Dubai advances fuel retail expansion as Energy Council endorses DEWA AI upgrades
Dubai Supreme Council for Energy approves expansion of fuel retail outlets as DEWA deploys AI at Jebel Ali and readies a virtual engineer for June 2026.
Dubai’s Supreme Council for Energy met virtually for its 93rd session under the chairmanship of Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum to approve a strategy for fuel retail expansion and to review technology upgrades across the emirate’s energy sector. The council discussed a coordinated plan to increase fuel retail outlets and introduce measures to ease vehicle movement and improve consumer refueling experiences, with the fuel retail expansion identified as a priority. Members also evaluated the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority’s (DEWA) rollout of artificial intelligence across major operational sites, including a world‑first smart turbine control system at Jebel Ali.
Dubai Supreme Council for Energy Holds 93rd Meeting
The meeting was chaired by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum and attended by deputy chair Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer and Secretary‑General Ahmed Butti Al Muhairbi. Council members from key public and private energy organisations participated to align on retail and operational initiatives. The session combined policy review with technical briefings to synchronize the expansion of service infrastructure with ongoing decarbonisation commitments.
Strategy to Expand Fuel Retail Outlets Approved
Council members reviewed and endorsed a strategy to expand fuel retail outlets across Dubai, aiming to improve accessibility and reduce congestion at existing stations. The plan focuses on siting new outlets to distribute traffic more evenly, streamlining payment and dispensing processes, and supporting safe, efficient consumer refuelling. Officials signalled that the deployment will be coordinated with road authorities and commercial operators to limit disruption and maintain traffic flow.
Measures to Improve Station Safety and Traffic Flow
As part of the fuel retail expansion, the council agreed on a series of operational measures to strengthen safety and speed up vehicle throughput at fuel stations. These measures include enhanced queuing management, standardized fueling protocols, and technology‑enabled payment and monitoring systems to shorten dwell times. The Supreme Council for Energy and ENOC committed to piloting targeted interventions at high‑traffic sites to measure impact before wider rollout.
DEWA Deploys AI in Jebel Ali Turbines
DEWA briefed the council on its adoption of artificial intelligence for operational control, highlighting the development of a pioneering smart control system for gas turbines at the Jebel Ali power and desalination complex. The system, described by DEWA as the first of its kind globally for gas turbine control, is intended to boost reliability, cut operating costs and raise output efficiency across the facility. Officials said the Jebel Ali complex currently contributes roughly 3,860 megawatts to Dubai’s generation portfolio, and smart‑control interventions are expected to enhance performance metrics further.
‘Virtual Engineer’ Platform Scheduled for June 2026
DEWA also outlined plans to launch a virtual engineer platform in June 2026 to support operational decision‑making and predictive maintenance across generation and water desalination assets. The virtual engineer is designed to analyse real‑time data, recommend adjustments and automate routine diagnostics to reduce downtime and improve asset longevity. Council members noted the platform will complement physical engineering teams and contribute to broader targets for energy efficiency and reduced emissions.
Alignment with Dubai’s Clean Energy and Net Zero Targets
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer emphasised that applying AI at strategic energy sites supports Dubai’s Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the emirate’s Net Zero 2050 ambitions. He linked the technological upgrades to efforts to increase the share of clean energy in Dubai’s generation mix, noting expectations that renewable and low‑carbon sources will surpass 36 percent of the energy mix by 2030. The council underlined that digitalisation and new retail infrastructure must advance in parallel to meet long‑term sustainability goals.
Industry and Government Collaboration Confirmed
Attendees included senior representatives from municipal and commercial energy bodies, among them Marwan bin Ghalita of Dubai Municipality, Abdullah bin Kalban of Emirates Global Aluminium, Hussein Sultan Lootah of ENOC, Juan Freile of Dubai Petroleum and DUSP, and Muna Al Aseimi from the Roads and Transport Authority. The participation of these entities reflected a cross‑sector approach to the fuel retail expansion and to operational technology deployment. Ahmed Butti Al Muhairbi reiterated that the council and commercial partners will coordinate implementation details to ensure safety standards and regulatory compliance.
The council said further operational pilots and stakeholder consultations will follow to refine station layouts, traffic management solutions and AI integrations before full implementation. Officials stressed that new measures will be phased to avoid service disruptions and that monitoring frameworks will track impacts on traffic flow, fueling times and station safety. The Supreme Council for Energy indicated it will publish progress updates as pilots conclude and broader rollouts begin.