Dubai Silicon Oasis Authority (DSOA), the regulatory body for Dubai Silicon Oasis (DSO), Dubai s integrated free zone technology park, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) to support Dubai s Smart City Initiative, which aims to make Dubai the smartest city in the world over the next three years.
The MoU was signed by Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of DEWA and Dr Mohammed Alzarooni, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DSOA.
As part of the agreement, DSOA will support DEWA s Smart Initiatives to install photovoltaic solar panels, develop efficient and sustainable smart grids applications, and set up the infrastructure for charging stations for electric vehicles.
DEWA recently chalked out a plan to set up 100 charging stations across Dubai within the next two years as part of efforts to encourage people to buy or rent zero emission electric cars.
The MoU follows the launch of DSOA s integrated Smart City project – Silicon Park in May this year. The project will comprise 71,000 sq metres of office space, 25,000 square metres of commercial space, 46,000 square metres of residential space, and facilities such as a 115-room business hotel, restaurants, fitness centres and a shopping complex.
Commenting on the signing of the MoU, Al Tayer said, “Our collaboration with Dubai Silicon Oasis will provide a range of services to improve the lives of residents and tourists in Dubai. The Smart Dubai initiative will enhance the lifestyle of Dubai s residents as well. DEWA is committed to supporting this change through strategic partnerships with leading organisations in the UAE to develop a robust infrastructure that meets Dubai s future goals. DEWA will sign more agreements with other partners and stakeholders in the future to achieve this initiative.” “As part of our culture of excellence and commitment to achieve the vision of becoming a sustainable world-class utility, DEWA works hard, through its competent workforce, to provide services at the highest levels of availability, efficiency and reliability,” added Al Tayer.
Dr Alzarooni, said, “DSOA is fully geared to contributing to our leadership s vision of transforming Dubai into a Smart City and our collaboration with DEWA articulates this priority. Leveraging our advanced infrastructure, projects such as Silicon Park will be shaped using the latest smart technologies. Such initiatives will enable DEWA to test their new Smart services and implement them across Dubai.” The Smart Dubai Initiative comprises six key thrusts Smart Economy, Smart Lifestyle, Smart Transportation, Smart Governance, Smart Environment and Smart Generation and relies on the three basic principles of communication, integration and cooperation. Through encouraging collaboration between the public and private sectors, the strategy aims to transform Dubai into one of the world s smartest cities over the next three years through the roll out of 100 initiatives and 1,000 smart services that improve the quality of life in the city.
A wholly-owned entity of the Dubai government, Dubai Silicon Oasis operates as a free zone technology park for the semiconductor, microelectronic and other high technology-based companies looking to set up their regional headquarters and research and development facilities in the Middle East and North Africa region.
Source : WAM News Agency for United Arab Emirates
