Category: Science & Technology

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), received a delegation led by Reed Blakemore, Acting Director of the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Center. The delegation included bipartisan staff representing the US Senate Committees on Energy & Natural Resources, Foreign Affairs, Appropriations, and Environmental & Public Works, as well as the US House Committees on Energy & Commerce, Foreign Affairs, Ways & Means, Science, Space and Technology, Select Climate and Appropriations and personal office staff of those relevant committees. Al Tayer discussed DEWA’s projects and initiatives that are guided by the vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

The visit aimed to learn about the pioneering experience of DEWA in providing advanced and integrated infrastructure for electricity and water according to the highest standards of reliability, availability, and efficiency to meet the increasing demand and keep pace with the needs of sustainable development. The meeting also discussed bilateral cooperation and learnt about the ambitious initiatives and innovative development projects by DEWA, to help achieve the vision of the wise leadership in the areas related to water and renewable and clean energy.

The meeting was attended by Waleed bin Salman, Executive Vice President of Business Development and Excellence at DEWA; Dr. Yousef Al Akraf, Executive Vice President of Business Support and Human Resources at DEWA; and Marwan Bin Haidar, Executive Vice President of Innovation and The Future at DEWA.

Al Tayer welcomed the American delegation, explaining DEWA’s work, development and continuous progress in its services. He highlighted DEWA’s major development projects and strategic initiatives that support the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050 to provide 100% of the total power production capacity from clean energy sources by 2050. These projects include the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the world’s largest single-site solar park using the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model with a production capacity of 5,000 megawatts by 2030; the hydroelectric power plant in Hatta using clean energy, which is the first of its kind in the GCC region; and the Green Hydrogen project that DEWA implemented at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai. It is the first pilot project of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa for green hydrogen production. He also talked about DEWA’s Space-D programme that aims to improve the operations, maintenance and planning of its networks with the support of nanosatellite technology. The programme also aims to train Emirati professionals to use space technologies to enhance its electricity and water networks. DEWA’s installed capacity has reached 14,217 MW of electricity. Clean energy share in Dubai’s energy mix has reached 12.1% and is expected to reach 14% by the end of 2022.

By the end of the first half of 2022, DEWA provided its services to 1,126,121 customers, according to the highest standards of quality, efficiency, availability, and reliability.

Through DEWA Academy, DEWA’s Research and Development (R&D Centre, and DEWA’s Innovation Centre), DEWA works to refine national competencies and young talents and enhance their participation in the clean and renewable energy sector to achieve sustainable development. DEWA has adopted an integrated strategy to support and prepare Emiratis to fill all engineering, technical and administrative jobs at DEWA. DEWA continues to attract citizens who are experienced or new graduates. DEWA has agreements and MoUs with many universities, institutes, research centres and local and international companies. These include the University of California, Berkeley for a ’ ’master’s programme in Future Energy Systems and Technologies. DEWA also collaborates with Stanford University in several R&D fields. DEWA’s R&D Centre staff participate in these programmes through its membership in the Energy 3.0 programme from Stanford University.

Al Tayer explained that DEWA has plans to invest AED 40 billion in capital expenditure within five years, primarily to expand renewable and clean energy projects. DEWA has a robust infrastructure to meet the increasing demand, support the growth of the green economy, and enhance the competitiveness of the UAE in clean energy and energy efficiency technologies. DEWA has adopted the Independent Power and Water Producer (IPWP) model, contributing to a significant decrease in capital expenditure per megawatt of installed energy. Through this model, DEWA has also attracted investments of about AED 40 billion. DEWA has achieved many world records for the lowest levelised cost of solar energy and desalinated water, making Dubai a global benchmark for solar energy and desalinated water prices.

Al Tayer said that DEWA’s results surpass major European and American utilities in several indicators. In 2021, losses from electricity transmission and distribution networks were 3.3% compared to around 6-7% in Europe and the USA. Water network losses were also reduced to 5.3% compared to about 15% in North America, making it one of the lowest water losses worldwide. DEWA has achieved a new world record in electricity Customer Minutes Lost (CML) per year. Dubai recorded 1.43 minutes per customer in 2021, compared to around 15 minutes recorded by leading utility companies in the European Union. In line with its efforts to encourage the use of sustainable transport as well as consolidate Dubai’s position as a global capital for a green economy and sustainable development, DEWA provides a robust infrastructure for electric vehicle charging stations with 336 Green Chargers across Dubai. It is working to increase this number to reach over 1,000 stations by 2025.

Al Tayer said through ‘Digital DEWA’, its digital arm, DEWA is working to reshape the concept of a utility and create a new digital future for Dubai, to be the first digital utility in the world with autonomous systems for renewable energy and storage, with the expansion of Artificial Intelligence and digital services.

