DEWA’s IWPP model attracts AED 47.4bn and wins seven‑star global best‑practice recognition
DEWA’s IWPP model attracted AED 47.4bn in investments over 12 years and earned top global recognition, advancing major energy and water projects across Dubai.
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) said its Independent Water and Power Producer (IWPP) model has drawn more than AED 47.4 billion in private-sector investment over the past 12 years, a milestone the authority cited as central to its infrastructure strategy. The IWPP model is highlighted by DEWA executives as a key enabler of large-scale projects and has received a seven-star rating in an international best-practice competition, signalling its standing among global public‑private partnership frameworks. Officials tied the model’s success to targeted governance reforms, transparent procurement and specialised technical and financial studies that have increased investor confidence.
Investment scale and timeframe
DEWA reported that the AED 47.4 billion figure reflects cumulative capital mobilised through IWPP arrangements over a 12‑year period, covering both power generation and water desalination facilities. The authority said these investments came from a mix of international developers, institutional financiers and private equity, under long-term offtake agreements. DEWA framed the inflows as part of a broader strategy to lever private capital for strategic infrastructure while preserving public oversight of essential services.
Global recognition and economic positioning
DEWA highlighted that the IWPP model’s award — a seven‑star rating in the Global Best Practices competition — recognises its approach as an international benchmark for public‑private delivery of energy and water projects. The authority also noted Dubai’s broader investment appeal, citing Financial Times FDI Markets data that placed the emirate first worldwide for new foreign direct investment projects in 2025. DEWA leaders said the accolade and Dubai’s investment ranking reinforce the competitiveness of the emirate’s regulatory and commercial environment for large infrastructure transactions.
How the IWPP model is structured
Under DEWA’s IWPP approach, private developers finance, build and operate integrated power and desalination plants under long-term concession or offtake agreements, while DEWA secures output through purchase contracts. The model shifts certain construction and financing risks to the private partner while DEWA retains regulatory and operational oversight, officials explained. Critical to deal flow, DEWA requires comprehensive technical, economic and financial feasibility studies and emphasizes achieving fair value for all partners to ensure sustainable returns and predictable service delivery.
Flagship energy project: Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park
DEWA pointed to the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park as a principal beneficiary of the IWPP model, noting the project’s record low solar tariffs in several procurement rounds. The authority said the park remains the largest single-site solar complex in the world and is scheduled to expand its installed capacity to more than 8,000 megawatts by 2030. DEWA described the solar park’s successive IWPP contracts as illustrative of how competitive procurement can lower costs, accelerate deployment and attract global developers to Dubai’s renewable energy sector.
Extension to desalination: Hassyan RO plant
DEWA has expanded the IWPP framework to include water projects, with the Hassyan reverse‑osmosis (RO) desalination plant introduced as the authority’s first IWPP water venture. The Hassyan RO facility is expected to deliver up to 180 million gallons of desalinated water per day when fully operational, helping diversify water supply sources and reduce reliance on thermal desalination. DEWA said applying IWPP principles to water infrastructure opens new avenues for private capital and technology transfer in the utilities sector.
Governance, risk management and investor confidence
DEWA executives attributed the IWPP model’s traction to a combination of sound governance, regulatory clarity and proactive risk allocation that together build investor trust. The authority stressed transparency in procurement, robust contract structures and an environment that permits international finance and developer participation as core strengths. DEWA also highlighted active risk management, including detailed third‑party studies and contract terms designed to align incentives across public and private stakeholders.
DEWA officials assert that the IWPP pathway supports Dubai’s economic agenda by mobilising private capital, lowering long‑term supply costs and accelerating the rollout of clean energy and desalination capacity. With plans to scale the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park and replicate IWPP structures for additional water projects, the authority is signalling continued reliance on public‑private collaboration to meet the emirate’s sustainability and security objectives.
