Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has signed an agreement with the UAE National Committee for the World Energy Council. DEWA will be the Host Sponsor of the 24th World Energy Congress (WEC), which will be held in Abu Dhabi from 9 to 12 September 2019 under the patronage of HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. The conference’s theme is Energy for Prosperity.
The agreement was signed by HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA and HE Dr Matar Al Neyadi, Undersecretary of the UAE Ministry of Energy and Industry and Chairman of the UAE Organising Committee for the 24th World Energy Congress.
The signing ceremony was attended by HE Fatima Al Foora Al Shamsi, Assistant Undersecretary for Electricity and Future Energy at the Ministry of Energy and Industry. It was also attended by Waleed Salman, Executive Vice President of Business Development and Excellence, Dr Yousef Al Akraf, Executive Vice President of Business Support and Human Resources, and Khawla Al Mehairi, Executive Vice President of Strategy and Government Communications at DEWA.
Since 1924, the World Energy Congress has been organised every three years by the World Energy Council in one of the major cities or capitals around the world. It is the world’s largest gathering to deal with challenges facing the energy sector and shape the future of the energy industry around the world. It is attended by presidents, energy leaders, and prominent experts from around the world to discuss global energy issues. This is the first time WEC will be hosted in an Arab city. The UAE will also be the first member of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to host this global conference.
“We are pleased that DEWA will be the Host Sponsor of the 24th World Energy Congress in Abu Dhabi. This affirms the UAE’s prominent position as an ideal venue for hosting the largest, oldest, and most influential energy conference in the world. We are confident that WEC will achieve remarkable success thanks to the UAE’s leading position in the global energy sector and the support of the wise leadership of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. WEC will be an important platform for experts, specialists, and decision makers from all over the world to share best practices and experiences and learn about the latest technologies and investment opportunities in renewable and clean energy, as well as evaluate the competitive options in the energy sector globally,” said Al Tayer.
“DEWA’s sponsorship of the 24th World Energy Congress supports our efforts to enhance the role of the UAE, which leads global efforts in clean and renewable energy through its strategies and investments. The UAE implements innovative quality projects especially in solar-energy to diversify energy sources. This supports the UAE Centennial 2071 and the UAE Vision 2021 to ensure a happy future and better life for future generations. At the conference, we will highlight our efforts and experiences in anticipating and shaping the future of energy by innovating a futuristic model for utilities based on disruptive technologies in providing smart solutions and services for the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity and water, as well as clean energy generation. This supports the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 to transform Dubai into a global hub for clean energy and green economy and generate 75% of Dubai’s total power output from clean energy sources by 2050 through major renewable-energy projects. The most prominent of these projects is the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which is the largest single-site solar energy project in the world with a capacity of 5000MW and investments totalling AED50 billion by 2030,” added Al Tayer.
“We are pleased that DEWA has joined the list of sponsors of the 24th World Energy Congress. This underlines the fact that all national stakeholders are joining hands to support this important event, which will bring together key players in the energy sector from all over the world. It will consolidate the position of the UAE and Abu Dhabi as a global centre for the future of energy. This sponsorship will enable us to highlight DEWA’s latest clean and renewable energy projects, which build on its innovative approach to diversifying energy sources by developing a sustainable energy mix for a more prosperous future. These efforts sustain the path of development in line with the objectives of the UAE Vision 2021 and the UAE Energy Strategy 2050,” said Dr Al Neyadi.
“The World Energy Congress is an ideal platform to show DEWA’s achievements to the world, as well as the UAE’s efforts to encourage innovation and anticipate the future. It will also underline the UAE’s growing role in dealing with the challenges that face the future of energy and its leadership of global efforts in renewable and sustainable energy, and green economy. DEWA’s sponsorship of the conference will enrich the discussions of global energy leaders, experts, and investors on how to develop ideal frameworks to enhance infrastructure flexibility, to ensure a more sustainable future for the energy sector. It will also highlight the need for everyone in the energy sector to focus on innovation and shaping the future of the global energy industry,” added Dr Al Neyadi.
In October 2014, Abu Dhabi won the bid to host WEC. It received the most votes by World Energy Council members after competing with Russia’s St. Petersburg and Brazil’s Rio de Janeiro. The first World Energy Congress was held in London in 1924 and the 23rd edition was held in Istanbul, Turkey in 2016. WEC 2019 will be an opportunity to enhance global partnerships, and explore investment opportunities and technological requirements to meet the increasing demand for energy in the future using both traditional and sustainable sources.