The new DEWA headquarters building, known as “The Sail,” is located in the Al Jaddaf area.
Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum inaugurated the new headquarters of the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) in Al Jaddaf on Friday, describing it as the world’s tallest, largest, and smartest net-positive government building.
Known as “Al Sheraa” (Arabic for “The Sail”), the building is equipped with around 110,000 smart sensors, over 1,500 wireless access points, and about 3,200 network devices, enabling more than 1.9 million automated control commands per day. It also has a 5-megawatt electricity generation capacity through two major photovoltaic solar panel systems.
Sheikh Mohammed, who is also UAE Vice President and Prime Minister, described the new building as a “global architectural icon”, saying it reflects Dubai’s leadership in innovation and sustainability and serves as an inspiring model for energy efficiency, sustainable design, and using technology to serve humanity.
Dewa’s new headquarters
DEWA’s new headquarters, “Al Sheraa” (The Sail), spans over two million square feet and includes 15 floors, a basement, and five levels of parking. It is designed to accommodate around 5,000 people and features a wide range of facilities such as a 500-seat auditorium, training halls, a creativity centre, an exhibition hall, a nursery for employees’ children, and a gym, among others.
The building integrates large-scale renewable energy systems, including more than 20,000 square metres of photovoltaic solar panels rated at over 4,000 kilowatts, along with 1,000 square metres of Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV). It is expected to generate over 6,500 megawatt hours (MWh) of renewable energy annually, supporting its net-positive energy goals.
Construction was carried out in phases, with the first phase worth Dh46 million awarded to Dutco Balfour Beatty, and the second phase completed by a consortium including Ghantoot Transport & General Contracting and Ghantoot Gulf Contracting. The total project cost is about Dh1.2 billion, including advanced solar and smart systems.
The building reflects Dubai’s ambition in sustainable architecture, combining large-scale renewable energy generation with intelligent building technologies and modern workplace design.
