1.4% turnover rate among Emirati employees at DEWA

Dubai: Dubai Electricity and Water Authority’s (DEWA’s) turnover rate among Emiratis employees has decreased this year to 1.4%. This percentage includes retired Emirati staff.

“At DEWA, we work in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and the directives of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, to promote Emiratisation across all sectors. We have an integrated strategy to support Emiratisation and prepare Emiratis to take all engineering, technical and administrative jobs at DEWA, while we continue to attract experienced and fresh-graduate Emiratis. This supports the UAE National Agenda to develop Emirati capabilities and our Emiratisation strategy to prepare Emiratis to lead the energy and water sectors. As a socially-responsible government organisation, DEWA also provides quality jobs that benefit the country and its citizens,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.

Al Tayer said that DEWA is one of the largest government organisations that attract Emiratis, and one of the largest government organisations in the UAE that is committed to developing the capabilities of Emirati staff. DEWA’s Emiratisation reached 86.67% in senior management. Al Tayer noted that DEWA employs over 3,200 Emirati men and women in different domains and managerial levels. This number includes 1,600 employees in technical jobs, 400 of whom are Emirati female engineers; which supports women empowerment efforts in the UAE.

“DEWA works in accordance with the vision and directives of the wise leadership to prepare a generation that will keep pace with the government of the future, by developing a world-class educational system. DEWA adopts a comprehensive strategy to develop and support Emirati young people to be the next generation of experts and leaders in Research & Development, anticipating the future, keeping pace with the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and making use of disruptive technologies. This is part of our efforts to contribute to achieving the UAE Centennial 2071, which is a long-term government plan to prepare the UAE and young Emiratis for the future,” added Al Tayer.

Dr Yousef Al Akraf, Executive Vice President of Business Support and Human Resources at DEWA, noted that DEWA applies the highest transparency standards in attracting and employing staff, in adherence to the Human Resources law of the Government of Dubai and best international practices. The hiring process includes tests and evaluation through a framework and scientific evaluation mechanism as well as a specialised centre to select the best-qualified staff to take positions in energy and water production, transmission and distribution, to meet the high-quality levels required by these jobs.

Scholarships for Emiratis

DEWA has been providing scholarship programmes, for more than two decades, to Emirati students who wish to study in the UAE or abroad. DEWA has strategic partnerships with several international universities and institutes including the University of California, Berkeley and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Electric Engineering; Block Chain; Digitisation; Cyber Security; and Artificial Intelligence (AI); among others. This aims to provide DEWA with quality specialisations that meet its future needs and prepare Emiratis to lead the energy and water sectors.

There are now 350 students enrolled in this programme, with a further 50 students enrolled in educational scholarships inside and outside the UAE doing postgraduate studies in specialisations needed in DEWA. The scholarship programme covers tuition fees and provides a generous monthly allowance. DEWA employs graduates in different sectors according to their areas of study.

Training UAE Emirati staff

DEWA has an integrated strategy to train and develop its employees according to the highest international standards. This helps them keep pace with the rapid global changes and familiarises them with the latest developments and technologies in their work. DEWA is committed to achieving the UAE National Agenda for inclusive employment, to enhance the capabilities of People of Determination and provide them with professional and operational skills to enable them to be economically and socially independent. DEWA has a large budget for training and developing Emirati employees in different technical and managerial positions, in collaboration with prestigious international universities and research centres. This helps employees gain experience and leadership skills.

DEWA Campus for Occupational and Academic Development

The DEWA Campus for Occupational and Academic Development covers 350,000 square feet at Al Hudaiba, Dubai. It also houses DEWA’s Smart Training and Education Centre and DEWA Academy. The campus has lecture and training halls, workshops equipped with state-of-the-art technological and educational facilities, computer labs, an auditorium, a multi-purpose hall, offices for engineers, trainers and staff, a library, sports playgrounds and other modern facilities.

DEWA Campus for Occupational and Academic Development supports DEWA’s strategy to invest in its staff, and empower young Emiratis and build their capabilities according to the best international standards in human resources, empower Emirati young people, and provide them with the technical skills according to the highest international standards in vocational training. This prepares Emiratis to occupy these specialities and prepare them to fulfil DEWA’s needs and expansion plans.

Smart Training and Education Centre

The Smart Training and Education Centre includes 13 training halls equipped with the latest training facilities and smart applications. The centre can house up to 600 trainees. It provides training for DEWA’s staff in various fields, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), 3D technology, smart learning, creativity and innovation, sustainability, project management, as well as technical and specialised courses. DEWA has been accredited to provide training in several subjects.

DEWA Academy

In 2013, DEWA launched its Academy in collaboration with the Business and Technology Education Council (Pearson BTEC) in the UK. This support DEWA’s strategy to qualify young Emiratis to fulfil the needs of various technical departments at DEWA, through leading technical training programmes that cover the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity as well as water desalination. Graduates receive their diplomas from BTEC, one of the pioneering vocational institutes in the world. They also receive a certificate equivalent to the Technical Secondary School Certificate in the UAE. During their three-year academic programme, students receive a generous monthly allowance. 180 Emirati students are currently enrolled in the Academy.

DEWA Academy includes 12 classrooms, 3 computer labs, and 12 specialised workshops in electrical and mechanical engineering. The workshops include: Smart grid-SCADA Workshop, Advanced Electronics Workshop, Artificial Intelligence Workshop, Electrical Installations & Sustainability Workshop, Innovation & Building Management Workshop, Operation & Maintenance Workshop, Welding & Fabrication Workshop, Design and Production Workshop, CNC Machining Workshop, Mechatronics Workshop, and Automation and Robotics Workshop. It also includes halls equipped with state-of-the-art tools and technologies, computer labs and a multimedia learning centre. In addition to the scientific and technical skills, students gain other life skills such as time management, planning, innovation and team work. This is supervised engineers and trainers from DEWA, and certified experts in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and equipment maintenance and operation engineering.

DEWA Academy is a significant addition to vocational and technical education in Dubai, as it prepares a generation of qualified young people to fill technical jobs. He noted that DEWA is committed to employing graduates of the Academy who get all the benefits given to DEWA’s staff.

-Ends-

For more information, please contact:
Khuloud Al Ali / Shaikha Almheiri / Mohammad Almheiri  Eman Hussein / Susan Saidi
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority                                                                                              Hattlan Media
+971 50 8450757 / +971 55 2288228 / +971 50 4511571        +971 50 7366990 / +971 50 8076338

Media@dewa.gov.ae  / Shaikha.almheiri@dewa.gov.ae  / Mohammad.almheiri@dewa.gov.ae    eman@hattlan.com  / susan@hattlan.com 

© Press Release 2019