Sixteen of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority's 21 core services now run on self-driving AI. This overhaul took less than three months. DEWA moved fast. Only five services remain. They will switch to AI within two months. The push fits the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and UAE Vision 2031. Both plans put digital transformation and smart government at the center. The Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported these priorities.
For people and businesses in Dubai, the change is clear. Activating electricity and water used to take nine steps and eight minutes. Now it takes three steps and two minutes. That's a big cut. DEWA handles 210,000 of these transactions every year. The new system works 24/7. Gulf News says this jump in speed is part of a wider government effort. Dubai wants to make business easier and attract more foreign investment to its free zones like DIFC and DMCC.
AI overhaul cuts time and boosts accuracy
DEWA's AI payment system now runs 13 services. It processes about 13.3 million transactions each year. The daily reconciliation cycle used to take four hours. Now it finishes in 12 minutes. That's a 95 percent improvement. The AI checks and verifies data, spots problems, and handles exceptions. It works under constant monitoring. Official DEWA data from September 2026 shows digital adoption hit 99.5% by mid-year. Over 7.4 million digital transactions took place in the first half, according to the Dubai Media Office.
Technical incident response changed too. Before, 16 human coordinators managed reports. Now, DEWA's AI receives, sorts, checks, and routes technical issues for electricity and water. It works any time, day or night. Problems get fixed faster. This fits the UAE's digital infrastructure plan, which the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) oversees.
From early adoption to global benchmark
DEWA started its AI journey in 2017. It set out to become the world's first fully AI-powered utility. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO, says the strategy matches Dubai's leadership vision. DEWA is one of the first UAE government bodies to use self-driving AI at this scale. It moved past simple user-assist tools. Now, AI handles whole processes on its own. Forrester called DEWA's Alhasbah programme a model for enterprise-wide AI efficiency.
Al Tayer says the goal is clear. DEWA wants real, lasting gains for customers, staff, and partners. The authority redesigned services, sped up delivery, cut manual work, and improved accuracy. Services are now faster, more proactive, and always available. The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) noted these digital moves help the country's economic strength and service quality.
Dubai's public sector is changing fast. Digital innovation is reshaping how government works. Earlier reports show Dubai Government has also expanded flexible work models. The city is pushing for smarter, more responsive public services.
DEWA's rapid AI rollout is more than a tech upgrade. It's a new way to deliver vital utilities in Dubai. By automating most services in record time, DEWA set a new standard for digital change in the region. The message is simple. With the right leadership and plan, even complex government services can get faster and better for everyone in the city.
