Today's Edition
ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)
Students from Zayed University have won the ADNOC-Bloomberg UAE Energy Investment Academy 2026, the second phase of the annual ADNOC-Bloomberg Trading Challenge.
Held as part of the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition & Conference (ADIPEC), the event offered UAE university students a unique opportunity to demonstrate their skills in commodities trading and data-driven energy analysis within a real-world environment.
Amanual Sahledingle, Meba Fisha, and Futaim Almansoori from the “Capital Dhabi” team were named the winners for their outstanding analytical approach and strategic insight into evolving global commodity markets. The winners are eligible for training placements with ADNOC Global Trading in 2027.
This year’s challenge brought together more than 200 students from six universities across the UAE, with five teams advancing to the final round.
Saif Al Falahi Acting Director, People, National Identity & Business Support at ADNOC, said: “We are proud of the outstanding performance and dedication demonstrated by participants in the ADNOC-Bloomberg Energy Investment Academy Challenge 2026 and warmly congratulate this year’s winners. The UAE’s future competitiveness will be defined by the strength of its people. Through our partnership with Bloomberg, we are connecting academic learning with real-world industry expertise to build capabilities that drive innovation and national competitiveness.”
BloombergNEF (BNEF), a strategic research provider covering global commodity markets and disruptive technologies driving the transition to a low-carbon economy, played a key role in designing this phase of the challenge. This year’s programme focused on the impact of geopolitical developments on global energy markets and the growing adoption of artificial intelligence across the oil and gas industry.
Through sessions led by BNEF analysts and industry experts, students examined how geopolitical developments are affecting commodity prices, supply chains and trade flows, as well as the potential implications for energy security and investment. They also explored how oil and gas companies are adopting advanced technologies, including generative and agentic AI, across areas such as exploration, drilling and production.
The second phase of the annual trading challenge forms part of the ADNOC-Bloomberg for Education Initiative, a collaboration between ADNOC and Bloomberg supporting the development of the UAE’s next generation of financial and energy-market professionals. Using Bloomberg Terminals, participating teams applied data and research to real-world market questions before presenting their analysis to a jury of energy sector experts.
Rajiv Mirwani, Head of Middle East Business at Bloomberg, said: "The challenge gives students an opportunity to work through the same questions that market professionals are navigating today. By using data to test assumptions, understand how markets respond to change and form their own views, students are developing the practical judgement that will be increasingly important as technology and AI reshape the energy and financial sectors."
Since its inception, this collaboration between ADNOC, Bloomberg, and the Ministry of Higher Education has supported over 9,000 students. More than 100 Bloomberg Terminals are installed across leading UAE universities — including Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi University, UAE University, New York University Abu Dhabi, and the Higher Colleges of Technology, providing hands-on access to global financial and commodity market data.
