By: Utilities Middle East

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) approved 61,183 no-objection certificate (NOC) applications during the first half of 2026, marking a significant milestone for Dubai’s infrastructure development.

According to the report, the approvals were supported by DEWA’s Soqoor corporate initiative, which is designed to streamline approval processes and accelerate project timelines for contractors and consultants across the emirate.

The initiative targets structural inefficiencies by enabling contractors and consultants to secure project clearances on their first submission, helping reduce delays and improve compliance with DEWA’s technical requirements.

A breakdown of the mid-year figures shows strong activity across DEWA’s main operational divisions.

The Transmission Power division approved 32,802 applications, while Distribution Power handled 20,200 applications.

The Water and Civil division cleared 8,181 applications during the same period.

A total of 2,318 contractors and consultants engaged with the framework by the end of June, using the integrated system to reduce traditional administrative bottlenecks and support faster project delivery.

The rollout aligns with Dubai’s wider economic objectives, including the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), which aims to double the size of the emirate’s economy over the next decade.

“In line with the directives of the wise leadership, we continue supporting our partners, providing the ideal business environments and opportunities that foster their sustainable growth,” said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA.

“We also offer innovative services that help them accelerate implementation of their projects, thereby enhancing Dubai’s position as a global hub for trade, business, investment, entrepreneurship and innovation,” he added.

Beyond its economic impact, the Soqoor programme is intended to deliver practical benefits for construction and infrastructure projects across Dubai.

Hussain Lootah, Executive Vice President of Transmission Power at DEWA, said demand for the programme has continued to grow because of its ability to save time on project delivery.

By matching developer submissions against DEWA’s standards from the outset, the framework helps minimise field violations, infrastructure damage and administrative fines.

To support continued adoption, DEWA has made the full Soqoor programme guide and its technical requirements available online around the clock.

The utility also hosts regular interactive workshops and awareness sessions to ensure contractors, consultants and other building partners remain aligned with Dubai’s evolving infrastructure standards.