Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has joined the Virtual Protection Automation and Control (vPAC) Alliance, becoming the first utility in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to become a member. The announcement was made during the 27th Water, Energy, Technology and Environment Exhibition (WETEX) 2025. The agreement was signed by Hussain Lootah, Executive Vice President of Transmission Power at DEWA, and Brant Heap, Chairperson of the vPAC Alliance, in the presence of Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of DEWA.
“In line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make Dubai the best city in the world, we continue our efforts to utilise the latest technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution to enhance the efficiency and reliability of electricity and water networks. We are pleased to join the vPAC Alliance as the first utility in the region, which will open new horizons for co-operation with pioneering global energy utilities. Through this membership, our engineers and experts will exchange global best practices and the latest innovative solutions to develop sustainable systems that keep pace with the rapid growth in energy and water demand. Additionally, we will share our expertise and pioneering experiences in smart grids and advanced infrastructure. DEWA achieved first place globally in 12 key performance indicators in its areas of work,” said Al Tayer.
Heap stated, “vPAC Alliance proudly partners with DEWA to accelerate grid transformation, powering the AI economy’s growing energy needs and building tomorrow’s infrastructure faster and smarter.”
The vPAC Alliance is focused on improving the efficiency and resilience of electricity networks by using advanced digital modular systems and developing open, secure, and interoperable standards for power substation protection, automation, and control. The alliance also aims to speed up the adoption of software-based solutions that can improve operational performance, reliability, and flexibility.
DEWA has recently achieved notable performance metrics, including recording electricity transmission and distribution network losses at 2% in 2024, which is significantly lower than the 6%-7% typically seen in Europe and the United States. The organization also set a world record for the lowest customer minutes lost at 0.94 minutes per year, compared to an average of 15 minutes across the European Union.
