The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has granted the first-ever Independent Charge Point Operator (CPO) licences to Tesla and UAEV.
The move marks a new era for EV charging in the emirate as part of DEWA’s efforts to support the transition to green mobility and help Dubai achieve its goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
It falls under DEWA’s newly launched “Regulatory and Licensing Framework”, a comprehensive strategy designed to meet both current and future demands for EV infrastructure in the region.
By issuing the licences, DEWA aims to enhance the private sector’s involvement in Dubai’s EV landscape, facilitating the development of resilient and efficient charging stations to keep up with the rapidly growing number of electric vehicles in the UAE.
The announcement came during GITEX Global 2024, where HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, formally presented the operating licences to Sharif Al Olama, Undersecretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs at the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure and Chairman of UAEV, and Mottie Benhamou, Market Leader for Tesla UAE. The event was attended by various officials from the government and energy sectors.
Al Tayer highlighted DEWA’s ongoing commitment to supporting the UAE’s green mobility transition, stating, “In 2014, DEWA was the first in the region to roll out public EV charging infrastructure. Now, our newly launched regulatory and licensing framework for EV charging is another step in fostering public-private partnerships that will ensure our infrastructure meets the highest global standards. This framework will help us keep pace with the increasing demand for electric vehicles across Dubai and the UAE.”
The initiative is a critical component of Dubai’s broader sustainability strategy, which aligns with the leadership’s vision of promoting clean energy solutions to reduce emissions across all sectors.
The framework ensures that the private sector plays a central role in expanding EV charging facilities, helping Dubai balance economic growth and environmental protection.
Eng. Sharif Al Olama, Undersecretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs and Chairman of UAEV, celebrated the granting of the licences as a boost to the UAE’s EV market, which is steadily growing in line with the nation’s green ambitions.
“We are committed to increasing the share of electric and hybrid vehicles to 50% of all vehicles on UAE roads by 2050,” Al Olama said. “Receiving one of the first Independent CPO licences for EV charging stations in Dubai is a significant achievement for UAEV and will help us drive the decarbonisation of the transport sector.”
UAEV’s participation in expanding the national charging network will play a crucial role in making EVs more accessible and appealing to UAE consumers, helping the country meet its green transportation targets.
Tesla UAE, another key recipient of the Independent CPO licence, echoed similar sentiments, with Mottie Benhamou, Market Leader for Tesla UAE, stressing the alignment between Tesla’s mission and the UAE’s net-zero goals.
“Tesla’s goal has always been to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy,” Benhamou said. “We are proud to contribute to the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 strategy by expanding access to efficient and innovative EV charging solutions. As more drivers make the switch to electric, Tesla’s charging stations will help reduce reliance on fossil fuels and support the wider adoption of electric vehicles.”
With a growing number of EVs hitting the roads in the UAE, the development of a robust and widely accessible charging infrastructure is essential to meet the needs of both consumers and businesses.
DEWA’s regulatory framework is expected to lay the foundation for further advancements in green mobility, offering incentives for private investment and creating a competitive, innovation-driven market for EV charging services.