The visiting American delegation expressed interest in participating in DEWA’s projects, especially those related to clean energy. They were also keen on exchanging experiences, information, technologies and best international practices.

Source: Dubai Electricity & Water Authority

SHARJAH, The Expo Centre Sharjah is set to host two events this week, with the 24th National Career Exhibition kicking off on Tuesday 18th October, while the 18th International Education Show will be inaugurated on Wednesday, 19th October, 2022.

The two events are expected to bring together more than 100 educational institutions, major universities, local and international institutes, and a number of government and private entities that will offer many job and training opportunities.

Held under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Crown Prince and Deputy Ruler of Sharjah, the two events will be organised by Expo Centre Sharjah with the support of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).

The National Career Exhibition will run for three days, andwill offer many job opportunities in various sectors, including engineering, administration, information technology, customer service, banking, finance, investment, and communications, among others. The event will also provide several workshops and training programmes aimed at enhancing the qualifications of Emirati graduates, and increasing their chances of getting suitable jobs.

Meanwhile, the International Education Show, which will be staged in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Sharjah Private Education Authority from 19th to 22nd October, will host numerous local and foreign colleges and academic institutions, giving students the chance to select the most prestigious and modern higher education programmes in the majors of medical, engineering, management, and postgraduate programmes, as well as potential scholarships. Students will also learn about the standards for admission to the top domestic and international colleges.

Saif Mohammed Al Midfa, CEO of the Expo Centre Sharjah, said that the International Education Show has seen the largest expansion in terms of the number of exhibitors and has grown to become one of the most significant global and regional events focused on higher education and studies. It is slated to attract a sizeable portion of the students and local and international academic education institutions.

Al Midfa said that the two events come at almost the same time as an innovative initiative through which the Centre seeks to link education outcomes to the labor market, thus raising and strengthening the capabilities and skills of national human cadres.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI, Zayed University has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Etisalat Academy to collaborate in the cybersecurity and emerging technologies training.

The MoU was signed – in the presence of CEO/Etisalat Services Holding, Muammar Al Rukhaimi – by Sherif Mousa, acting Chief Administrator and Finance Officer at Zayed University, and Dr. Ali Al Qayedi, Etisalat Academy General Manager.

According to the MoU, Etisalat Academy will provide different cybersecurity and latest technologies training to both employees and students of Zayed University, which will support instructors, provide mentoring programmes and industry focused sessions/workshops. Etisalat Academy will guide students/employees of Zayed University on getting access to Learning Portal/Programme/Certifications and Support Student Internship and Recruitment.

Commenting on the partnership, Sherif Mousa said, “We are delighted that the Etisalat Academy will join Zayed University’s Partner Challenge programme and mentor students. This initiative is helping Zayed University develop the future leaders, thinkers, and doers of the UAE. These challenges give students a chance to gain an in-depth understanding of the workplace, encourage them to think for themselves and open their eyes to the opportunities available to them when they graduate. Students will benefit a great deal from the expertise and mentorship of the Etisalat Academy.”

The partnership will create a robust, technologically equipped generation, that will help shape UAE’s vision in being the leading technology and innovation driven nation.

Dr. Ali Al Qayedi said, “The importance of Cybersecurity is increasing day by day. The goal of cybersecurity is to ensure confidentiality, data integrity and availability. Etisalat Academy aims to provide Cybersecurity training programme to support organisations to protect their data from any internal and external attacks. Etisalat Academy offers Cybersecurity Trainings that gives the knowledge and skills to secure and protect critical infrastructure and data systems.”

For 30 years, Etisalat Academy has been providing training consultancy and human capital development services to telecoms, government agencies, oil and gas companies, financial institutions and organisations across all industries and business sectors. To stay competitive, it is continuously refining its offerings and focusing on the digital, business, leadership, IT/Cybersecurity, and emerging technologies portfolios.

Source: Emirates News Agency

DUBAI, The Authority for Social Contributions (Ma’an) showcased a diverse array of digital platforms designed to support the social sector in Abu Dhabi as part of the Authority’s emphatic participation at GITEX Global 2022 that concluded yesterday.

Ma’an partook part in the premier technology event through the pavilion of the Abu Dhabi Government, and the platforms and initiatives under its spotlight were particularly focused on developing and encouraging the capabilities of social entrepreneurs and social start-ups in Abu Dhabi Emirate.

Through its stand, Ma’an offered visitors a glimpse into its flagship platforms such ‘Ma’an Mentorship Platform’, ‘Ma’an Upskilling Platform’, ‘Ma’an Social Contribution Platform’, as well as the key themes and initiatives of the Ma’an Social Incubator (MSI), the Accelerator for Innovative Social Work in Abu Dhabi.

