Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) proved it is a key partner in voluntary and social work to support the sustainable and integrated system of volunteering in the UAE and Dubai. DEWA continues to promote voluntarism and social cohesion among stakeholders. It creates a work environment that enhances social responsibility among its staff and promotes humanitarian work. This makes DEWA staff an effective supporter to build a cohesive society and preserve Emirati identity, which stems from Islamic principles, Arab traditions, and the worthy values of the Founding Fathers.

To help curb the outbreak of the COVID-19 coronavirus, DEWA staff are actively helping; showing their effective participation, solidarity, and social cohesion with the UAE. DEWA’s staff are role models for generosity, positive energy, awareness and benevolence, by taking responsibility to serve society and the nation as well as taking all precautionary measures.

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, said that DEWA fully supports its staff to make different social initiatives successful in Dubai. He added that the vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to establish a state-of-the-art digital environment in Dubai has increased DEWA’s ability to ensure it continues to deliver electricity and water services, at the highest standards of availability, reliability, and efficiency.

“The electricity and water grids in Dubai are strong and flexible and respond and adapt to different emergencies and can keep pace with rapid changes. DEWA’s procedures to protect its employees and facilities include activating comprehensive plans to enhance the safety of the community and its employees inside and outside DEWA facilities. DEWA also activated its emergency plans, which have been tested many times to ensure business continuity, so Dubai continues to have electricity and water. Thanks to its infrastructure and state-of-the-art digital and technical systems and its technological readiness that meet the highest international standards, DEWA’s services are available 100%. This enables customers to complete their transactions easily and securely anytime, anywhere without having to visit our customer happiness centres,” said Al Tayer.

“DEWA provides all its services without compromising the health and safety of its employees who are the backbone of all its operations. DEWA has undertaken a set of precautionary measures to ensure the health and safety of its customers and staff. DEWA’s state-of-the-art digital infrastructure and the training programmes staff went through over the last few years to use technological tools and channels, have enabled it to implement its remote working system for all its employees, whose jobs do not require their presence at DEWA’s power and water plants. Over 6,000 DEWA staff worked from home when the remote work system was implemented in the UAE. DEWA has attracted investments totalling AED 40 billion through the Independent Power Producer model, which strengthens public-private partnerships,” he added.

“Humanitarian initiatives by our wise leadership have recorded a large turnout during these exceptional circumstances around the world to contain the coronavirus outbreak. Efforts are increasing to overcome this temporary hardship as soon as possible. This social cohesion is a result of the worthy values instilled by the Founding Fathers among every citizen and resident on this good land. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, once said, ‘Our real gain in this crisis is our noble human values.’ I would like to thank our wise leadership, who place the health and safety of humanity at the top of their priorities. I would also like to thank all our staff and the community who consolidated social solidarity and cohesion. We trust that we will overcome these temporary conditions soon,” continued Al Tayer.

“DEWA is supporting Dubai’s efforts to overcome these exceptional circumstances in dealing with the coronavirus outbreak. DEWA is doing this by increasing solidarity in society and holding humanitarian values. DEWA’s staff are helping to fight this crisis by following all precautionary and preventative measures to maintain physical distancing. They also continue their hard work to ensure the continuity of DEWA’s vital services around the clock. DEWA staff have also participated in field and virtual voluntary activities to fight the pandemic,” said Hussein Lootah, EVP of Transmission Power, and Chairman of the Contingencies & Crises Committee at DEWA.

“DEWA’s employees play a substantial role in making DEWA’s social and humanitarian programmes successful. They are an indispensable part of its strategy and efforts to empower society as a socially responsible government organisation. DEWA launched 330 initiatives from 2013 to 2019, with a total of 131,000 voluntary hours by DEWA’s staff. In these extraordinary circumstances, DEWA’s employees have still taken part in national and humanitarian work. This shows the depth of their positive spirit, full readiness to take responsibility and commitment to training, and all other preventative measures. They support medical staff and encourage society to do their part. They encourage social cohesion, charity, and humanitarianism,” said Khawla Al Mehairi, Executive Vice President of Strategy and Government Communications at DEWA.

“I am proud to volunteer in the ‘Your City Needs You’ campaign. I urge everyone who can volunteer their time or effort to participate without any hesitation to make other people smile, even in a crisis or hard times. This is part of our efforts to give back to our country, as it provides such a good life for all of us. Voluntary and social work makes you feel good. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, once said, “Human beings can never feel contented till they start giving.” During my voluntary work, I gained skills and received excellent training, and found real friends and brothers with whom we shared happy and sad moments,’” said Taha Al Hamri, Chief Happiness Officer, and Head of the voluntary team at DEWA.

“DEWA supported me to achieve Dubai’s efforts to contain the outbreak of the coronavirus. DEWA was also flexible enough with my remote working responsibilities, so that volunteering does not interrupt them. DEWA strengthened my skills as a volunteer with a DEWA Volunteer Diploma. DEWA’s volunteering opportunities to participate in several initiatives, inside and outside the UAE, enabled me to gain the necessary skills and experience in health, safety and rescue. We were trained on the Human Communication Protocol. I would like to tell everyone living in our good land that it is time to give back to this nation, whether by volunteering and  abiding by the instructions of the relevant authorities,” said Noora Zowayed, Acting Assistant Manager for Society Happiness, at DEWA.

News Source : https://mediaoffice.ae/en/news/2020/June/20-06/DEWAs-efforts-to-manage-the-coronavirus-outbreak