Today's Edition
BATOOL GHAITH (ABU DHABI)
Energy security, resilient supply chains, artificial intelligence and investment will take centre stage at ADIPEC 2026, as the global energy industry responds to rising demand and growing pressure on infrastructure and power systems.
ADIPEC will run from November 2 to 5 in Abu Dhabi, under the patronage of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and is expected to attract more than 239,000 attendees, 2,250 exhibiting companies and 1,800 speakers across 13 conference programmes.
During a media briefing on Thursday, Abdulmunim Al Kindy, Chair of ADIPEC, said this year’s event comes at a pivotal time for the global energy sector.
“The events of 2026 have underscored a fundamental truth that energy security is the foundation of economic stability. When energy supplies falter, the consequences extend to supply chains, businesses, prices and daily life in societies worldwide,” Al Kindy said.
He also noted that the recent events demonstrated that energy security depends on more than production alone, requiring processing capacity, infrastructure, storage, logistics and companies capable of keeping the wider system functioning during disruption.
At the same time, global energy demand continues to rise, driven by economic growth, increasing electrification and the expansion of artificial intelligence, Al Kindy added.
“We need more energy from various sources and in more reliable forms, to achieve this, we require further investments, enhanced use of advanced technology and the formation of necessary partnerships, which is the core of ADIPEC’s agenda,” he noted.
Strong Asian Presence
Al Kindy announced that this year, the event will record its largest Asian participation to date, with 353 companies and 6 national pavilions representing China, India, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea.
“Asia is the largest hub for global energy demand, and ADIPEC plays a crucial role in connecting this demand with the necessary supplies, capital and technology,” Al Kindy said.
He said that around 40 energy ministers from different countries are also expected to participate.
Al Kindy also highlighted ADNOC’s experience in strengthening resilience, infrastructure and production efficiency.
Over the past decade, ADNOC has increased production efficiency by around 75% and developed an integrated value chain connecting 18 ADNOC companies, according to Al Kindy.
ADNOC’s transport fleet now includes more than 340 ships serving over 50 countries, while more than 200 AI applications are being used to improve performance and competitiveness, he highlighted.
Al Kindy also said that ADNOC plans to invest $150 billion between 2026 and 2030 to strengthen supply, improve reliability, expand the use of smart technologies and generate sustainable economic value.
He also pointed to ADIPEC’s commercial impact, saying last year’s edition generated more than 49,000 business deals worth over $53 billion.
Growing Role of AI
Haitham Al Jenaibi, Executive Vice President, Development & Production (Gas), and ADIPEC Technical Conference Chair, said this year’s technical conference reflects the growing role of AI and automation in energy.
The Technical Conference received more than 7,200 technical paper submissions, including contributions from 27 countries submitting papers for the first time. More than 1,200 papers focused on AI and automation, the largest category among submissions, according to Al Jenaibi.
“The question is no longer how to adopt these technologies, but how to expand their application, how to achieve tangible impact from them, and how to share these applications,” Al Jenaibi said.
He indicated that the conference is designed to turn technical ideas into viable projects, pointing to previous concepts presented at ADIPEC that later progressed into real developments. “The world needs reliable energy at reasonable prices and with lower emissions,” he noted.
Firmly Rooted in Abu Dhabi, Globally Connected
Thomas Löffler, Executive Vice President at dmg events, said ADIPEC remains firmly rooted in Abu Dhabi while serving as a global platform connecting energy companies, investors and technology providers.
He said 75% of exhibitors this year will be international and 25% from the UAE, while 56% of visitors are expected from outside the country and 44% from the UAE, as more than 172 countries are expected to participate, alongside 30 country pavilions.
Löffler also said that last year’s event generated an estimated $420 million in economic benefits for Abu Dhabi, including hospitality, tourism and travel.
He reaffirmed that the UAE’s combination of energy resources, capital, advanced technology and stability positions it strongly as energy security and economic competitiveness become increasingly connected.
“We have witnessed disrupted energy flows, and we can see increased pressure on power systems, mainly driven by the increase and the demand of AI and industrial growth, therefore energy, security, economic stability and competitiveness are moving closer together,” Löffler said.
He also stressed that ADIPEC 2026 comes at a very important time, bringing together the leaders from across the world to discuss the decisions that need to be made today.
Löffler also announced that technology will also feature more prominently this year, including an expanded AI and robotics zone, while the conference programme will include dedicated discussions on energy security and resilience, policy and regulation, clean power and carbon management, infrastructure, industrial execution and workforce skills.
ADIPEC 2026 will also expand its youth programme, he noted, engaging more than 1,200 high-school students and 600 university students, supported by more than 300 academic advisers and professors.
Löffler noted that the event will bring together global decision makers in Abu Dhabi to discuss the investment, technology and partnerships needed to respond to the next phase of global energy demand.
