DEWA best practices earn global recognition with 11 practices certified by IBPC, including five 7‑star innovations
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) had 11 of its institutional practices certified as global best practices by the International Best Practices Competition (IBPC), with five receiving the highest 7‑star rating, highlighting DEWA best practices in innovation and sustainability.
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) was honoured by IBPC chair Dr. Robin Mann, who recognised the authority’s leadership in embedding world‑class institutional excellence. DEWA’s managing director and CEO Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer received the accolade as teams across the authority secured top international ratings for their operational, technical and managerial innovations. The certification affirms DEWA best practices across energy generation, water management, asset reliability and customer services.
IBPC recognition and DEWA leadership
Dr. Robin Mann formally presented the honour to Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer in recognition of DEWA’s institutional excellence at the IBPC program. The award celebrates DEWA’s sustained effort to develop and export replicable models for utilities worldwide. DEWA’s leadership said the recognition reflects long‑term strategic commitment to quality, innovation and international benchmarking.
The IBPC certification process validated each submitted practice against global criteria for impact, scalability and sustainability. DEWA teams prepared detailed evidence showing measurable improvements in performance, efficiency and customer outcomes. The authority emphasised the role of cross‑departmental collaboration in achieving the results required for top tier ratings.
Eleven practices certified as global benchmarks
A total of 11 DEWA practices were approved as global best practices, with ratings ranging from five to seven stars. This outcome demonstrates both depth and breadth in the authority’s approach to service delivery and infrastructure management. The mix of ratings underscores continuous improvement while highlighting a set of flagship initiatives that achieved exceptional impact.
DEWA confirmed that five practices achieved the maximum seven‑star classification, three practices were awarded six stars, and three received five stars. Officials said the accredited practices span production, planning, water operations, business development, engineering and corporate support functions. Each practice was selected for its demonstrable contribution to reliability, efficiency and customer value.
Seven‑star innovations driving performance gains
Among the seven‑star practices, DEWA highlighted a smart control system for gas turbines that optimises performance in the production sector. The system uses advanced control algorithms to improve turbine availability and reduce downtime. DEWA reported that the innovation contributed to faster maintenance cycles and higher operational efficiency.
Another seven‑star entry is “Hab Reeh” — an interactive, smart self‑assessment platform for photovoltaic design submission and validation developed by the energy and water planning sector. The platform streamlines the approval process for rooftop solar designs and reduces design errors. The water and civil engineering sector’s “Hydro Insight” system also earned seven stars for enabling near‑real‑time monitoring and diagnosis of smart water meters, cutting fault‑detection times to under an hour.
Operational models and public‑private collaboration
DEWA’s independent product model for water and energy projects, developed in partnership with the private sector, secured seven‑star recognition for its innovative procurement and delivery structure. Officials said the model accelerates project delivery while sharing risks and optimizing lifecycle value. In the production sector, a reengineering initiative to overhaul gas turbine repair processes set a global benchmark by significantly reducing maintenance time, earning another seven‑star rating.
These seven‑star practices were commended for their transferability, allowing utilities and service providers overseas to adapt the methods and tools. DEWA emphasised that their adoption can support other cities seeking resilient, decarbonised infrastructure with improved asset performance.
Six‑star frameworks and digital design standards
In the six‑star category, DEWA won recognition for a foresight and future‑making framework designed to anticipate sector trends in energy and water. The framework supports strategic planning by translating scenarios into actionable roadmaps. Another six‑star practice introduced a data‑driven methodology to measure the effectiveness of institutional training, linking learning outcomes to operational performance.
DEWA also received six stars for a digitally optimised standard design for 132‑kV transmission substations. The unified design aims to reduce engineering time, improve constructability and enhance safety while maintaining technical compliance across projects. Officials noted these frameworks help scale good practices across DEWA’s network and partner projects.
Five‑star programs strengthening networks and finance
Three five‑star practices address network reliability, revenue assurance and financial guarantees. A cable lifecycle ageing system helps prioritise interventions on distribution cables, improving network reliability and asset management decisions. Billing collection efficiency measures streamlined revenue processes and reduced outstanding receivables while maintaining customer service standards.
The finance department’s smart bank‑guarantee system digitised and automated guarantee handling, reducing processing time and improving transparency for contractors and partners. DEWA said these five‑star initiatives complement higher‑rated innovations by ensuring the operational and financial foundations are robust.
Strategic context and future commitments
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer said the IBPC recognitions align with DEWA’s strategic vision to be a global leader in sustainable, innovative utilities and reiterated the authority’s commitment to Dubai’s broader goals. He credited the achievement to staff capability and a culture of continuous improvement that translates ideas into measurable outcomes. DEWA also reiterated its target of achieving net‑zero carbon operations and cited the certified practices as enablers for that transition.
Officials indicated the authority will continue to document, refine and share its practices with peers and partners. DEWA plans to scale successful pilots and integrate lessons learned into future projects to sustain performance gains and drive further international collaboration.
The IBPC awards reinforce DEWA’s role as a reference point for utilities seeking best‑in‑class practices in energy and water management, and they mark a milestone in the authority’s journey to institutionalise innovation across its operations.