Since its launch, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has been focusing on achieving a balance between economic, environmental, and social goals. This is in accordance with an institutional framework for community service. DEWA strives to become one of the biggest supporters to the integrated and sustainable system of volunteering in the UAE and Dubai this is through its continuous work to promote volunteering, social cohesion, launching and sponsoring several pioneering humanitarian and volunteering initiatives.
HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, praised the large turnout of DEWA employees and their keenness to participate in volunteering initiatives and programmes, organised by DEWA throughout the year nationally and abroad. DEWA launched 330 social initiatives from 2013 to 2019, with 129,636 hours of volunteer work. This contributed to elevating DEWA’s society happiness percentage up to 93% in 2019. DEWA employees’ engagement in volunteering work has consolidated its social responsibility.
“His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said in the Fifty-Year Charter, ‘Our daily businesses and projects should not let us forget about giving to those who need help’ We strive to consolidate the principles of corporate social responsibility, by focusing on giving and volunteering as means to build bridges and bring cultures together. DEWA’s pioneering initiatives, volunteering and humanitarian programmes are an indispensable part of its strategy and efforts to serve society. This is in accordance with the UAE Vision 2021 to build a cohesive society and preserved identity; and the Dubai Plan 2021 to make Dubai a city for happy, creative and empowered people who live in a tolerant and inclusive society embracing common civic values,” said Al Tayer.
DEWA has launched the DEWA Programme for Voluntary Work on its website to enable employees to choose programmes and social initiatives that match their interests, capabilities and time. The programme enables our employees to participate in community service and charitable projects, by allocating some of their time to volunteering during and out of working hours,” said Al Tayer.
DEWA Volunteer Diploma
DEWA has launched the DEWA Volunteer Diploma, in collaboration with Amity University in 2019. This is part of DEWA’s efforts to promote volunteerism in Dubai and among its staff. 80 employees from DEWA have received the diploma as the first batch. Each volunteer completed 32 training hours, with a total of 2,560 hours.
DEWA Volunteer Diploma enhances the capabilities of participants and qualifies them to manage volunteering programmes locally and globally, as well as prepare them to become trainers in DEWA’s Volunteer Leadership Programme. This supports Law 5 of 2018, which regulates volunteerism in Dubai and outlines the regulations for encouraging and protecting volunteers, as well as promoting social responsibility and encouraging volunteering among society.
Supporting social initiatives in Dubai
DEWA employees contribute to the success of different social initiatives in Dubai, thanks to the continuous support of its top management and efforts to promote benevolence, giving, optimism and positivity among society. 50 volunteers participated in a youth volunteer initiative, the first of its kind, to clean solar panels on rooftops in Hatta. The initiative was launched by Dubai Youth Council, with the support and sponsorship of DEWA. This supports the ‘Day for Dubai’ initiative, launched by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, to consolidate the spirit of volunteering in society.
Volunteering in ‘Ramadan Aman’ and ‘Their Suhoor is on US’
DEWA announced its sponsorship of the 8th Ramadan Aman campaign in support of its humanitarian and social work. The campaign theme, ‘Together, Ramadan without Accidents,’ has been implemented by Al Ihsan Charity Association, Ajman, in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior, represented by traffic departments across the Emirates. The campaign aims to limit car accidents as a result of some drivers speeding to reach home before Iftar time. DEWA staff also volunteered to distribute Iftar meals to drivers at the roads and intersections during Maghrib.
The UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia UAE) in cooperation with DEWA Youth Council, took part in ‘Their Suhoor is on Us’ initiative, for the second year in a row. It is organised by the Community Development Authority’s Youth Council to distribute Suhoor meals to workers during Ramadan. Suqia contributed to the campaign by providing 48,000 Mai Dubai water cups.
Treatment camp in Bangladesh
DEWA organised a treatment camp in Bangladesh in cooperation with Noor Dubai entitled ‘Zayed Alkhair.’ This is part of DEWA’s humanitarian and voluntary efforts during the Year of Tolerance. The Zayed Alkhair camp treated over 4,500 elderly people for cataract and other eye-related diseases. The programme includes early screening for children and distributing school bags to orphans. 12 male and female volunteers from DEWA took part in the seven-day camp at Narain, Khulna District, in Bangladesh.
