outlet. While it provides coverage of DEWA’s initiatives, the outlet’s reputation and editorial standards are not widely known, which introduces some uncertainty regarding the reliability of the information presented.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about DEWA’s AI integration and smart grid investments align with DEWA’s previous announcements and initiatives, such as the roadmap to becoming the world’s first AI-native utility ([mediaoffice.ae](https://mediaoffice.ae/en/news/2025/march/25-03/dewa-announces-roadmap?utm_source=openai)). The reported figures, including the AED 7 billion investment and the deployment of over 1.2 million smart electricity meters, are consistent with DEWA’s stated goals and achievements. The narrative’s tone and language are appropriate for the subject matter and region, with no inconsistencies noted.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative is recent and largely consistent with DEWA’s official communications, suggesting a high freshness score. The direct quotes from DEWA’s CEO are consistent with the press release, indicating potential reuse of content. The source’s reliability is uncertain due to the outlet’s limited reputation. Overall, the narrative appears plausible and aligns with DEWA’s known initiatives, but the source’s credibility warrants a medium confidence level.
