• Number of substations in Dubai stood at 391 by the end of H1 2025
HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), has announced that DEWA’s electricity transmission network projects now stand in excess of AED 7.6 billion in value.
He also added that DEWA commissioned four 132 kV substations having a conversion capacity of 450 megavolt-amperes in the first half of 2025, at a cost of AED 725 million. These projects involved extending 228km of transmission cables.
Al Tayer described how DEWA is in the process of constructing 49 new 132 kV substations and two 400 kV substations. DEWA also issued invitations to main contractors to submit bids for the construction of 11 new 132 kV transmission substations. During the next three years, DEWA plans to issue new tenders to construct more than 57 more 132 kV substations and extend 160km of underground transmission cable.
In accordance with the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, we continue to build an integrated and state-of-the-art energy infrastructure that improves the efficiency and reliability of the electricity transmission and distribution system in Dubai to address the growing demand for energy in the emirate and keep up with population and economic growth.
This is in line with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and the Dubai Social Agenda 33 to create an optimal city with a world-class level of living.
We incorporate the most recent technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution in our projects, which have helped us to achieve 100% reliability and availability in the power transmission system and a ‘best-in-class’ recognition among global utilities since 2018,” stated Al Tayer.
Hussain Lootah, Executive Vice President of Transmission Power at DEWA, clarified that the new substations will serve various areas, such as two at Al Yalayis 5 to serve the energy requirements of citizens’ housing schemes, as well as Hatta and Warsan 4 substations.
He added that the number of DEWA’s electricity transmission substations stood at 391 by the end of the first half of 2025, including 27 substations at 400 kV and 364 at 132 kV.
The installation and opening of the projects took over 4.5 million working hours employing the most advanced internationally accredited digital technologies.
This is part of DEWA’s strategy to boost digital transformation in all its services and operations, and its pursuit to deliver innovative, high-quality services that set the highest availability, reliability, efficiency and safety standards.
DEWA has contracted to construct 10 new 132 kV substations in various locations in Dubai, such as Al Barsha South 2, Business Bay, Dubai Silicon Oasis, Airport City, Nad Al Sheba 1 and Wadi Al Safa 5, for a total of AED 1.1 billion.
DEWA also contracted out projects to lay 132 kV cables to link the new main substations with the main power transmission network, with a total length of 60.6km and a total of AED 288 million.
