Dubai: HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Ports and Borders Security Council has visited the Water, Energy, Technology, and Environment Exhibition (WETEX), organized by the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA). Held till 3rd October at the Dubai World Trade Centre, the event features over 2,800 companies from 65 countries.
During the visit, Sheikh Mansoor was welcomed by Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA and Founder and Chairman of WETEX. Accompanied by Al Tayer and other senior officials, Sheikh Mansoor toured the exhibition, where he explored cutting-edge advancements in energy, water desalination, green technology, and renewable energy. HH also received briefings on digital transformation, Artificial Intelligence, and environmental sustainability.
The major highlight of Sheikh Mansoor’s tour was his visit to DEWA’s stand, where he reviewed the latest updates on the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the world’s largest single-site solar park operating under the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model. He was briefed on the Solar Park’s fourth phase, which employs three hybrid technologies: a 600MW parabolic basin complex, a 100MW Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) tower, and 250MW of photovoltaic panels.
The project includes the world’s tallest solar tower at 263.126 meters and the largest thermal energy storage capacity, according to the Guinness World Records.
Sheikh Mansoor was also updated on the 1,800MW sixth phase of the Solar Park, which is under construction. With an investment of AED 5.5 billion ($1.5 billion), this phase will generate clean energy for 540,000 homes and reduce carbon emissions by 2.36 million tonnes annually. The project covers an area of 20 square kilometers.
His Highness expressed a keen interest in the pioneering projects of DEWA’s Research and Development Centre, the Sustainability and Innovation Centre, and the Shams Dubai initiative, which installs photovoltaic solar panels on homes and buildings. Additionally, Sheikh Mansoor was briefed on the Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) project, enabling Dubai to store and retrieve up to 6 billion imperial gallons of water, ensuring a strategic reserve for emergencies.
In a visit to the Green Mobility Hall at WETEX, Sheikh Mansoor explored the latest innovations in sustainable transport, meeting with companies involved in green mobility logistics. He also toured various company displays, including Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC), ACWA Power, Higher Colleges of Technology, and Taqa Water Solutions, as well as international pavilions from Russia, Belarus, and Italy.