DEWA and Huawei discuss collaboration on future projects for Dubai

The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and Chinese tech giant Huawei recently held a video conference to discuss applications of artificial intelligence, cloud computing and automation into business practices in the emirate.

DEWA is working with Huawei in key areas that would allow the government entity to meet the goals of the Dubai 10X initiative, reported Dubai Media Office.

This has already started with DEWA’s Fiber Optic Backbone Upgrade as part of the InfraX project.

It has enabled it to apply Video Surveillance as a Service (VSaaS) and a Virtual Desktop Interface, which will be provided through DEWA subsidiary Data Hub Integrated Solutions’ (MORO) digital platform.

.@DEWAOfficial increases strategic cooperation with @Huawei on AI and digital transformationhttps://t.co/BSmZ5AqWlN pic.twitter.com/yQOKjqfqrp

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) May 26, 2020

The partnership between DEWA and Huawei also includes a number of planned projects such as big data management, perimeter and ICT infrastructure security, cybersecurity and information security, among others.

A joint team is working on pilot programmes to develop initiatives along the lines of R&D, new services for customers, and ready-to-market or immediately actionable vital projects.

The virtual meeting was attended by Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA and Charles Yang, as well as Mohammad Bin Sulaiman, CEO of MORO.

The meeting discussed promoting bilateral relations, and sharing best international practices and experiences to protect against the Covid-19 pandemic, ensuring the health and safety of employees and customers and strengthening business continuity.

Also on the agenda were an exchange of experiences and practices in innovation, disruptive technologies, smart grids, digital transformation, automation, cloud computing and AI.

Al Tayer said that DEWA will use autonomous systems for renewable energy and storage and expand its AI and digital services.

In 2019, the Dubai government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Huawei. The Chinese telecommunication company was expected to assist with various initiatives of Smart Dubai, an arm of Dubai’s government that deals with technology.

Read: Dubai government to partner with Huawei

The two also agreed to work together to develop new “smart initiatives, developing innovative solutions to implement the latest technological advances” and establish a “Centre for the Future” that will offer citizens the opportunity to experience various technologies such as artificial intelligence.

In February, Yang revealed that Huawei’s push towards 5G has gained significant ground in the Middle East, a region in which the Chinese company has been present for over two decades.

Read also: ‘The US is sparing no effort in smearing Huawei’ – Middle East President Charles Yang

It has signed 77 5G contracts with mobile network operators around the world, 12 of which are with operators in the Middle East. It also announced that it would open its first OpenLab in Middle East within Dubai.

Read more: Huawei responds to severe new US sanctions