Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has become the first power utility in the Middle East and North Africa to join the global Virtual Protection Automation and Control (vPAC) Alliance, a network of leading companies and organizations in the energy systems sector.

The announcement was made at the 27th edition of the Water, Energy, Technology, and Environment Exhibition (WETEX) 2025, where the agreement was signed by Hussain Lootah, Executive Vice President of Transmission Power at DEWA, and Brant Heap, Chairperson of the vPAC Alliance, in the presence of Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, DEWA’s Managing Director and CEO.

Al Tayer said DEWA’s participation aligns with Dubai’s vision to harness Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies to enhance the efficiency and reliability of electricity and water networks.

He noted that membership in the alliance will facilitate the exchange of global best practices and innovations—particularly in smart grids and advanced infrastructure—while strengthening cooperation with international utilities.

Heap welcomed the partnership, describing it as a key step toward accelerating grid transformation and meeting the energy demands of an AI-driven economy.

The vPAC Alliance works to improve electricity network efficiency and resilience by promoting advanced digital modular systems and developing open, secure, and interoperable standards for power substation protection, automation, and control.

It also advocates the adoption of software-based solutions to boost performance, reliability, and flexibility in energy systems.