Dubai, UAE: HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), received a delegation from Dubai Airports headed by Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports, to discuss enhancing bilateral cooperation between DEWA and Dubai Airports, in line with the strategic partnership between the two sides. The meeting aimed to exchange views to achieve common goals and support government directions. The meeting also discussed the latest developments in the project undertaken by Etihad Energy Services Company (Etihad ESCO), which is a wholly owned subsidiary of DEWA. The project aims to retrofit a number of buildings at Dubai Airports to optimize energy efficiency.

The meeting, which took place at DEWA’s headquarters, was attended by Waleed Bin Salman, Executive Vice President of Business Development and Excellence at DEWA. From Dubai Airports side, the meeting was attended by Majed Al Joker, Chief Operating Officer; Essa Al Shamsi, Senior Vice President - Terminal Operations; and Omar Binadai, Executive Vice President – Technology and Infrastructure at Dubai Airports.

Al Tayer said that in line with the vision and diectives of the wise leadership to consoilidate a green economy in the UAE, DEWA is keen on strengthening cooperation with public and private organisations that share its vision to enhance environmental sustainability and achieve net-zero emissions. Al Tayer commended Dubai Airports for adopting sustainability across all its operations. Al Tayer explained that DEWA has established an energy services company (Etihad Esco) to enhance energy efficiency in Dubai. The company has retrofitted nearly 8,000 existing buildings in Dubai.

During the meeting, Al Tayer highlighted DEWA’s projects in sustainability and renewable and clean energy, in line with the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050 to provide 100% of Dubai’s total power production capacity from clean energy sources by 2050. One of DEWA’s major projects to achieve this objective is the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the largest single-site solar park in the world based on the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model.

“As an organisation that puts sustainability at the forefront of its long-term strategy, we at Dubai Airports are proud to partner with DEWA on the Etihad Energy Services Company (Etihad ESCO) project to retrofit a number of buildings at Dubai Airports and enhance energy efficiency. By working together towards a sustainable future, we aim to contribute to the UAE Government's goal towards a net-zero carbon emissions economy by 2050. A key priority in 2023 is to deliver sustainable operations as we strive to maintain our position as the world's busiest global hub. With the UAE hosting COP 28 this year, we are very excited about the developments and opportunities that we are presented with and our role in achieving them,” said Paul Griffiths.

Etihad ESCO has installed a solar power system in Terminal 2 of Dubai Airport. This is the largest system of its kind inside an international airport in the region.