Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), has participated in a panel discussion under the theme ‘Knowledge...and Future Cities,’ during the 3rd Knowledge Summit 2016.

DEWA is a main sponsor of the summit. The panel included Dr. Aisha Bin Bishr, Director General of the Smart Dubai Office, Vivek Wadhwa, Academic, Researcher, Writer and Entrepreneur, Bibop G. Gresta Chairman and Co-Founder of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies, and Dirk Ahlborn, CEO of Hyperloop Transportation Technologies.

The Knowledge Summit is the most important knowledge event in the region, and is organised by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation, under the patronage of Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and under the directives of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation.

The Summit takes place in Dubai from 5th - 7th December, under the theme ‘Knowledge - Present and Future.’ During a session held at the summit, Al Tayer highlighted the components, challenges, and pros of Future Cities. He also highlighted the efforts of Dubai Government to predict the future, in addition to discussing the Smart Dubai initiative, smart cities, and the progress of knowledge in technology.

"The UAE’s wise leadership has a vision to predict the future, and to make the UAE the smartest and most sustainable country in the world, which falls in line with the UAE Vision 2021. We strive to achieve the vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the National Innovation Strategy and the Dubai Innovation Strategy to transform Dubai into a smart, innovative, integrated, connected and sustainable city," Al Tayer said.

"To enhance sustainability, we strive to achieve the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050. DEWA is working to diversify the energy mix, so that clean energy will generate 7% of Dubai’s total power output by 2020, 25% by 2030 and 75% by 2050. We have launched several projects and initiatives to achieve this goal. One is The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the largest single-site solar park in the world to produce electricity, with a planned capacity to produce 5,000 megawatts (MW) by 2030."

"Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, launched the World Green Economy Organisation (WGEO) during the World Green Economy Summit on 5th of October 2016. WGEO will be a pioneer in Green Economy as it will bring together governments, the public and private sectors, foundations, UN agencies, the banking system and civil society to work collectively to achieve green economic goals, and to become a mechanism to innovate on climate change, sustainable energy, and other challenges faced by the water and environmental sectors around the world," added Al Tayer.

"The Dubai Green Fund covers financing solutions for investment in R&D on clean energy, and its applications. This pillar includes the establishment of the Dubai Green Fund, which is worth AED 100 billion. Environmentally-friendly energy mix: solar energy 25%, nuclear power 7%, clean coal 7%, gas 61% by 2030. To diversify energy resources and increase dependence on clean and renewable energy, DEWA announced a strategic project to build a hydroelectric power station that will make use of the water stored in the mountains next to Al Hattawi dam in Hatta. This project that will be completed in 5 years is the first of its kind in the GCC. It will produce 250MW with a lifespan of 60-80 years," said Al Tayer.

DEWA launched its Sustainable Building, which is the first sustainable government building in the UAE and the largest government building in the world to receive a Platinum Rating for green buildings from Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). The building consumes 66% less energy than similar buildings and has a 660 kilowatt (kW) solar power plant. It also has reduced its water consumption by 48%.

The Knowledge Summit is the first event to fully focus on knowledge localisation. It gathers regional and international organisations, leaders, and experts to launch initiatives and programmes to help transform the Arab community into a knowledge-based one. For stakeholders, decision makers, and specialists, this annual event constitutes the ideal platform to develop future plans and policies, and foster programmes and innovative ideas that help raise awareness on knowledge issues all over the world.