Dubai’s Al Shera’a headquarters sets new global benchmark as the world’s tallest net-positive government building

A delegation from Masdar recently paid a visit to DEWA’s spanking new headquarters in Al Jaddaf, providing Abu Dhabi’s leading clean-energy firm with an up-close look at one of Dubai’s most ambitious sustainability ventures yet. The building , known as Al Shera’a , has been billed by DEWA as the tallest, biggest, and smartest net-positive government building in the world.

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, DEWA’s managing director and CEO, hosted the visit for Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, the chief executive of Masdar. The trip really highlighted how the UAE’s water, electricity, and clean-energy sectors are increasingly overlapping, especially now, when both emirates are pushing harder than ever towards long-term objectives to cut carbon emissions.

Now, Al Shera’a isn’t just a headquarters , or at least, that’s what DEWA claims. It’s meant to serve as a kind of living blueprint for how digital systems and low-carbon design can come together in large public buildings. The smart tech embedded inside is capable of sensing conditions, analysing data, and responding automatically, with help from the Internet of Things, big data analytics, and artificial intelligence , and it’s pretty impressive, really.

DEWA reports that the building is equipped with over 110,000 smart sensors, which monitor environmental and operational variables in real time. There are also more than 1,500 wireless access points and over 3,200 network devices. All these systems generate more than 1.9 million automated control commands daily, which DEWA states helps streamline efficiency and keeps operations aligned.

This headquarters isn’t just about innovation for innovation’s sake , it’s also designed to set a benchmark for net-positive structures, meaning it aims to produce more clean energy than it consumes over the course of an entire year. DEWA says the project supports Dubai’s Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050 by reducing emissions, enhancing resource efficiency, and encouraging a greener economy.

Environmental credentials are pretty much at the heart of its design, too. DEWA has announced that Al Shera’a is being prepared for LEED Platinum and WELL Gold certification , both globally recognised standards for environmental sustainability and human wellbeing. Plus, the building is supposed to use significantly less water than traditional offices.

Constructing the building has taken years. DEWA signed a contract in 2019 with Ghantoot Group, worth nearly AED 982 million, according to their statements at the time. Early disclosures indicated that it would house thousands of staff, featuring a 500-seat auditorium, training rooms, and even a creativity centre. As the project progressed, DEWA’s descriptions evolved, later updates mentioned different staffing sizes and floor counts as the headquarters neared completion.

In a progress report from April 2025, Al Tayer said that the project was advancing well, with extensive use of IoT, AI, and big data tools. By that point, DEWA described the building as a 15-floor headquarters with basement and parking levels, designed to serve about 3,000 employees. The latest, final version from DEWA now depicts a 19-storey structure, including a ground floor and basement, covering more than two million square feet altogether.

The most recent milestone was in May 2026, when Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, officially opened the building. That ceremony, covered by Khaleej Times, marked the public debut after years of construction, testing, and systems integration. DEWA claims that the building now produces over 7,000 MWh of renewable energy annually , a clear sign of its net-positive aims.

Equally important is the building’s digital infrastructure. DEWA describes Al Shera’a as a “smart” environment where management, security, utilities, and workspaces are interconnected within a single system. This kind of integrated approach signals a broader trend in the Gulf , where major public and commercial projects increasingly aim to combine sustainability with data-driven efficiency.

For Masdar, the visit makes perfect sense within its own strategic scope in the UAE’s renewable energy scene. Over time, Masdar has become one of the country’s most prominent investors and developers in renewables and low-carbon infrastructure. Its close engagement with DEWA provides real-world insight into how sustainability targets are translating into functioning public buildings.

And for Dubai, this headquarters isn’t just a workplace , it’s a statement of intent. Al Shera’a is positioned as a showcase for the city’s drive towards cleaner energy, more efficient buildings, and superior public infrastructure. If its systems perform as promised, it could serve as a blueprint for future government and commercial projects across the entire UAE.