DEWA Global expands international partnerships after London meetings with ING and Actis
DEWA Global seeks global expansion after a London delegation met ING and Actis to secure partnerships and financing for electricity and water infrastructure projects worldwide.
A delegation led by Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority and chairman of DEWA Global, visited London to meet with senior officials at ING and Actis. The trip underlines DEWA Global’s strategy to form international alliances to finance and deliver large-scale electricity and water infrastructure. DEWA said the engagement is part of a broader effort to export Dubai’s operational model and secure capital for projects across multiple regions.
London meetings with ING and Actis
The delegation’s programme included high-level discussions focused on investment structures, risk allocation and project delivery timelines. Representatives from ING and Actis discussed possible financing solutions and equity partnerships tailored to infrastructure assets. DEWA Global framed the meetings as steps toward mobilising international capital for bankable power and water projects.
These conversations aimed to align DEWA Global’s project pipeline with investor preferences for returns, sustainability credentials and long-term contract structures. Officials emphasised the attractiveness of Dubai’s operational track record and regulatory clarity as foundational for cross-border projects. The meetings also explored co-investment opportunities and the potential for blended finance to lower project costs.
DEWA Global’s international expansion model
DEWA Global was established to leverage the technical, commercial and managerial expertise of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority to develop, finance, construct and operate infrastructure abroad. The entity’s remit covers the full project lifecycle: feasibility, financing, construction, operation and maintenance of electricity and water assets. DEWA Global intends to replicate Dubai’s integrated approach while adapting to local market conditions and regulatory frameworks.
The model relies on DEWA’s strengths in project development, digital innovation, asset management and engineering. By combining public-sector experience with private capital, DEWA Global aims to offer investors predictable cash flows under long-term offtake agreements. Officials said the approach is designed to accelerate deployment of resilient infrastructure in emerging and mature markets alike.
Performance credentials and operational benchmarks
DEWA highlighted its operational performance as a key selling point for international partners, citing top global standings across several metrics. The authority reports it ranks first worldwide in 13 key performance indicators and holds two leading regional service indicators within its sectors. DEWA’s track record is presented as evidence of its capability to deliver reliable, efficient utility services at scale.
Specific operational figures were emphasised during the meetings: DEWA records an average annual electricity outage duration of 0.82 minutes per customer, roughly 49 seconds. Network performance metrics also include one of the lowest transmission and distribution losses for electricity at 2%, and water network losses of 4.4%, figures the authority notes are among the lowest globally. These benchmarks form part of DEWA Global’s pitch to investors and host governments.
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park and clean energy targets
DEWA presented the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park as the cornerstone of Dubai’s energy transition and a demonstrator project for exportable technologies. The solar park, described as the world’s largest single-site solar complex under an independent power producer model, integrates photovoltaic and concentrated solar power technologies alongside utility-scale storage and green hydrogen development. DEWA positions the complex as a laboratory for scalable clean-energy solutions.
Officials reiterated Dubai’s updated clean-energy trajectory, noting renewable sources account for more than 21.5% of the emirate’s energy mix today. Under the revised plan, the share of clean energy is expected to reach 36% by 2030, up from an original target of 25%. DEWA also projects the park’s capacity to exceed 8,000 megawatts by 2030, compared with the earlier 5,000-megawatt plan, and expects cumulative emissions reductions to surpass 8.5 million tonnes of CO2 annually under the enhanced roadmap.
Financing frameworks, partnerships and next steps
Discussions with ING and Actis covered a range of financing instruments, from project-level debt and green bonds to equity partnerships and development finance blends. DEWA Global is seeking to tailor funding structures that accommodate the risk profiles of diverse markets while maximising the role of private capital. The delegation emphasised investor appetite for well-structured, highly rated offtake agreements and predictable regulatory regimes.
DEWA Global intends to progress from dialogue to term-sheets and pilot projects once partner due diligence is complete. The entity is prioritising markets where demand for resilient, low-carbon power and water infrastructure aligns with sovereign or utility reform programmes. Officials said future phases will include detailed project documentation, lender mandates and calls for international construction and technology partners.
The meetings in London form part of DEWA Global’s wider outreach to sovereign investors, multilateral lenders and private infrastructure funds. The aim is to assemble financing packages that support rapid deployment while safeguarding service quality and sustainability outcomes. By leveraging Dubai’s operational record and the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park’s technology portfolio, DEWA Global seeks to scale projects that reduce emissions and strengthen energy and water security.
DEWA Global’s London engagement signals a concerted push by a Dubai utility to translate domestic performance into international infrastructure delivery, combining technical expertise and new financing partnerships to expand its footprint overseas.
