Dubai, UAE: Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is committed to promoting Emiratisation in its various divisions. It adopts an integrated strategy to support and prepare UAE nationals to fill all engineering, technical and administrative jobs at DEWA. DEWA continues to attract citizens who are experienced or new graduates. This supports the goals of the UAE national agenda in developing the capabilities of Emirati talents, and its strategy to prepare young citizens to assume leadership in the energy and water sectors, as well as provide quality jobs that are in the interest of the country and its citizens.

“We work according to the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to prepare Emirati leaders to keep pace with rapid changes and various global challenges and opportunities. This achieves the objectives of the UAE Centennial 2071 to make the UAE the world’s leading nation. DEWA provides a positive environment that promotes creativity and innovation and spares no effort to develop and nurture its Emirati talents among the employees, according to the highest international standards. This helps them become aware of the latest developments and technologies in their fields of work, thus enhancing the position of the UAE and Dubai as a global hub for the Fourth Industrial Revolution and disruptive technologies. DEWA is one of the largest government organisations that attract citizens, and it is also one of the largest government organisations in the UAE that is keen on recruiting, qualifying, and developing national calibre. The percentage of Emiratisation at DEWA has reached 88.14% in the senior management. The number of Emirati employees at DEWA exceeds 3,388 males and females in various positions, including 1,889 employees in technical positions; 587 of them being female engineers. This supports efforts to empower women in the country,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.

DEWA has launched several pioneering projects and programmes to empower national calibre. The most prominent of these projects are:

DEWA Academy:

DEWA launched DEWA Academy in 2013 in cooperation with the British Business and Technology Education Council (BTEC), to prepare a new generation of citizens who are aware of the importance of professional work and realise the nation’s interest by enrolling in leading scientific and vocational educational programmes that enhance the UAE’s efforts to localise technical jobs in the energy and water sectors. Since its establishment, the Academy has received 502 students, and 288 graduates are now working in the energy distribution division; the energy and water generation division, the power transmission division, and the water and civil division at DEWA.

The Academy focuses on developing the capabilities of Emirati youth by providing vocational education and field training at the highest levels. Students who have completed their studies at the Academy are employed within the various divisions according to their specialisations and the needs of DEWA. The Academy provides the best technical education programmes supervised by the Ministry of Education and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority in Dubai. The programmes are specialised technical and engineering subjects, under the supervision of BTEC’s administration and with the help of a specialised team of professors and engineers.

DEWA’s Academy has added a project management programme for its distinguished students, becoming the first in the UAE to offer this type of programme. This supports the Academy’s efforts to develop its curricula in line with the requirements of the labour market. The Academy provides the programme as it has become a certified training partner for project management teaching and accreditation activities for the Project Management Institute PMI®-based in Pennsylvania, USA. The Project Management programme was added to Academy’s curriculum, which includes three disciplines: electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and mechatronics engineering. The Academy has 202 students enrolled in the academic year 2022-2023, effectively moving forward with their education system.

Master’s programme:

DEWA continues its efforts to invest in national competencies and provide them with the best educational opportunities. In 2019, DEWA launched a master’s programme in future energy systems and technologies in cooperation with Berkeley University - California. The partnership between DEWA and UC Berkeley has made remarkable progress since 2019, particularly in the joint master’s programme between the two organisations in energy systems and technologies. So far, 35 employees have graduated from the programme in the first batch in 2020, and from the second batch, 58 students have successfully graduated, in addition to 108 employees who are currently registered in the second and third batches of the programme. The graduates continue to work on graduation projects in cooperation with the technical sectors at DEWA to apply their studies practically to projects that enhance DEWA’s work and success. Some 50 students have joined the third batch and are expected to graduate in 2023.

In addition, DEWA provided the opportunity for its national employees to enrol in a master’s programme (Micro Masters) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), in the disciplines of Statistics and Data Sciences, Supply Chain Management, and Data Policies, Economics and Development. This is part of its strategy to develop the capabilities of Emirati youth to continuously develop the skills of its employees in accordance with the best international education and training standards.

Frontiers Leadership Development Programme

DEWA launched the Frontiers Leadership Development Programme in 2007, in collaboration with the Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government (MBRSG). Training programmes include Frontiers, Women Leadership, and Future Leaders programmes to develop and benefit from the expertise of others and implement them in the workplace. Since its launch, a total of 192 participants have graduated. In 2021, DEWA launched the 5th batch of the programme with 30 employees.

Knowledge exchange programme:

DEWA has started a knowledge-exchange programme with international organisations abroad and within UAE. This aims to train staff on the latest technologies and best practices in energy and water.

Higher studies scholarship programme in the UAE and overseas:

DEWA provides post-graduate scholarships for Emiratis to develop their academic career and thus improve the work environment. DEWA offers educational opportunities in technical and rare specialities relevant to its work areas at prestigious universities in the UAE and overseas.