DEWA's Saeed Al Tayer Spearheads Global Energy Conversations at WGS 2024

At the World Governments Summit (WGS) 2024, which took place from 12-14 February under the banner "Shaping Future Governments", significant discussions unfolded regarding the future of the energy sector. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), played a pivotal role in these conversations, meeting with high-ranking officials from both local and international entities.

Al Tayer's keynote speech, "Future Global Transformations in the Energy Sector", delved into the critical need for transforming challenges into opportunities within the energy sector to foster both energy transition and sustainable development. He underscored the importance of decarbonisation solutions, research, and development in achieving these goals.

Among the notable meetings, Al Tayer conferred with Abdullah Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability Affairs, focusing on bolstering cooperation to expedite the shift towards clean energy and conservation of natural resources. Discussions with Omar Abdullah Al Futtaim, Vice Chairman and CEO of Al-Futtaim Group, revolved around potential collaborations in renewable energy and electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure.

Al Tayer also engaged with Eugene Kaspersky, Founder and CEO of Kaspersky, to explore partnerships in establishing secure and reliable digital infrastructure. The significance of cybersecurity in smart cities was highlighted, especially in light of advancements such as the Internet of Things (IoT). Furthermore, a meeting with Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia Corporation, shed light on leveraging AI capabilities in green data centres.

In addition, a dialogue with Aparna Bawa, Chief Operating Officer of Zoom, touched upon innovation and the critical role of remote work technologies in maintaining business continuity amidst challenges and opportunities in work environments.

As the Sustainable Energy Partner for WGS 2024, DEWA showcased its leading projects and initiatives in clean and renewable energy. Noteworthy among these is the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, poised to be the world’s largest single-site solar park with a production capacity exceeding 5,000MW by 2030. Also featured was the GCC’s first pumped-storage hydroelectric power plant in Hatta, aiming for a 250MW production capacity.

The summit attracted over 4,000 participants across 110 interactive sessions with 200 speakers from 80 international organizations including UN bodies and financial institutions. It also hosted eight Nobel laureates and facilitated 23 ministerial meetings with more than 300 ministers in attendance. In collaboration with knowledge partners, WGS launched over 25 strategic reports focusing on key practices and trends across various sectors.

With inputs from WAM