Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has achieved a world-first milestone with its Al Shera’a headquarters receiving the SPIRE DIAMOND rating, the highest distinction in the UL Solutions and Telecommunications Industry Association smart building programme. The UL Verified Mark was also granted alongside the Diamond rating, marking the first time a structure has earned the top level of the SPIRE system. Al Shera’a is described by DEWA as the world’s tallest, largest and smartest net-positive government building. It previously held the Platinum certification from the US Green Building Council (USGBC) for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) in the New Construction category.
Systems Built for Resilience
The building scored best in class on several key criteria, including the security of its connectivity, governance of cybersecurity and asset management, and demand response alongside distributed energy resources. Assessors credited its digital twin, a model combining Building Information Modelling, IoT and Big Data analytics, together with capabilities for predictive monitoring and intelligent management. DEWA said the Diamond rating reflects automation and advanced management of energy at the building, connectivity infrastructure built for resilience, and strong governance of cybersecurity.
Inside the headquarters, approximately 5,000 square metres of acoustic plaster were installed across lobbies, gym and office spaces by Europhon Acoustics. The installation was completed in July. A cognitive system ties together every operational system in the building, using AI, Big Data analytics and IoT technologies. More than 110,000 smart sensors track operational and environmental conditions in real time, backed by over 1,500 wireless access points and more than 3,200 network devices that operate in perfect synchronisation. These technologies allow the cognitive system to send out more than 1.9 million automated control commands every day.
A Single Interface for Control
Every system in the building is run from the AI-powered Al Shera’a smart app, one control interface for approximately 100 independent systems. The app provides a user-friendly interface built around proactive maintenance, optimal management of resources, quality of life, employee wellbeing and the user experience. Through its digital intelligence, the building manages resources automatically, according to how much is actually used. This approach makes operations more efficient and sustainable.
DEWA MD & CEO Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer said the building reflects Dubai’s global model for anticipating the future through innovative, smart and integrated solutions. He noted that Al Shera’a is powered by data, analytics and automation to optimise operational efficiency and occupant costs while strengthening preparedness for future opportunities. The authority describes the headquarters as offering a new model for sustainable buildings where smart solutions sit within one full cognitive system that senses, analyses and responds. This system changes the government workplace for the digital age by converting data into decisions and turning processes into intelligent systems able to learn and adapt.
