DEWA’s first-of-its-kind pumped-storage hydroelectric plant in Hatta will begin exporting clean energy to Dubai as early as April 2025. At 96.82% complete, the landmark project represents a major step forward in Dubai’s drive to achieve 100% clean energy by 2050.
HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), revealed that the Hatta hydroelectric power plant is now over 96% finished and will gradually supply clean energy to Dubai from April 2025. Operational tests began in January 2025, marking a significant milestone for the GCC region’s first pumped-storage facility.
The power plant is designed to leverage the water stored in both the existing Hatta Dam and a newly constructed upper dam in the nearby mountains. Featuring a production capacity of 250 MW and a storage capacity of 1,500 MWh, the plant is expected to operate for up to 80 years, at an estimated investment of AED 1.421 billion.
Al Tayer emphasized the alignment of this hydroelectric project with the vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. It supports the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050—both aiming for 100% clean power generation by mid-century.
The hydroelectric plant joins DEWA’s broader portfolio of clean and renewable energy sources, which also includes solar photovoltaic panels, concentrated solar power, and green hydrogen production. By diversifying clean energy production, Dubai reduces its carbon footprint and enhances energy security.
During an inspection visit, Al Tayer reviewed recent progress, including the installation of generator units. The upper dam, featuring a 72-meter-high main wall and a 37-meter-high side dam, is already filled in preparation for a trial operation due in the first quarter of 2025. The tunnel system runs 1.2 kilometers underground, converting the potential energy of stored water into kinetic energy to drive turbines and produce electricity for DEWA’s grid.
The pumped-storage approach offers a 78.9% turnaround efficiency, enabling the swift delivery of up to 250 MW within 90 seconds to meet peak demand. Surplus solar power from the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park will be used to pump water back uphill, thus acting as a large-scale battery: excess generation is converted into kinetic energy when pumping water up, and later recovered as electrical energy when releasing water through the turbines.
Al Tayer was accompanied by senior DEWA executives including Nasser Lootah (Executive Vice President of Generation) and Hussain Lootah (Executive Vice President of Transmission Power). They confirmed that trial operations will begin early 2025, followed by a gradual ramp-up of clean energy export to Dubai in April 2025. Once fully operational, the facility will mark a major leap forward in the emirate’s commitment to innovative, sustainable infrastructure.
The Hatta hydroelectric station complements Dubai’s long-term sustainability goals by utilizing the region’s natural topography for clean energy storage. Its high capacity and relatively minimal environmental impact embody Dubai’s approach to balanced development, combining ecological stewardship with advanced engineering. By harnessing the power of water and leveraging solar-generated electricity for pumping, DEWA underscores the emirate’s vision for a diversified and resilient energy mix.
