More than 239,000 attendees from over 170 countries are expected in Abu Dhabi as global energy leaders focus on energy security, AI, infrastructure investment and industrial growth
ADIPEC 2026 will open on Monday, 2 November, bringing together more than 40 government ministers, global CEOs, policymakers and industry leaders for four days of discussions focused on energy security, investment, technological innovation and the future of global energy systems.
Hosted by ADNOC and held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, the event will feature a record 2,260 exhibiting companies, more than 1,800 speakers and over 380 conference sessions across 13 programmes.
More than 239,000 attendees from over 170 countries are expected to participate in what organisers describe as the world’s largest energy event.
The exhibition has reached full capacity across 16 halls at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, prompting organisers to relocate the Opening Ceremony to the Abu Dhabi Energy Centre to accommodate additional exhibition space.
Major participating energy companies include bp, TotalEnergies, Shell, Eni, Chevron, Occidental Petroleum (Oxy), ExxonMobil, NNPC and INPEX. Technology and industrial companies, including Siemens AG, IBM and Microsoft, will also participate, highlighting the growing convergence of energy, digital infrastructure and advanced technologies.
The event comes amid increasing global energy demand, geopolitical uncertainty and mounting pressure on infrastructure investment, placing energy security, resilience and industrial competitiveness among the industry’s leading priorities.
Global energy leaders to address security and investment
The Opening Ceremony will feature an address by His Excellency Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and ADNOC Managing Director and Group CEO, outlining key priorities for the global energy sector.
A ministerial discussion titled “The power shift: strengthening energy security in a changing world” will bring together H.E. Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure; H.E. Katherina Reiche, Germany’s Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy; H.E. Dr Alparslan Bayraktar, Türkiye’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources; and H.E. Karim Badawi, Egypt’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources.
The discussion will examine policy frameworks, investment priorities and international partnerships needed to strengthen energy security while maintaining affordable energy supplies and supporting economic development.
Senior industry executives expected to participate include Meg O’Neill, CEO of bp; Richard Jackson, President and CEO of Oxy; Dr Roland Busch, President and CEO of Siemens AG; Lorenzo Simonelli, Chairman and CEO of Baker Hughes; and Takayuki Ueda, President and CEO of INPEX.
Christopher Hudson, President of dmg events, the organiser of ADIPEC, said the unprecedented demand for exhibition space reflects the industry’s commitment to international collaboration and business engagement.
“The industry’s commitment to ADIPEC is clear. We have a record-breaking 2,260 exhibiting companies, with the exhibition venue fully sold out and additional structures built to accommodate demand. We’ve also relocated the Opening Ceremony to create even more exhibition space,” Hudson said.
He added that the event’s importance extends beyond participation numbers, particularly as governments and businesses navigate challenges surrounding energy security, resilience and competitiveness.
“ADIPEC is where the industry does business, partnerships take shape and decisions become action. We look forward to welcoming the global energy community to Abu Dhabi for our largest edition yet,” he said.
AI and digitalisation gain greater prominence
Artificial intelligence, automation and digital transformation will feature prominently at ADIPEC 2026, reflecting the increasing role of advanced technologies in improving energy production, operational efficiency and infrastructure resilience.
Four specialised industry zones — AI, Digitalisation, Low Carbon & Chemicals, and Maritime & Logistics — will showcase solutions designed to address evolving requirements across the global energy value chain.
The expanded AI Zone, co-hosted by AIQ, will focus on practical applications of artificial intelligence, robotics, automation and advanced analytics in energy operations.
Exhibitors will demonstrate how emerging technologies can support operational performance, improve asset reliability, optimise industrial processes and strengthen energy supply systems.
Participation from technology companies such as Microsoft, IBM and Siemens AG will further highlight the importance of digital platforms, intelligent automation and industrial innovation in the sector’s transformation.
Asian participation reaches new high
ADIPEC 2026 will also witness its strongest-ever participation from Asia, with 353 companies exhibiting alongside six country pavilions representing China, India, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea.
The increased representation reflects Asia’s expanding influence on global energy demand, industrial manufacturing, infrastructure development and investment.
Overall, the exhibition will feature 30 country pavilions and 54 national and international oil and energy companies, providing opportunities for cross-border partnerships, commercial agreements and technology collaboration.
The expanded international presence is expected to support discussions on investment flows, supply chain resilience and the development of infrastructure required to meet future energy demand.
Conference programmes target emerging industry priorities
The conference agenda will feature more than 1,800 speakers across 13 programmes and over 380 sessions, covering energy security, infrastructure investment, natural gas and LNG, artificial intelligence, industrial competitiveness and workforce development.
Six new Strategic Conference programmes will address Energy Security & Resilience; Policy, Regulation & Governance; Upstream; Clean Power, Molecules & Carbon Management; Grids, Infrastructure & Industrial Execution; and Workforce & Skills.
The programmes are designed to examine the policies, technologies and investment approaches needed to maintain reliable energy supplies while building capacity for long-term economic growth.
Complementing the strategic discussions, the ADIPEC Technical Conference will bring together engineers, researchers and technical specialists to exchange expertise on improving operational performance, reliability and efficiency.
With energy demand continuing to rise and infrastructure requirements becoming increasingly complex, ADIPEC 2026 aims to facilitate cooperation among governments, energy producers, technology providers and investors.
The four-day event will take place from 2–5 November at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, positioning the UAE as a meeting point for international energy dialogue, technology collaboration and investment.
Source: Tahawul Tech