Dubai’s First Hydro Plant is Almost Ready

Unveiled on the sidelines of WETEX at Dubai World Trade Centre, the project signals a bold shift in how the emirate balances its energy mix. Engineers have built a two-level, year-round system that stores energy when the sun is strongest and releases it when the city needs it most – a design tailored to the UAE’s terrain and climate.

Here’s how it works. During daylight hours, solar power drives pumps that move water from a lower reservoir to an upper one. When demand rises, water rushes back down through a tunnel at high velocity to spin turbines and generate electricity, effectively turning stored sunlight into night-time power. The approach combines storage, stability and sustainability in a single loop.

Officials say the plant’s output will comfortably meet Hatta’s needs while contributing extra capacity to the wider emirate – a flexible buffer that supports peak demand without relying on fossil fuels. It also positions Hatta as a template for similar mountain-and-reservoir sites across the region, where hydropower has long been considered impractical.

The hydro launch sits alongside other net-zero moves. DEWA’s Al Sheraa headquarters is being built to produce more energy than it consumes, with rooftop solar covering its needs and sending any excess back to the grid. Taken together, these projects sketch a clear direction – a cleaner, more resilient system where Dubai stores its sunshine by day and spends it, efficiently, after dark.