Photo Credit: WAM
Dubai, UAE — August 2026 — Dubai Electricity and Water Authority is reaping concrete benefits from its strategic roadmap to become the world’s first AI-native utility, according to Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of DEWA.
According to the Emirates News Agency, Al Tayer highlighted a series of measurable achievements driven by the shift, most notably slashing the time needed to refund security deposits of up to AED 4,000, from four days down to just eight minutes.
He also pointed to the continued success of DEWA’s AI-powered virtual employee, “Rammas,” which has handled more than 13 million customer inquiries without human intervention since its launch in 2017. The tool has recently been upgraded with the latest generative AI technology, including integration with GPT-4o.
Al Tayer stressed that artificial intelligence is no longer an optional add-on for organizations but has become a core pillar in building smart, sustainable cities and delivering more efficient, agile and proactive services — supporting quality of life, resource sustainability, and the broader future economy.
He noted that the UAE has adopted a forward-looking approach that places innovation, digital transformation and AI at the heart of national development.
DEWA’s plans, he said, are fully aligned with Dubai’s Economic Agenda D33, the UAE Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2031, the UAE Net Zero 2050 Strategy, the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050, all aimed at reinforcing smart infrastructure and advanced digital services that support sustainable growth.
The DEWA chief said the authority is deploying “assistive AI” technologies across its website, smart applications and internal platforms, directly enhancing the customer experience, improving service quality, boosting institutional performance, and supporting staff productivity.
These advanced applications, he added, are also strengthening smart infrastructure readiness, improving the reliability of electricity and water networks, enabling predictive maintenance and demand management, integrating power and water systems, and optimizing the incorporation of clean and renewable energy, all contributing to greater energy and water security amid Dubai’s rapid growth.
Al Tayer concluded by emphasizing that the future of smart, sustainable cities is not shaped by technology alone, but by the vision guiding it, the institutions that put it to good use, and the people who remain at the center of every transformation.
He reaffirmed DEWA’s commitment to supporting the UAE and Dubai’s vision of building a sustainable knowledge economy, reinforcing Dubai’s status as a global hub for innovation, and harnessing AI to serve people, protect resources, and build a better future for generations to come.
