DEWA and Turkish Embassy Explore Energy, Water and Infrastructure Collaboration
On 23 June 2026, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) hosted the Turkish Embassy in a meeting that set the stage for a new chapter in cross‑border sustainability. The session, held at DEWA’s headquarters, was chaired by Managing Director and CEO Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer and attended by Waleed bin Salman, Executive Vice President of Business Development and Excellence, with Turkey’s Ambassador to the UAE, Lütfullah Göktaş, as the key foreign‑policy participant.
The agenda focused on deepening ties between DEWA and Turkish firms across three strategic sectors: energy, water and infrastructure. Al Tayer opened the discussion by outlining DEWA’s roadmap, spotlighting flagship clean‑energy initiatives that underpin Dubai’s Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050. He underscored the authority’s expertise in desalination and water‑resource management, positioning it as a regional benchmark for sustainable solutions.
Ambassador Göktaş lauded DEWA’s achievements in energy, water and sustainability, reaffirming Turkey’s eagerness to broaden partnerships that align with shared economic and environmental objectives. He expressed a keen interest in involving Turkish companies in future development and investment projects that support both nations’ sustainability agendas.
The meeting sits within a wider effort to strengthen UAE‑Turkey collaboration in renewable energy, infrastructure development and resource management. Turkey’s growing renewable‑energy sector and robust engineering and construction industry complement the UAE’s role as a hub for clean‑energy projects and advanced water‑management technologies.
A centerpiece of the conversation was the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. The park, covering 77 km², is the world’s largest single‑site solar project and is slated to exceed 4,000 MW of capacity by 2030. Its design incorporates photovoltaic and concentrating solar power, coupled with storage that can supply electricity for up to 15 hours. The project’s success has hinged on a public‑private partnership model that has attracted international investors.
Beyond solar, DEWA’s substantial investments in desalination plants and water‑resource management systems sustain Dubai’s expanding population and industrial base. The authority’s commitment to knowledge exchange and technology transfer dovetails with Turkey’s initiatives to modernise its own energy and water infrastructure.
While no formal agreement was signed during the meeting, both parties agreed to explore specific investment opportunities and joint projects. Topics on the table included Turkish participation in upcoming phases of the solar park, collaboration on water‑desalination technology, and joint research into energy storage solutions.
The UAE and Turkey share a long history of diplomatic and economic cooperation, with recent years witnessing a surge in joint ventures in the energy sector. Turkish firms have already contributed to projects across the Gulf, and this dialogue reaffirms a continued commitment to expanding that partnership, especially in areas that advance regional sustainability.
In closing, Al Tayer reiterated DEWA’s openness to international collaboration and its role as a regional leader in clean‑energy development. Ambassador Göktaş confirmed that Turkey will keep monitoring opportunities for investment and partnership with DEWA and other UAE entities.
The next steps will involve detailed feasibility studies and the drafting of potential memoranda‑of‑understanding, according to statements from both sides. Both parties anticipate that the collaboration will help the UAE meet its 2050 sustainability targets while opening a rapidly expanding market in the Middle East to Turkish companies.
