DEWA's Strategies Provide A Positive, Motivating Work Environment That Enhance Employee And Society Happiness

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) strives to support its staff in their careers and personal lives. It takes responsibility for providing them with the required tools to become effective partners in shaping the future. DEWA is committed to investing in its human resources as it believes they are the most important factor for success, excellence, and keeping pace with rapid changes to maintain DEWA’s leadership.

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, highlights that DEWA’s vision is guided by the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. It is committed to providing a motivating work environment that develops the skills and capabilities of its staff as well as encouraging them to innovate and create. DEWA also adopts excellence as a solid corporate culture and daily work practice. DEWA attaches great importance to enhancing Emiratisation in different sectors. It has an integrated strategy to support Emiratisation and preparing Emirati calibre to hold all technical, engineering and managerial positions at DEWA. DEWA continues to attract Emiratis, whether they are experienced or fresh graduates. It also recognises outstanding employees and highlights their creations, innovations, and exceptional efforts. This inspires healthy competition among individuals and teams to enhance DEWA’s competitiveness and achieve its vision to become a globally leading sustainable innovative corporation.

Emiratisation

DEWA is one of the largest government organisations to hire Emiratis and is committed to developing their capabilities. DEWA’s Emiratisation reached 87.9% in senior management. DEWA employs over 3,200 Emirati men and women in different domains and managerial levels. This number includes 1,600 employees in technical jobs, 400 of whom are Emirati female engineers; which supports women empowerment efforts in the UAE.

Training

DEWA collaborates with major government and private institutions to increase the efficiency of its employees and their loyalty. This is through workshops, seminars and events that aim to share knowledge and experience. This supports shaping and anticipating the future, keeps pace with the Fourth Industrial Revolution, utilises disruptive technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI); Robots; Internet of Things (IoT); and 3D printing.

Working from distance

DEWA provides a number of advantages for employees to work from a distance with employee devices fully capable of remote work, during this exceptional time. DEWA provides laptops, smart tablets and other needed systems and programmes. DEWA stresses its support to its employees to do tasks easily, quickly, and efficiently anytime and anywhere.

Smart Office

The Smart Office, launched by DEWA in 2015 for its staff, comprises about 200 services. These include internal approvals, enabling employees to draft, document, and follow up on official documents to get the required approvals through its Smart Document feature. Accessing the Smart Document through computers, tablets and smartphones has avoided emissions of around 84 tonnes of carbon dioxide. Over 4,000 employees are currently using Smart Documents for automation of forms and their communication needs.

Volunteering

As a socially responsible organisation, DEWA creates a work environment that enhances social responsibility among its staff and promotes humanitarian work among them. Between 2013 and 2020, DEWA launched 352 initiatives. DEWA staff recorded around 145,634 volunteer hours in humanitarian and social initiatives inside and outside the UAE.

People of Determination

DEWA aligns its strategies with local and federal strategies to integrate and empower People of Determination as well as adopting inclusive employment. DEWA has made several achievements such as redesigning its buildings and facilities according to Dubai Universal Code of Design by 100%. In 2020, Employees of Determination Happiness reached 99% compared to 92% in 2015. Their families’ happiness reached 96% in the same year. DEWA achieved 100% in Employees of Determination happiness towards its efforts to provide training requirements and facilitative arrangements that include them in the work environment and enhance their development. Customer Happiness towards DEWA’s inclusive services reached 95%, while society’s happiness towards DEWA’s support to People of Determination has reached 94%.

DEWA has achieved strategic and operational indicators in inclusive employment. It launched 16 channels to recruit People of Determination (POD) and a database for POD job seekers. DEWA currently has 27 Employees of Determination; 4,458 employees trained on POD and 22 employees holding a sign language diploma.

Employee Happiness Programmes

DEWA provides a group of services and programmes for employee happiness such as Tejori Al Sadaa for immediately recognising outstanding performance that reflects DEWA’s values; Al Khair Fund, to provide financial support to the participating employees for urgent or financial needs. DEWA Store provides discounts from shops, restaurants, hotels, and travel agencies. The Happiness Lounge in DEWA is designed to stimulate and enhance the brain-storming process, to create positive energy and a happy work environment for employees. DEWA also has four Child Care Centres to take care of the children of female professionals.