How a UAE Utility Became the World's Most AI-Native Government Employer

DEWA — Dubai Electricity and Water Authority — just became the first government entity in the UAE to deploy Microsoft 365 Copilot Cowork. But here's what's even more remarkable: that headline moment is actually just the latest chapter in a nine-year AI journey that's completely transformed how 10,000-plus government employees work every single day. In this episode, we break down how DEWA built a genuinely AI-native workforce — not by rolling out a flashy tool and calling it done, but by layering AI into every division, from HR and Legal Affairs to Power Distribution and Water. Their internal AI assistant, Rammas for Work, has handled over 10.6 million inquiries. Their people now use AI to delegate complex multi-step workflows. And they've baked in LinkedIn Learning so employees actually grow alongside the technology. For HR leaders, this is the blueprint. DEWA shows what it looks like when you pair AI productivity tools with structured upskilling — and why starting with a humble chatbot in 2017 turned out to be the smartest long-term bet they ever made. If you're thinking about AI transformation in your organisation — whether you're in the public sector or not — this one's worth your full attention.