Dubai Electricity and Water Authority has established DEWA International, a wholly owned independent subsidiary focused on developing energy and water infrastructure projects across global markets. The announcement was made at Al Shera’a, DEWA’s new headquarters, by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy.
The new company will work across both power and water, developing conventional and clean energy projects using what DEWA describes as its proven model – one built on decades of managing the full project value chain, from generation and transmission to financing, operations and maintenance. DEWA says it holds first place globally in 13 utility performance indicators and two regional benchmarks.
“Thanks to the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Dubai has become a global model for achievement and accelerated development. Through its world-class infrastructure, particularly in the energy and water sectors, Dubai has firmly established itself as a leading international benchmark. Launching DEWA International marks a strategic step towards extending this successful model to global markets and further strengthening Dubai’s position as a source of knowledge and expertise in energy, water, sustainability and digital transformation,” Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy said in a statement.
“I congratulate DEWA on this significant milestone and look forward to its continued success in reinforcing Dubai’s global standing and advancing its role in shaping a more sustainable future for generations to come,” he added.
“We welcome you all to this important event. We are delighted by your presence at a time when the world increasingly needs the foundations and capabilities established by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA). Today, we are taking these superior capabilities to the global stage, sharing them with leaders, partners and investors who believe, as we do, that the future is built on clear vision and well-organised execution. Thank you for your valued presence and support,” Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer further explained.
“At its core, DEWA embodies Dubai’s inspiring success story. Guided by the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the emirate has become a leading global hub for finance, trade and innovation, as well as a model for sustainable development and investment attraction. For decades, DEWA has powered Dubai’s extraordinary rise, not through ambition alone, but through the highest performance and efficiency. Now, we rank first globally in 13 key utility performance indicators and two regional benchmarks across generation, transmission, distribution and customer service. Our financial strength provides real strategic freedom: sustained revenue growth, strong margins and significant investing capacity. In 2025, DEWA recorded unprecedented revenues of AED 32.8 billion, with net profit after tax reaching a record AED 9.06 billion,” Al Tayer added.
The strategic case, as Al Tayer framed it, rests on the scale of global demand. He said energy and water infrastructure investment is expected to exceed USD 20 trillion by 2035, with energy security and the energy transition accelerating the pace of opportunity. “International expansion is not merely an ambition; it is a strategic imperative,” he said.
DEWA International will begin in markets where existing relationships and geographic proximity give it an advantage, with plans to expand progressively into a broader global portfolio across renewable and conventional technologies. Al Tayer said the company is already identifying projects and building a pipeline, and that the model being exported goes beyond projects alone.
“We are exporting not only projects, but our full set of learnings and capabilities, including project structuring, governance, risk allocation and execution excellence,” he said.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed framed the launch as an extension of Dubai’s development model. “Launching DEWA International marks a strategic step towards extending this successful model to global markets and further strengthening Dubai’s position as a source of knowledge and expertise in energy, water, sustainability and digital transformation,” he said.
The event was attended by Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure; Omar Sultan Al Olama, Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence; and senior figures from Emirates Global Aluminium, ENOC, Dragon Oil and Etihad Water and Electricity, alongside DEWA board members and strategic partners.
