Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has been awarded the prestigious ‘Middle East and Africa Deal of the Year 2024’ by Project Finance International (PFI), in recognition of its landmark Hassyan seawater reverse osmosis (RO) desalination project.
The award winning project, valued at approximately $919 million (AED 3.377 billion), is the world’s largest of its kind using RO technology under the Independent Water Producer (IWP) model. The plant will produce 180 million imperial gallons per day (MIGD) of desalinated water, significantly enhancing Dubai’s water security and capacity.
HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA said that the Hassyan seawater desalination project plays a pivotal role in achieving Dubai’s ambitious target to produce 100 percent desalinated water using a mix of clean energy and waste heat by 2030.
This supports the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050, which aim to provide 100 percent of energy production capacity from clean sources by 2050.
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer MD & CEO- DEWA
“The project reflects our commitment to meeting growing demand for electricity and water services, enhancing water security from sustainable sources, and increasing Dubai’s desalination capacity to 735 MIGD through advanced technologies and innovative solutions. Implementing the project under the IWP model enhances Dubai’s global competitiveness and has enabled us to secure the world’s lowest tariff for desalinated water. The project has achieved a world record by receiving the lowest bid of $0.36536 per cubic metre of desalinated water.”
The DEWA CEO further noted that, developed in collaboration with Saudi-based ACWA Power, the project also set a global benchmark by achieving the world’s lowest tariff for desalinated water.
The project contributes to DEWA’s long term strategy to adopt clean technologies and sustainable infrastructure, aligning with Dubai’s broader environmental and energy transition goals.
