Energy technology leaders gear up for Innovation Summit in Abu Dhabi

The summit will bring together global energy and technology leaders as well as government officials to advance the regional shift towards energy intelligence, as data center growth, AI adoption, and national visions place unprecedented demands on energy systems.

The Summit comes at a time when the Middle East and Africa, experience exponential growth driven by national visions, giga-projects, and rapid expansion in AI, data centers, and digital infrastructure. 

With global electricity demand forecast to increase at a brisk CAGR of 3.6% over the 2026-2030 period and global AI workloads projected to lead a 160% increase in data center power demand, the imperative for intelligent, sustainable energy solutions is critical.

Schneider Electric, a global energy technology leader, said the Summit underscores its dedication to accelerating energy technology innovation and powering energy intelligence throughout the region. 

“This edition will emphasize our emergence as the trusted energy technology partner guiding the region’s next phase of transformation,” said Walid Sheta, Zone President, Middle East and Africa, Schneider Electric. 

The company is advancing its energy technology ambitions with the integration of electrification, automation and digital intelligence, deployed across buildings, data centers, industrial applications and power grids to unlock the full value of energy, and ensure efficiency and sustainability for all.

“Energy today is the foundation of national resilience and competitiveness. With electricity consumption in the Middle East and North Africa having tripled since 2000 and on course to grow at an incremental 3-4% every year to register a whopping 50% by 2035 – driven by surging cooling, desalination, and urbanization demands, the region is at an inflection point,” added Sheta.  

UAE’s net-zero ambitions and large-scale investments in power and digital infrastructure highlight the scale of the challenge and the opportunity to embed energy intelligence into the region’s next wave of growth. 

The 2026 Summit will highlight regional benchmarks from 80+ countries, from the 100% elimination of SF6 and Carbon footprint reduction for fruit producers in South Africa to the savings that EcoStruxure Power & Grid is enabling for National Electricity Company, Senegal – ensuring recovery times of 3 minutes versus 3 hours earlier. 

The summit will be made up of keynotes and thought leadership sessions, innovation hub experiences, and stakeholder recognitions.