Government and public sector leaders from across the GCC will gather in Abu Dhabi on 20th and 21st October 2026 for the 14th Annual GCC GOV HR & Youth Summit and Awards, taking place at the Grand Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel & Residences Emirates Pearl. Organised by QNA International, the region’s most exclusive B2B public sector HR platform will bring together CHROs, People Leaders, policymakers and change agents under the theme Time of Opportunities: Uncovering the New Realities of Work.

As governments across the GCC advance their national transformation agendas, the challenge is no longer simply to modernise systems or introduce new technologies, but to build institutions that can translate innovation into meaningful outcomes for people. This requires a more integrated approach to workforce transformation, one that brings together digital capability, adaptive leadership, employee experience and a culture of continuous learning.

Ahead of the event, Advisory Board Members and speakers have shared the shifts they expect to define government work across the region.

From Measuring Volume to Measuring Impact

His Highness Captain Shaikh Abdulaziz Sultan Al Nuaimi, Director of Excellence Awards Branch, Ajman Police, UAE, said: “Government excellence requires a shift from measuring the volume of achievements to measuring impact, added value, and the capacity for anticipation and adaptation.”

His Excellency Mohamed Al Marzooqi, Executive Director Of Support Services, Government Entity, UAE, added: “The future of government support services is not about doing the same things faster; it is about doing things differently and creating greater value for people.”

For HR, that means a new role. Brigadier Rashid Nasser Rashid Abdullah, Director of the General Department of Human Resources, Dubai Police, UAE, said: “The biggest shift facing government HR leaders in the GCC today is moving from managing workforces to unlocking leaders.” He added: “Our job is no longer to plan for one future, but to build institutions ready for many, and people who are trusted to learn, adapt, and take initiative.”

Dr. Ebrahim Al Khajeh, Human Resources Director, Abu Dhabi Customs, UAE, named the same turning point: “The shift from traditional HR to strategic workforce transformation.”

These themes reflect the Summit’s focus areas of Human-Centric Government and Disruptive Leadership.

AI, Accountability and Trust

His Excellency Mohamed Al Marzooqi said: “Our greatest challenge is not adopting AI; it is preparing our people and our institutions to work differently because of AI.”

Maitha A. Balfaqeeh, Senior Vice President of Shared Services, ADNOC Gas, UAE, said: “Technology and AI are fundamentally reshaping the role of shared services — moving them from primarily transactional functions to becoming more intelligent, predictive, and employee-centric.”

Iman Khalid Al Marzouqi, Group Chief Support Services Officer, Alpha Dhabi Holding, UAE, said: “HR leaders must help shape how AI is used, how decisions affecting people are made, and who remains accountable.”

These conversations connect to the Summit’s focus areas of AI-First Workforce, Agentic Intelligence, Workforce Intelligence and Trust, Talent, and Resilience.

National Talent and the Next Generation

From Saudi Arabia, Reem AlRehaili, Chief of Corporate Services, ARDARA (PIF), Saudi Arabia, said: “Vision 2030 asks us to do more than increase the number of Saudis in the workforce, it asks us to build their capability.” She added: “The most powerful thing we can offer is not a package. It is a purpose.”

Dr. Ebrahim Al Khajeh said: “Government organizations are increasingly prioritizing national talent development, digital skills, and leadership capabilities rather than simply filling vacancies.”

His Highness Captain Shaikh Abdulaziz Sultan Al Nuaimi said: “Young professionals are essential partners in shaping the future of government work, with their digital skills, capacity for innovation, and ability to adapt rapidly.”

Iman Khalid Al Marzouqi said: “We need to understand their strengths, give them meaningful responsibility, and provide mentors who are personally invested in their progress.”

Advising young professionals, Maitha Ahmed Balfaqeeh said: “Future leaders need to understand the business, not only their own function.” Reem AlRehaili’s message to young women entering the workforce was: “The door is open. What matters now is what you do once you walk through it.”

These perspectives are at the heart of the Summit’s Nationalization 2.0, Workforce 2035 and GCC Next-Gen Leaders tracks.

Why This Summit, Why Now

Brigadier Rashid Nasser Rashid Abdullah said: “This Summit matters now because change is moving faster than institutions can respond, and the UAE has chosen not to wait.”

Sidh N.C., Director of QNA International, said: “The voices ahead of this year’s Summit point in one direction: government HR in the GCC is moving from administering the workforce to leading change. Over two days in Abu Dhabi, we will bring together the leaders, the ideas and the young talent shaping the next chapter of public service across the region.”

The 14th Annual GCC GOV HR & Youth Summit and Awards 2026  will provide a platform for public sector leaders to exchange practical insights, challenge established approaches and explore how government HR can evolve from a support function into a strategic driver of institutional performance, national talent development and long-term public value.

ASUS Republic of Gamers (ROG) today announced that the limited-edition ROG XBOX Ally X20 Bundle is now available in the UAE for AED 10,999 through the ASUS UAE eShop and participating retailers. Celebrating two decades of ROG, the collection brings together an upgraded gaming handheld, a wearable virtual display and coordinated protective accessories in a complete setup designed to move from home to wherever players choose to game.

A new chapter for an anniversary handheld

The ROG XBOX Ally X20 combines a translucent black chassis with gold-accented internal details and an exclusive 20th anniversary badge. The design offers a glimpse inside the device while giving the collection a distinctive identity for ROG enthusiasts and collectors.

