“Driven by our commitment to social responsibility, we continue to advance efforts to protect the environment and preserve its biodiversity while championing nature-based solutions to combat climate change and accelerate progress towards net zero. Our mangrove-planting initiatives, carried out in cooperation with government and private sector partners, underscore the importance of integrated efforts in achieving environmental sustainability and supporting the UAE’s goal to plant 100 million mangrove trees by 2030. We will continue to expand green spaces in Dubai, enhance quality of life and engage the wider community in safeguarding our precious natural resources,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.

Between 2023 and the end of May 2026, DEWA planted 14,650 mangrove trees at the sanctuary, with its beach clean-up campaigns removing more than 3,546 kilograms of waste, the majority of which were plastics. These initiatives brought together 2,154 volunteers, including DEWA employees, their families, staff from its subsidiaries and DEWA Academy students.

Volunteers praised DEWA’s efforts to raise awareness about the importance of planting and environmental conservation, highlighting the role of practical, scalable solutions in improving air quality and preserving terrestrial and marine habitats, as well as coastal ecosystems across Dubai.

Dubai, UAE, 9 November 2025: Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has announced that Al Rayyan Mosque in Hatta has become the world’s first place of worship to be awarded the prestigious Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Zero Carbon certification from the US Green Buildings Council. The mosque achieved this by offsetting 175% of its yearly carbon emissions, allowing it to actively contribute to environmental recovery – a global model for sustainable architecture.

The milestone is the mosque’s third world record in energy leadership and environmental design. Back in 2021, it became the first mosque globally to receive LEED Platinum certification under LEED v4, scoring an impressive 83 points for its sustainable design. Then, in 2024, it earned the LEED Zero Energy certification, producing 150% of its energy needs through highly efficient solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and sending the surplus back to the grid. The cloud base monitoring system’s PV panels have a total capacity of 158kWp. Moreover, the 2025 certification stands as a pioneering example of how places of worship can lead in environmental restoration and climate-positive design.

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, expressed his pride in this new global achievement, highlighting how it reinforces DEWA’s leadership in sustainable building design, supports the UAE’s and Dubai’s strategic vision for urban sustainability and advances national and global goals to achieve net zero by 2050.

“Under the wise directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, we work to reach a greener future. At DEWA, we are proud to translate this vision into reality – advancing climate action, sustainable urban development and the UAE’s journey towards net zero. Al Rayyan Mosque contributes to creating a positive and sustainable impact on the environment, making it a model for sustainable, environmentally friendly buildings worldwide,” said Al Tayer.

“Our efforts align with the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan and the comprehensive and sustainable development plan in Hatta. We are keen to fulfil all our economic, social and environmental commitments, and to support efforts to make Dubai an advanced and sustainable future city that relies on the latest technologies to preserve natural resources, enhance electricity and water efficiency, and improve quality of life. DEWA is among the first organisations in Dubai to adopt the concept of green buildings. Today, we have 10 green buildings with an LEED rating and are committed to increasing the number of sustainable buildings that take into account environmental aspects in their design and are powered by clean and renewable energy,” Al Tayer added.

Built to the highest international standards, the mosque ensures no leakage of air, water or heat. Its high-performance heatproof glass and efficient facade minimise air conditioning demand and carbon emissions while the extensive use of daylight reduces overall energy consumption. Roofing and non-roofing materials were selected based on their Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) to mitigate the heat island effect. All water heaters are solar powered.

Spanning 1,050 square metres and accommodating more than 600 worshippers, the mosque exemplifies environmental sustainability. It has a 25-metre minaret, car and bike parking, accessible facilities for People of Determination, a green charger station, solar panels and a water treatment unit for irrigation and cleaning. DEWA applied international best practice to ensure a healthy indoor environment by installing advanced air purification systems and using recycled construction materials.

The discussions centred on exploring new avenues for collaboration in clean energy generation, distribution and sustainability, with Al Tayer highlighting the importance of leveraging cutting-edge technologies and international partnerships to address evolving challenges in the global energy landscape.

Al Tayer also noted that the meeting underscores DEWA’s unwavering commitment to pioneering sustainable solutions and building strategic international alliances. He added that collaborations with industry leaders like Shanghai Electric help DEWA to accelerate the transition towards a sustainable future and advance the goals of the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050.

The partnership between DEWA and Shanghai Electric builds upon a history of successful collaboration. A consortium led by Shanghai Electric – as the main contractor – built the fourth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. This is the world’s largest single-site concentrated solar power (CSP) project using the independent power producer model. With an investment of AED15.78 billion, the 950MW fourth phase combines CSP and photovoltaic solar technologies.

In the presence of HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, the agreement was signed by Nasser Lootah, Executive Vice President of DEWA’s Generation Division (Power & Water), and Waheed Abbasi, Senior Vice President at Siemens Energy Gas Services, Middle East & North Africa, and Europe. Officials from DEWA and Siemens Energy were present. The agreement was signed during the 27^th edition of the Water, Energy, Technology and Environment Exhibition (WETEX), which DEWA is organising from 30 September until 2 October 2025.

Al Tayer said: “We work in line with the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. We continue our efforts to consolidate sustainability and leverage the full potential of AI to enhance power and water infrastructure. Our aim is to make DEWA the world’s first AI-native utility and reinforce Dubai’s position as one of the world’s most future-ready cities. This world-first achievement of operating an AI Plant Intelligent Controller, developed by DEWA’s team led by Emirati specialists in collaboration with the Siemens Energy team, adds to our long history of innovation to improve operational performance, achieve significant fuel and cost savings and reduce emissions to contribute to reaching net zero by 2050.”

Abbasi said: “This project reflects our commitment to support our partners’ vision for a sustainable future. AI is not just a tool but a catalyst for digital transformation in the energy sector – helping to design and deliver road maps that accelerate the transition to cleaner, more reliable power. By embedding AI into the heart of the energy transition, we are enabling our partners to turn ambition into action and drive meaningful progress toward a net-zero future.”

Lootah said: “The mutual co-operation between DEWA and Siemens Energy throughout the years led to exceptional results in improving operational efficiency and the reduction of emissions by utilising AI and machine learning.” He also stressed that these technologies will continue to play a vital role in further improving business operational efficiency in many years to come. The Plant Intelligent Controller uses AI and digital twin-based closed-loop controllers to enhance the ability of power plants to adapt to changing grid requirements, ensuring optimal performance throughout the year while reducing fuel consumption and improving efficiency.