A Dubai electricity record has been achieved with the lowest electricity customer minutes lost, reaching just 0.82 minutes per year, equivalent to approximately 49 seconds per customer annually. Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) announced the achievement on April 29, 2026, surpassing its own previous record of 0.94 minutes set in 2024, representing a 13% improvement year-over-year.
HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA, stated the utility has reduced customer minutes lost from 6.88 minutes annually in 2012 to 0.82 minutes in 2025. This performance significantly outpaces the approximate 15-minute average recorded by leading electricity companies in the European Union, establishing DEWA’s position among global utilities for service reliability.
Smart Grid Infrastructure and Automation Systems
The achievement stems from DEWA’s Smart Grid implementation, a major infrastructure initiative with total investments of AED 7 billion allocated through 2035. The Smart Grid provides advanced features designed to increase efficiency in energy transmission and distribution, reduce service interruptions, minimize losses, and improve electrical load management across the emirate.
A cornerstone of this infrastructure is the Automatic Smart Grid Restoration System, the first such system deployed in the Middle East and North Africa region. The system enables remote monitoring and control 24 hours daily without human intervention, using centralized automated systems that identify faults, isolate affected areas, and restore service automatically. This capability accelerates power restoration and enhances overall system reliability.
Dubai electricity record and strategic vision
Al Tayer said DEWA operates in alignment with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The utility integrates artificial intelligence technologies throughout its strategies and operations, with the Smart Grid serving as a fundamental pillar for delivering services according to the highest standards of availability, reliability, and efficiency.
The achievement supports Dubai’s 2040 Urban Master Plan and the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), both aimed at consolidating the emirate’s position among the top three global economic cities. DEWA’s focus on innovation in infrastructure technology reflects a broader commitment to advancing service delivery across the region’s utility sector.
Global Leadership in Utility Performance
The record positions DEWA as a global leader in adopting innovation to maintain service standards. The continuous reduction in customer downtime since 2012 demonstrates sustained operational improvement through technological advancement. Utility companies worldwide measure performance through customer minutes lost, making DEWA’s 0.82-minute figure a significant benchmark that reflects decades of infrastructure investment and operational refinement.
The Smart Grid expansion continues as DEWA works toward 2035 targets. Future developments will further integrate advanced monitoring systems and automation capabilities to maintain and improve upon current performance levels, ensuring continued reliability for Dubai’s growing electricity demand.
