EWEC is accelerating the deployment of low-carbon-intensive reverse osmosis, gigascale solar energy, and circular economy projects to drive sustainable urban development across the UAE
EWEC (Emirates Water and Electricity Company), a leading company in the integrated planning, purchasing, supply, and system despatch services for water and electricity across the UAE, today marked World Cities Day 2026, emphasising the critical role that reliable, low-carbon energy infrastructure plays in cultivating robust, future-ready communities. As urban centres rapidly expand, the underlying water and electricity networks must scale seamlessly, meeting residential and commercial demand whilst reducing the carbon footprint of essential daily services.
Observed annually on 31 October and coordinated by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), World Cities Day promotes the development of resilient, inclusive, and sustainable urban environments. The observance this year focuses on urban renewal and elevating the quality of local neighbourhoods. Dependable, sustainably produced water and electricity are the foundational elements of both objectives, underscoring the strategic role EWEC plays in shaping an energy system that empowers population growth and national economic prosperity.
Dr. Faisal Obaid, Chief Corporate Support Officer of EWEC, said: "Resilient, sustainable cities are entirely dependent upon a secure and decarbonised energy foundation. As new neighbourhoods take shape and existing urban centres grow, we proactively secure the capacity these communities require, sustainably and efficiently. Through the strategic expansion of low-carbon-intensive desalination, utility-scale solar power, advanced battery storage, and pioneering circular economy projects, we are shaping a flexible, integrated system. This infrastructure directly enables climate-resilient communities, drives sustainable urban development, and ensures long-term national prosperity.”
To enable the UAE’s sustainable urban vision, EWEC is expanding low-carbon-intensive reverse osmosis desalination, a technology forecast to account for 92 per cent of total water production capacity by 2030, and scaling the solar capacity of Abu Dhabi to more than 35 gigawatts by 2035, supported by gigascale battery energy storage. Furthermore, EWEC is directly integrating circular economy principles into the urban landscape through the development of the Waste-to-Energy Independent Power Project in collaboration with Tadweer Group. This pioneering facility will divert up to 75 per cent of municipal waste from landfills, transforming the waste that communities generate into electricity sufficient to power up to 52,500 households.
World Cities Day serves as a reminder that resilient communities are built upon reliable and sustainable infrastructure. By strategically planning and procuring the capacity that urban centres require, EWEC directly supports sustainable urban expansion whilst driving the successful execution of the UAE Energy Strategy 2050 and the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategy, securing a thriving environment for future generations.
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About Emirates Water and Electricity Company
EWEC (Emirates Water and Electricity Company) is the sole procurer and supplier of water and electricity in the emirate of Abu Dhabi. EWEC drives the planning, forecasting, purchasing, and system despatch services of water and electricity. EWEC fulfils these vital responsibilities through the short-term and long-term balancing of bulk supply and demand for distribution companies and authorities in Abu Dhabi and other Emirates. EWEC is supporting the government of Abu Dhabi and the government of the UAE by enabling the reduction of cost whilst also providing the increased security of supply that comes from a cleaner, larger, and more integrated system.
EWEC is mandated to implement strategic initiatives that will achieve the 60 per cent clean energy target outlined in the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy's (DoE) Clean Energy Strategic Target 2035 for Electricity Production in Abu Dhabi, in addition to enabling the achievement of UAE Water Security Strategy 2036, UAE Energy Strategy by 2050, and the UAE Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative. EWEC is accelerating Abu Dhabi and the UAE’s energy transition by diversifying the country’s energy mix through developing and deploying renewable and clean energy as well as low-carbon intensive water desalination capacities. For more information, please visit: www.ewec.ae.
