Washington, D.C. — The U.S.- U.A.E. Business Council hosted a luncheon in honor of a senior delegation from the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy (DSCE) led by His Excellency Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, CEO of the Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) and Vice Chairman of the DSCE, on Monday in Washington, D.C.  The event was attended by senior American and Emirati government officials and members of the U.S.-U.A.E. business community.

Following introductions, His Excellency Al Tayer delivered keynote remarks to the audience underscoring the mission of the DSCE to develop the future sustainable development of Dubai’s energy sector; citing renewable energy— notably wind and solar energy— as promising sectors for international partnership and investment in Dubai.  In his comments, Al Tayer highlighted the fact that Dubai is a net importer of energy with ambitions to cut carbon dioxide emissions, develop renewable energy production capabilities in line with the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy formed by DSCE in 2010, to provide a regulatory roadmap for efficient energy consumption, and to coordinate efforts with the federal government to ensure the sustainable development of the U.A.E.’s “green economy”.

After His Excellency Al Tayer’s speech, the floor was opened for discussion, allowing the audience to engage directly with senior Emirati decision-makers.  Members of the delegation—representing all commercial elements of Dubai’s energy sector— took questions from the audience and provided further insight into the plans of Dubai’s commercial energy sector moving forward.

The delegation is in Washington, D.C. this week at the invitation of U.S. Deputy Energy Secretary Daniel B. Poneman to discuss long-term energy policy issues with U.S. government agencies and to explore potential partnerships with American companies to meet Dubai’s long-term energy needs. For your reference, brief biographies of the delegation can be found below.

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Delegation Biographies:

H.E. Saeed Mohamed Al Tayer, CEO, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA)
Mr. Al Tayer has served as the Managing Director and CEO of the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), the sole utility provider for the emirate of Dubai, since 2004.  Mr. Al Tayer has since also taken on the role of Vice Chairman of the SCE.  Mr. Al Tayer earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration in the United States.

H.E. Ali Bin Abdullah Al Owais, U.A.E. Undersecretary of Energy for Electricity and Water
H.E. Al Owais serves as the Undersecretary of Energy for Electricity and Water at the UAE Ministry of Energy.  In addition to his federal role, Al Owais oversees the SCE’s Regulatory Supervisory Bureau, a new body that looks to establish and implement energy regulatory standards across the emirate.

Mr. Abdulla J.M. Bin Kalban, CEO, Dubai Aluminum Company (Dubal)
Mr. Kalban assumed the role of CEO of Dubal in 2004.  Dubal operates one of the world’s largest aluminum smelters, with a capacity to produce one million metric tons of aluminum per year.  Dubal has a 50% stake in Emirates Aluminum (EMAL).  The United States has become a major export market for Dubal and Emal products, which are used for construction, automobile and aerospace manufacturing, and electronics.

Mr. Saeed Khoory, CEO, Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC)
Mr. Khoory was appointed as ENOC CEO in 2007.  ENOC operates a refinery in Dubai, and is a major retail supplier of gasoline and diesel in the emirate, as well as a key jet fuel provider at Dubai International Airport.  ENOC controls the majority stake of Dragon Oil, an upstream oil company that holds concessions in Turkmenistan.  Mr. Khoory studied Petroleum Engineering at the University of Tulsa.

Mr. Waleed Salman, Chairman, Dubai Carbon Center of Excellence
Mr. Salman is a board member of the Supreme Council of Energy and chairs the newly established Dubai Carbon Center of Excellence, which seeks to map the carbon footprint of the emirate and develop carbon reduction policies.  Additionally, he is an Executive Vice President for Strategy and Business Development at the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority.  Mr. Salman earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Colorado Technical University in Colorado Springs, CO and an M.B.A. from the American University in Dubai.

Mr. Nejib Zaafrani , Secretary General and CEO of the SCE
Mr. Zaafrani joined the SCE in 2010, overseeing efforts to establish the new body and implement its new directives and policies.  He previously worked with Royal Dutch Shell for nearly three decades, holding numerous positions including managing Shell’s Abu Dhabi business.