Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA)
2026 Regional Winner | Maximizing Impact
Industry
Government
Company HQ
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Number of Employees
500+
Office Locations
United Arab Emirates
How DEWA built an AI-native utility with Udemy
Business outcomes
AED 205M
Validated savings delivered
720
Employees certified
90+
AI agents and digital initiatives deployed
Challenge
Turning AI ambition into workforce capability
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is one of the leading government organizations in the United Arab Emirates, responsible for providing reliable, efficient, and sustainable electricity and water services to Dubai. DEWA plays a central role in supporting Dubai’s growth, economic development, and quality of life by delivering world-class utility services, advancing clean energy, and driving innovation across the energy and water sectors. DEWA serves millions of customers and is recognized for its commitment to excellence, sustainability, digital transformation, and future readiness.
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) set an ambitious goal: to become an AI-native utility. The CEO-sponsored Al Hasbah AI-Enabled Efficiency Transformation Program aimed to unlock more than UAE dirham (AED) 2 billion in efficiency opportunities through AI-enabled workflow transformation and procurement optimization. However, AI capabilities across the organization were fragmented and inconsistent. Teams lacked the structured skills needed to identify, design, and implement AI use cases at scale.
DEWA needed a workforce capable of understanding AI fundamentals, applying AI responsibly, and driving transformation with confidence across every level of the organization.
The gap between aspiration and ability was clear — and closing it became the mandate.
“Rather than treating learning as a standalone HR activity, we aligned capability-building programs with business priorities to ensure workforce development drives measurable business outcomes. With Udemy as our learning platform, we made that alignment real,” said Mohammad Nsairat, Business Excellence.
“Rather than treating learning as a standalone HR activity, we aligned capability-building programs with business priorities to ensure workforce development drives measurable business outcomes. With Udemy as our learning platform, we made that alignment real.”
Solution
An AI factory powered by role-based learning
DEWA established an AI Factory operating model, mobilizing more than 150 executive leaders, initiative owners, product owners, and AI squads under a unified governance framework. To build the capabilities this required, DEWA launched a comprehensive learning strategy combining executive AI awareness programs, role-based AI learning pathways through Udemy, hands-on AI Factory workshops, cross-functional AI squads, and communities of practice.
Learning objectives were directly linked to strategic key performance indicators (KPIs) including AI adoption, productivity improvement, process optimization, service excellence, and financial impact.
The learning strategy rested on three pillars:
• Role-based pathways: Udemy learning paths tailored to different audiences, from AI awareness for employees to applied AI for technical teams and developers
• Hands-on application: AI Factory workshops and cross-functional AI squads let employees apply new skills to real business challenges immediately
• Governance and measurement: the Control Tower and Al Hasbah Value Realization Framework tracked learning effectiveness through the Kirkpatrick Model and linked it to validated financial outcomes
“Udemy gave our employees the AI skills they needed, and the AI Factory gave them a place to apply those skills to real business problems. Together, they turned learning into measurable value,” Nsairat said.
“Udemy gave our employees the AI skills they needed, and the AI Factory gave them a place to apply those skills to real business problems. Together, they turned learning into measurable value.”
Results
AED 205 million in validated savings
To date, 1,245 employees have enrolled in Udemy learning programs, with 720 earning certifications. The capability-building strategy directly enabled the deployment of more than 90 AI agents and digital initiatives, the advancement of more than 20 transformation initiatives, and the delivery of AED 205 million in validated savings within 6 to 9 months. A broader value pipeline exceeding AED 450 million is progressing through advanced value-realization stages.
Employees applied skills developed through Udemy learning pathways, AI Factory workshops, and transformation enablement programs to identify, design, and implement AI-enabled use cases across DEWA.
These capabilities were embedded into cross-functional AI squads, enabling employees to translate learning into practical business outcomes through workflow automation, procurement optimization, and enterprise productivity initiatives — proving that capability, once built, compounds.
More than 150 leaders were mobilized through governance and transformation activities, building enterprise-wide ownership of AI-driven transformation.
“With Udemy, we translated learning investments into validated financial impact, operational excellence, and sustainable enterprise-wide transformation,” Nsairat said.
“With Udemy, we translated learning investments into validated financial impact, operational excellence, and sustainable enterprise-wide transformation.”
Looking Ahead
Advancing the vision
DEWA continues to advance its AI-native utility vision, progressing the AED 450 million value pipeline and expanding the AI Factory operating model across additional business domains. The Al Hasbah program continues to link learning investments to measurable business value.
“As we scale the Al Hasbah program, Udemy gives us the learning infrastructure to keep building the AI capabilities our transformation requires,” Nsairat said.
“As we scale the Al Hasbah program, Udemy gives us the learning infrastructure to keep building the AI capabilities our transformation requires.”
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