Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) organised its 9th annual gala dinner which carried the theme: “Be proud, we are Zayed’s legacy” in Madinat Jumeirah in Dubai. The event, which celebrated the values of the Year of Zayed, is part of DEWA’s commitment to enhancing communications with staff and providing a happy and positive work environment for them. The event was attended by HE Matar Humaid Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board of Directors of DEWA; HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA; Abdullah Mohammed Al Hashimi, Majed Hamad Al Shamsi, Saeed Mohammed Al Shared, and Nabil Abdul Rahman Arif, Board Members of DEWA; DEWA’s Executive Vice Presidents and Vice Presidents, and around 1,200 staff.
In his keynote speech at the event, HE Saeed Al Tayer noted that DEWA organised its 9th Gala Dinner, which carried the theme ‘Be proud, we are Zayed’s legacy’ in line with celebrating the ‘Year of Zayed’ in the UAE, which marks 100 years since the birth of the country’s Founding Father the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, may his soul rest in peace.
“In the Year of Zayed, we recall the noble values and principles that the late Sheikh Zayed instilled in the hearts of UAE citizens and residents. We are also reminded of his efforts in establishing a unique, collaborative experience and building a country that has become a role model for happiness, tolerance and acceptance. Today, our wise leadership, represented by 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 Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Their Highnesses the Members of the Supreme Council and Rulers of the Emirates, follow the steps of Sheikh Zayed, according to a vision that not only anticipates the future but also makes it, and continues the march towards development and prosperity, to make the UAE the best country in the world,” said HE Saeed Al Tayer.
“‘We are Zayed’s legacy’ is a phrase that makes us proud to be associated with the name of Sheikh Zayed, and motivates us to achieve more. However, it also carries great responsibilities. As His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum once said, “We are all the ‘children of Zayed,’ and his children don’t hold his name and love to the nation alone, but they hold the values of his morals and indulgence and his love to all the people.” At DEWA, we are guided by the vision of our wise leadership in serving the nation, according to an integrated institutional approach to serve society. This is based on DEWA’s organisational values: stakeholders’ happiness, good governance, excellence, innovation, and sustainability,” continued Al Tayer.
HE Saeed Al Tayer explained how DEWA has aligned its Corporate Social Responsibility strategy with the main objectives of the Year of Zayed, which include increasing awareness of the life, achievements, and status of the late Sheikh Zayed, and commemorating and honouring his legacy, and principles through projects and initiatives that are consistent with his vision and values namely: Wisdom, Respect, Sustainability, and Human Development. DEWA has launched an integrated programme for the Year of Zayed that includes 29 initiatives. These includes many activities and events that reflect the principles and values of the late Sheikh Zayed, and builds on DEWA’s initiatives during the Year of Giving.
“Thanks to your efforts, DEWA contributes to the success of the UAE through numerous achievements that make it one of the best utilities in the world. Over the past three years, DEWA has received over 170 local and international awards. These include five awards at the 20th Dubai Government Excellence Program (DGEP) Awards, the most prominent being the Leading Government Entity Award for the fourth time and the second consecutive year. DEWA also received the highest award in the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) Excellence Model, becoming the first organisation outside Europe to receive this award in the Platinum category and the first to receive it in the energy sector. The UAE, represented by DEWA, ranked first in the world for getting electricity, according to the World Bank’s Doing Business report 2018. Last year, DEWA also achieved the lowest Customer Minutes Lost (CML) per year worldwide at 2.68 minutes,” added Al Tayer.
“‘We are Zayed’s legacy is not only a slogan, but a way of life. Through our hard work, we give back to our country inspired by the values of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan whose legacy will live forever. We will continue to work tirelessly to undertake achievements that contribute to raising the profile of the UAE. In this way, we will be proud to be the children of Zayed,” concluded Al Tayer.
DEWA staff emphasised that “Be proud, we are Zayed’s legacy” truly expresses their feelings of pride to be lined with the name of the late Sheikh Zayed. They expressed their happiness to be at the annual gala dinner, and valued the care they receive from DEWA’s management, noting that the event’s theme will be always remembered. The staff commended the organisation and activities of the gala dinner, adding that it is an important event to promote communications among staff and the management, and establish a positive environment at DEWA that makes staff happier.