DEWA champions sustainability and circular economy through innovative waste management

UAE – The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) continues to play a vital role in supporting the UAE’s comprehensive and sustainable waste management strategy.

Aligned with the Dubai Integrated Waste Management Strategy 2021–2041, DEWA is committed to encouraging innovation in waste management, boosting recycling efforts, and converting waste into energy, offering practical solutions to pressing environmental challenges.

“In keeping with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and the UAE Circular Economy Policy 2021–2031, we aim to transform Dubai into a sustainable city, in collaboration with all sectors of society,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.

“We adopt sustainable waste management practices to support net-zero goals and combat climate change, in line with the Dubai Government’s clean energy directives and broader circular economy goals.”

DEWA’s Circular Economy Strategy outlines its ambition to be a regional leader in circularity. The strategy is designed to optimize resource use while delivering economic, social, and environmental benefits.

It is built on five core principles: circular design and using circular materials, optimized asset management, value retention and end-of-life treatment, renewable energy and efficiency in energy and water use, and circular partnerships. These pillars guide DEWA’s transition to a more sustainable operational model.

DEWA has implemented a state-of-the-art waste management system that adheres to national and international best practices.

The system incorporates proper segregation, disposal, and tracking methods for hazardous, non-hazardous, and general waste.

 It is fully compliant with local and federal environmental regulations and tailored to suit the specific needs of each of DEWA’s operational divisions.

Recognizing the diverse nature of its operations, DEWA has developed customized waste management systems for different departments while maintaining a unified objective: to reduce waste generation across the board.

This decentralized yet coordinated approach ensures effective waste volume capture, sorting, and minimization.

Waste-to-energy projects

In a major step toward energy sustainability, DEWA and Dubai Municipality signed a power purchase agreement to procure electricity from the Dubai Waste Management Centre (DWMC).

The DWMC in Warsan became operational in July 2023 and is now the world’s largest and most efficient waste-to-energy plant.

It utilises cutting-edge technologies that ensure zero adverse environmental impact. Between its launch and Q3 2024, DEWA imported 3.25 terawatt-hours (TWh) of energy from the Hassyan power plant and 0.32 TWh from Warsan Waste Management Company.

In addition, DEWA and Dubai Municipality are collaborating on a project to generate electricity from biogases extracted from landfill sites in Muhaisnah 5.

This initiative further supports Dubai’s sustainability vision and contributes to the UAE Net Zero Strategy 2050.

To promote everyday recycling, DEWA has installed smart machines for collecting plastic bottles and aluminium cans at its head office and the Warsan office.

Since the program’s launch in October 2022, over 742 employees have recycled more than 864,000 bottles and cans, diverting approximately 12,230 kilograms of waste from landfills.

DEWA has recognized 96 employees for their commitment to recycling. In Q3 2024, DEWA signed a contract with a local recycling firm that uses sustainable manufacturing methods to process the collected materials.

DEWA has fully digitized its services, offering 100% of them through its website, smart app, and Rammas, its virtual assistant powered by ChatGPT.

Through adopting the ‘Services 360’ framework, service automation reached 100%, and digital adoption hit 99.2%.

In March 2021, DEWA earned the 100% Paperless Stamp from Smart Dubai, marking the successful completion of its digital transformation. The authority is also developing the Middle East’s first data centre, which is powered entirely by waste-to-energy technology and is located in Warsan.

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