Dubai Electricity and Water Authority named UAE’s top workplace by Great Place to Work
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority earns Great Place to Work ‘Best Workplace’ title, topping UAE government and large-enterprise rankings for 2025–2026.
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has been awarded the “Best Workplace” certification by the US-based Great Place to Work institute in partnership with Fortune, topping the UAE government category for 2025 and ranking first among large enterprises for both 2025 and 2026. The recognition follows an independent evaluation conducted by Great Place to Work in the United Arab Emirates and reflects sustained organisational focus on employee experience. DEWA said the accolade underlines its continuing investment in national talent development and workplace practices that promote innovation and collaboration.
Certification and national ranking
DEWA secured the Great Place to Work certification after a comprehensive analysis of workplace culture and employee feedback carried out by the institute in the UAE. The authority was placed first in the government category for 2025 and also held the top position among large enterprises for 2025 and 2026. These rankings are based on a combination of employee experience surveys and organisational culture assessments administered by Great Place to Work. Achieving repeated recognition signals consistency in DEWA’s human resources policies and internal practices over multiple years.
Leadership response and strategy
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, said the award validates the authority’s belief that human capital is the cornerstone of its future ambitions. He emphasised ongoing commitments to developing Emirati competencies and creating a workplace that empowers and inspires staff to innovate. Al Tayer framed the certification as part of a longer trajectory of excellence, noting that DEWA has maintained Great Place to Work accreditation annually since 2019. The leadership described the recognition as evidence of a positive institutional culture rooted in trust, cooperation and a drive for continuous improvement.
Employee-centred policies and programmes
DEWA highlighted several employee-focused initiatives that contributed to the award, including targeted training, career development plans and wellbeing programmes designed to boost engagement. The authority’s human resources approach places staff welfare and professional growth at the centre of operational planning, according to internal briefings. Dr. Youssef Al Akraf, Executive Vice President for Business Support and Human Resources, said the accolade reflects successful efforts to put employees’ needs first and to foster workplace happiness. Such measures are intended to support retention, performance and the broader sustainability agenda in Dubai.
Culture of innovation and sustained performance
The institute’s findings point to a workplace culture that encourages innovation and collaboration, attributes DEWA says are essential to its service delivery and strategic goals. Maintaining top-tier rankings across consecutive assessment years suggests the authority has embedded practices that produce measurable staff trust and organisational resilience. DEWA links its internal culture to operational excellence, arguing that engaged employees are better positioned to support reliability and customer service. The authority also cited the award as an external validation of long-term cultural change rather than a single-year achievement.
Implications for recruitment and public service delivery
By securing the Best Workplace title and leading rankings, DEWA expects to strengthen its appeal among skilled professionals and national talent seeking public-sector careers. The recognition is likely to bolster recruitment efforts and help attract candidates aligned with the authority’s focus on sustainability and technical innovation. For public stakeholders, the award reinforces DEWA’s position as a leading utility provider that invests in the workforce underpinning Dubai’s development plans. Officials say the outcome will inform future HR planning as DEWA scales projects linked to Dubai’s energy transition and infrastructure programmes.
DEWA’s repeated accreditation by Great Place to Work and its top positions in the UAE for 2025 and 2026 reflect a deliberate strategy to align employee wellbeing with organisational objectives, and the authority says it will continue to prioritise talent development and workplace excellence.