Through its innovative virtual platform called ‘Ma’an Mentorship Platform’, the authority facilitates a virtual networking space for trainers and mentors to offer specialised lectures and training programmes for entrepreneurs and emerging social startups to enable them to take their business to the next level. The ‘Ma’an Upskilling Platform’, on the other hand, serves as a learning management system for entrepreneurs to improve their skills, develop innovative projects, and deliver the desired social impact. These platforms are open to all Ma’an-certified social impact enterprises.

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI, The Youth Council of Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) hosted the first ‘Youth in Manufacturing & Technology Forum’, bringing together Youth Councils from manufacturing and technology-led organisations to drive forward Operation 300bn and the UAE Centennial 2071 goal of creating a diversified knowledge economy.

The forum at EGA’s Al Taweelah site brought together over 15 Youth Councils from entities including Abu Dhabi National Energy Company, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, DP World, du, Dubai Electricity & Water Authority, Emirates National Oil Company, Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, Emirates Steel Arkan, Etihad Airways, Etihad Rail, Etisalat, Microsoft, Roads and Transport Authority, Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, Youth Advisory Council on Sustainable Development Goals, Global Shapers Community by World Economic Forum and Yahsat.

Created by the EGA Youth Council, the forum aims to foster future cooperation between key industries to achieve the goal of doubling the size of the UAE’s industrial sector by 2031. The forum also aims to strengthen connections between innovative and technology-led major companies and organisations to further strengthen the UAE’s knowledge economy.

Abdulnasser bin Kalban, Chief Executive Officer of EGA, said, “At EGA, we continue to focus on developing our youth and strive to empower national talent to lead the country in all aspects of society. The ‘Youth in Manufacturing & Technology Forum’ promises to be an important way for future leaders of these sectors to form the relationships and ideas they will need for many years to come.”

Hala Al Hashmi, Chair of EGA’s Youth Council and a senior engineer in the company’s Quality & Lean Department, said, “As young people in industry, it will be our responsibility to build on the achievements of the first 50 years of the UAE to create an even more prosperous and advanced society over the next 50, with sustainability at the core. This forum brings together youth leaders from many of the UAE’s leading manufacturing and technology-led organisations, laying the foundations for the collaboration we will need for success over the coming decades.”

EGA’s Youth Council was established in 2018 to enable the company’s young UAE national employees to develop into innovative leaders and pacesetters for change in the nation. Over 700 of EGA’s Emirati employees are under the age of 35.

Source: Emirates News Agency

ABU DHABI, Abu Dhabi Global Market Academy (ADGMA) and the Association of Corporate Treasurers (ACT) have partnered to collaborate on delivering treasury and cash qualifications in the UAE and the wider Middle East region.

The agreement was signed by Mansoor Jaffar, CEO of ADGM Academy and Research Centre, and Caroline Stockmann, CEO of ACT, at the ACT Middle East Treasury Summit held in Dubai.

Along with the advancement of treasury and cash management knowledge, the strategic collaboration will also focus on supporting the UAE National Agenda of employability for the professional development and upskilling of the UAE nationals while balancing financial risks and opportunities for businesses in the Emirates.

The entities will also explore promoting and establishing ACT preparation training courses that will enable successful candidates to earn ACT certifications such as Certificate in Treasury Fundamentals, Certificate in Treasury and Award in Internal Cash Management and other higher-level qualifications.

Through the agreement, both ADGMA and ACT aim to foresee the upskilling of the UAE nationals via joint training to equip individuals for a successful career in the treasury and corporate finance industry.

Commenting on the partnership, Mansoor Jaffar said, “Equipping national talent for long-term success in the industry is key in our commitment to support UAE’s dynamic financial sector. ADGM Academy was established to invest in local talent and to ensure the robust development of the UAE’s economy.

“By delivering internationally recognised training programmes and establishing a flourishing knowledge-based environment, ADGMA has built a portfolio of world-class financial education and literacy. Our partnership with ACT reinforces our commitment to supporting the UAE’s Vision 2030 and bolstering Abu Dhabi’s position as a global financial and commercial hub,” he added.

For her part, Caroline Stockmann stated, “Education continues to be a strong focus for the ACT, and we are committed to strengthening the work we do on this in the region. I am delighted that Abu Dhabi Global Market Academy will deliver our treasury and cash management qualifications locally and support the development of talent that is needed in the region for these key areas.”

ADGMA and ACT also intend to collaborate on thought leadership opportunities such as joint seminars, workshops and conferences to achieve mutually beneficial goals.

Source: Emirates News Agency