Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) won the Idea of the Year award in finance at the 11th Ideas.Arabia International Conference and Exhibition, which is part of Dubai Quality Group. The conference whose theme was ‘Aspiring for Innovation and Happiness’ was held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group. The award underlines DEWA’s efforts to develop innovative ideas and establish a culture of innovation.

DEWA won the award for the ‘Explorer’ idea presented by a team from the Distribution and Planning department of the Power and Water Planning division at DEWA. The idea focuses on using an innovative method to prepare and update databases that display the construction status of ongoing projects, which allows users to follow up on development. This in turn, helps streamline and optimise investments in Dubai’s infrastructure.

DEWA was the main sponsor of the conference, and was honoured by Dubai Quality Group in a special event at the Four Seasons hotel in Dubai. Several experts in corporate creativity and innovation, key figures from the business sector, a number of DEWA officials, and representatives from government and private organisations in the UAE attended the event.

“We are pleased to win the Idea of the Year award in finance for the second time at Ideas.Arabia. This reflects the dedication and the efficient performance of our staff, and DEWA’s efforts to establish a culture of innovation and creativity across all operations and services. The conference’s theme aligns with DEWA’s strategy to empower innovative employees by providing a positive and motivating environment. It also supports the National Strategy for Innovation, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and the Dubai Innovation Strategy, to transform Dubai into the most innovative city in the world. At DEWA, we take priority in achieving the happiness of all stakeholders, including customers, partners, staff, and society as a whole. This supports the directives of our wise leadership, and our efforts to achieve the Dubai Plan 2021 for Dubai to be a city of happy, creative, and empowered people,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA. 

“To support its vision to become a sustainable innovative world-class utility, DEWA exerts all possible efforts to enhance knowledge and creativity, while providing an environment capable of encouraging innovation,” said Yousef Jebril, Executive Vice President of Power and Water Planning at DEWA.

DEWA won six awards at the Dubai Government Excellence Program (DGEP) 2016, including Financially Distinguished Performance award. DEWA won two awards at the 10th International Ideas.Arabia Conference in 2015, in the Green Initiative and Technology categories, in addition to winning the ‘Idea of the Year’ award in 2014. DEWA also won two awards at the ‘Idea of the Year’ 2013 in the Productivity and Finance categories.