Protecting the environment is one of DEWA’s top priorities
In 2019, DEWA participated in a campaign to clean the shores of Jebel Ali Wetland Sanctuary, in cooperation with the Emirates Marine Environmental Group (EMEG). Nearly 500 people participated in the clean-up, including 60 DEWA employees with their families, and 10 students from DEWA Academy. The campaign removed around 1,000 kilograms of waste from the shores of the reserve, which is one of the major natural reserves in Dubai. The Jebel Ali Wetland Sanctuary in Dubai was added to the Ramsar List of Wetlands of International Importance in 2018.
DEWA organised a 5-day impact study in Wadi Wurayah in Fujairah, UAE; in cooperation with Emirates Wildlife Society, in association with the Worldwide Fund for Nature. The programme studied the impact of climate change on the UAE’s ecosystem, especially freshwater resources, to help the business community define risks and opportunities in development activities relating to the environment and the preservation of natural resources.
The programme consists of two phases with the participation of a group of DEWA’s employees, graduates and members of DEWA’s Youth Council. The programme agenda includes a series of scientific research on the impact of climate change on freshwater ecosystems and the UAE’s biological diversification through a number of lectures, panel discussions, and field research activities.
Aysha Mohammad Alremeithi, DEWA’s Youth Council’s President, highlighted her keenness to give to the UAE and the society, raise awareness on the importance of volunteering. “I am always keen on benefiting from DEWA’s support for volunteering and the opportunities it provides for us to participate in humanitarian activities in the UAE and abroad. DEWA encouraged me to participate in several important initiatives, including a CSR campaign to Upper Egypt to complete water supply connections and social projects. I also participated in the youth initiative to clean solar panels on rooftops in Hatta, through the Dubai Youth Council, in addition to participating in specialised training of the DEWA Volunteer Diploma. The recognition of HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer for me and 15 other DEWA female employees, who participated in volunteering initiatives, was a kind gesture. The recognition was also an incentive that instils benevolence and tolerance among us,” said Alremeithi.
“On behalf of DEWA Youth Council members in its second edition, I would like to thank HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer and DEWA’s top management for their trust in the council’s new board including me as a chairperson. I pledge to provide all necessary capabilities to empower DEWA youth employees to participate in sustainable development,” she added.
Alremeithi also participated in the Eid Clothing campaign 2019 and training the volunteers in the Special Olympics World Games 2018; Government Games 2018; ‘Day for Dubai’ initiative; launched by Dubai Charity Association to provide iftar meals for needy people who are fasting. Between 2012 to 2019, she contributed to building mosques, wells, and providing iftar meals in Senegal.
Sincere efforts to reduce carbon emissions
DEWA encourages its employees to adopt innovative and sustainable solutions to reduce carbon emissions, which are one of the main reasons for global warming.
“DEWA raises awareness about the importance of limiting carbon footprint through our daily practices. The Production Division at DEWA also launches projects to achieve this goal. This encourages me to participate in developing the world’s 1st Intelligent Gas Turbine Controller in cooperation with Siemens. This reduces 10% of nitrogen dioxide, and offsetting around 10,000 tonnes of carbon emissions, which equates to planting 140,000 trees. We also use Artificial Intelligence to improve the efficiency of 3 gas turbine in L1 station. This helps offsetting around 6,194 tonnes of carbon emissions, which equates to planting 87,000 trees,” said Tayeb Taher Al-Khaja VP – Plant 2- Production Division at DEWA.
“DEWA is committed to meet the expectations and needs of society and achieve sustainable development. This is part of its social responsibility. DEWA attaches great importance to protecting the environment. I work in DEWA’s core Division of Generation where we operate the world’s largest Power and Water Complex. I led many first of their kind projects where we achieved a significant reduction in carbon emission. So far, we achieved a total reduction of 57 Million Tons of CO2 which is equivalent to planting 324 million trees; making DEWA top ranked among major utilities in this area,” said Mahmoud Baniabbasi, Vice President – Mechanical Maintenance at DEWA.
