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DUBAI / WAM
His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, on Sunday inaugurated GITEX, the region’s most prominent technology event, which started on Sunday and runs until October 12 at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC)
More than 4,000 companies from 71 countries around the world met at GITEX, where amazing technological prospects were discussed, along with how robotics and artificial intelligence and the Internet collectively promise smarter cities and a life made much easier.
During the visit, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed tours Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA’s) stand at GITEX 2017. His Highness was accompanied by HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Chairman of Dubai Airports, and several senior officials from the public and private sectors, and was welcomed by Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA.
HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed inaugurated DEWA’s ‘Block Chain initiative for Green Charger’, which supports Dubai’s Blockchain Strategy, the first of its kind in the world, and aims to achieve a significant advance in supporting technological and digital transformation in Dubai.
His Highness was briefed on the latest services, initiatives and smart solutions that support the Smart Dubai initiative to make Dubai the smartest and happiest city in the world, by contributing to sustainable development, upgrading government work to the highest standards, and enhancing customer experience, to achieve happiness for everyone.
“DEWA has adopted an approach to enhance cooperation between local and international partners. This comes in support of the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make Dubai the smartest and happiest city in the world, and the Dubai 10X initiative, to propel Dubai towards the future, making it 10 years ahead of other global cities, through government innovation, and to enhance Dubai’s leadership in shaping the future.
“We are keen to participate in GITEX, as it highlights our most important technological achievements in terms of smart services, networks, smart meters, AI, robots, the Internet of Things, IoT, big data and cloud computing. This supports DEWA’s efforts to enhance customers’ experience in clean energy, energy efficiency, energy and water conservation, to keep pace with the Fourth Industrial Revolution, as well as presenting innovative initiatives that contribute to customer happiness, in line with the objectives of the Dubai Plan 2021 to make Dubai a smart, integrated and connected city,” said Al Tayer.
“DEWA has made great strides in its smart transformation with its clear strategy to keep up with the latest technologies and developments and best international practices. The adoption rate of DEWA’s smart services has reached 80 percent, ahead of the schedule set by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to reduce the number of visitors to government offices by 80 percent by 2018,” said Al Tayer.
In line with its vision to become a sustainable innovative world-class utility, DEWA’s stand at S2-D1, which is part of the Dubai Smart Government’s pavilion, will review the Future Centre for Customer Happiness, recently inaugurated at Ibn Battuta Mall. It depends on Artificial Intelligence, and provides smart and innovative services to all stakeholders. The centre also features the Tayseer bill payment service via Emirates NBD or Dubai Islamic Bank cheque deposit machines, as well as the Beam Robot, which uses both audio and video to connect with DEWA customers.
DEWA also reviewed its Rammas service, a virtual employee which uses AI to answer customer enquiries, and is available 24/7 on DEWA’s website, smart app, DEWA Facebook page, Amazon’s Alexa service, and the Pepper Robot available at the Future Centre for Customer Happiness.
In addition, DEWA highlighted its 3D-Printed Lab, Big Data initiative, and the smart monitoring of household energy applications, which allows customers to monitor the consumption rate of electrical appliances in their houses.