“Besides, protecting the environment, providing a healthy and safe environment for our manpower is my first priority,” he said, explaining his many initiatives to improve them. We continuously develop the role of Emiratis in the workforce. 43% of the 114 engineers in my department are Emiratis. This is a significant achievement for any technical department working in heavy industry infrastructure in UAE and god willing we will increase this number significantly during coming years,” added Baniabbasi.
“We sent more than 100 trainees were sent abroad for various training programs over the past 3 years to gain the required experience. We have also conducted 2,209 training sessions totalling 86,000 hours of training since 2017. The Simulation Training Centre has trained more than 19 trainees since 2018. 92 Emiratis have graduated from Ruwad Programme. The training budget for this programme since its launch has reached more than AED 6.9 million,” said Baniabbasi.
Integrating and empowering POD
DEWA employees participate in the success of its programmes and initiatives to support and empower People of Determination (POD). These include the Absher initiative to take care of its staff who POD. The initiative provides a dedicated team of specialists and qualified staff in human resources, in addition to a hotline to streamline their procedures. Absher team provides guidance to them and assist them with their paperwork. This is part of DEWA’s efforts to integrate them into society.
“I have participated in several social initiatives across Dubai, as an active member of Community Development Authority (CDA). I also participated in several social and volunteering initiatives in hospitals to help patients, seniors and children, as well as schools and POD centres. I was a member of Rashid Center for People of Determination and participated in many volunteering initiatives. At DEWA, I have found the ideal environment for my volunteering ambitions. I participated in social activities by DEWA through Absher initiative to empower and integrate POD. This is part of our efforts to help this segment, provide a supportive environment to help them grow and develop their skills. Besides, I participated in Suqia UAE’s initiative to distribute water at mosques and Iftar camps in the UAE during the holy month of Ramadan,” said Fatma Almansoori, Senior Executive – Customer Happiness at Innovation and the Future at DEWA
Awarding participants in projects and missions abroad
Al Tayer honoured 15 DEWA female employees who participated in volunteering initiatives abroad. Al Tayer bestowed the employees with the ‘Bracelet of Tolerance’ in recognition of their efforts to promote tolerance among communities and participation in voluntary initiatives abroad.
These honoured staff participated in various volunteer projects and missions outside the UAE organised by Suqia UAE, and the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment, under the umbrella of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, in partnership with DEWA, to implement sustainable development and operational projects. The trips included several countries and places including Uganda, Egypt, Tajikistan, China, Bangladesh, Uganda, Mali and the Amazon.
Al Tayer honoured the following employees: Maryam Khansaheb, who participated in trips to Uganda and Egypt; Noora Zowayed, who participated in trips to Tajikistan, Egypt and China; Ayesha Al Shaer, who participated in trips to Bangladesh, Egypt and Tajikistan; Fatma Almuhairi, who participated in trips to Uganda, Egypt and Mali; Suhaila Shaaban, who participated in trips to Uganda and Tajikistan; Kaltham Al Mutawa, who participated in trips to Uganda and Tajikistan; Meera Almeel, who participated in trips to Amazon and Uganda; Maha Ali Hassan, who participated in trips to Bangladesh; Hamda Ali Hassan, who participated in trips to Bangladesh; Muna Alqebaili, who participated in trips to Bangladesh and Fatima Alhammadi, who participated in trips to Bangladesh. Al Tayer also honoured Anood Almarzouqi; Aysha Alremeithi; Athbeh AlShehhi; and Fatma Jaffar; who shared their knowledge and international volunteer experiences with DEWA’s staff and the local and global communities.
International Awards and Recognitions
By the numbers, DEWA has become a leading organisation locally and internationally in social responsibility and volunteerism, in addition to international recognition and prestigious awards. These include the MVO8000 in CSR in 2015, becoming the first government organisation in Dubai to receive this global recognition. DEWA won three awards in the International CSR Excellence Awards 2017. DEWA received the Gold Award in the Best Initiative category for its Emission Reduction Programme, the Silver Award in CSR for the DEWA Sustainability Report 2015, and the Bronze Award in Education for its Rationalisation campaigns. DEWA won the People-of-Determination-Friendly Government Entity award at the 21st Dubai Government Excellence Program (DGEP). It also won the Dubai Giving award in the 21st DGEP in 2018.
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