A 7.4-inch ROG Nebula HDR OLED display delivers rich contrast, a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 1,400 nits of peak HDR brightness. Powered by the AMD Ryzen AI Z2 Extreme processor, with 24GB of memory and 1TB of storage, the handheld brings PC gaming into a portable format. TMR joysticks designed to resist drift, a transforming D-pad and refined face buttons provide greater flexibility and control across different game styles.

A big screen experience that travels with you

The included ROG XREAL R1 Edition 20 Gaming AR Glasses connect directly to the handheld through a single USB-C cable, creating a virtual screen of up to 171 inches viewed from four metres away. Micro-OLED displays and sound by Bose bring games closer, whether players are relaxing at home or travelling. The glasses support a 240Hz refresh rate with Frame Rate Boost enabled, while Follow Mode and Anchor Mode allow the virtual screen to move with the player’s head or remain fixed in place.

Matching black-and-gold accents connect the glasses to the anniversary design, while Command Center integration provides convenient access to their settings from the handheld.

Designed to carry the whole experience

The custom dbrand Killswitch adds everyday protection, a kickstand, ROG-branded joystick grips and an exclusive skin featuring a circuit pattern inspired by the handheld’s internals. A custom Pelican Protector Case, finished with ROG-red latches and a 20th anniversary badge, keeps the device and accessories together during travel. A 68W adapter completes the bundle.

Availability and pricing

The limited-edition ROG XBOX Ally X20 Bundle is available now for AED 10,999 through the ASUS UAE eShop and participating retailers including Geekay, Virgin Megastore, Sharaf DG, Amazon UAE, Emax, Jumbo and Carrefour. Stock and availability may vary by retailer.

UAE gamers can also join the ROG Elite Program to take part in activities, earn points and explore rewards while staying connected to the ROG community.

The Middle East’s unparalleled influence on global energy security, investment and industrial development will take centre stage at ADIPEC 2026, as Abu Dhabi welcomes regional and international energy leaders from 2-5 November.

Long established as a cornerstone of global energy supply, the region will help shape the next phase of energy development through major investments in infrastructure, technology and industrial capacity. Against a backdrop of rising energy demand and geopolitical uncertainty, ADIPEC will connect this regional strength with international expertise, capital and markets to advance the partnerships and decisions needed to secure energy today and power future growth.

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and hosted by ADNOC, ADIPEC 2026 will take place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, with an expected 239,000 attendees from more than 170 countries, over 2,250 exhibiting companies, 1,800 speakers and 30 country pavilions.

Reflecting the continued growth of the event and strong demand for exhibition space, this year’s Opening Ceremony will be held at the Abu Dhabi Energy Centre, creating additional exhibition capacity at the ADNEC Centre while providing a dedicated forum for ADIPEC’s opening leadership programme.

Abdulmunim Saif Al Kindy, Chair of ADIPEC, said: “This year’s ADIPEC comes at a defining moment for the global energy industry. We face the challenge of a more disrupted and exposed system, meeting a more energy intensive economy. But, while shocks and conflicts disrupt the system, the world needs more energy, in more forms, delivered more reliably to meet rising demand. And we need the investment, advanced technology and partnerships to make that happen. That is the agenda for action at ADIPEC 2026.

“The continued growth of ADIPEC also reflects confidence in Abu Dhabi as a trusted destination for business, investment and international engagement. At a time when uncertainty is creating challenges across markets, bringing people together to exchange ideas, strengthen relationships build partnerships and conduct business has never been more important.”

Confirmed regional government and institutional speakers, at ADIPEC 2026, include H.E. Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure; H.E. Eng. Karim Badawi, Egypt’s Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources; H.E. Saleh Kharabsheh, Jordan’s Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources; H.E. Dr Mohamed bin Mubarak Bin Daina, Bahrain’s Minister of Oil and Environment and Special Envoy for Climate Affairs; H.E. Joseph Al-Saadi, Lebanon’s Minister of Energy; H.E. Dr Khalifa Rajab Abdulsadek, Libya’s Minister of Oil and Gas; and H.E. Jassim Alshirawi, Secretary General of the International Energy Forum. They join ministers from around the world, including HE Katharina Reiche, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy, Germany; HE Dr Alparslan Bayraktar, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Türkiye; and HE Takagi Kei, State Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan.

The region’s energy and industrial leadership will also be represented by major companies including ADNOC, XRG, Masdar, TAQA, Mubadala Energy, AIQ, Borouge, Fertiglobe, and Bapco Energies. They will join international organisations including Shell, bp, TotalEnergies, Eni, Equinor, SLB, Baker Hughes, Siemens Energy, GE Vernova and Microsoft.

Advancing investment and energy security

The UAE’s expanding international energy investments reflect the region’s important role. Through companies such as ADNOC, XRG, Masdar and Mubadala Energy, the country is extending its global reach across natural gas, chemicals, renewable energy and energy infrastructure, strengthening international partnerships and developing projects that connect regional capabilities with global demand.

As energy security becomes increasingly central to economic stability and industrial competitiveness, sustained investment will be essential to strengthen reliability, expand capacity and build the energy systems needed for future growth.

Mohamed Al Aryani, President, International Gas at XRG, said: “Building secure, resilient energy systems takes more than capital. It requires partnerships that connect resources, infrastructure and customers across markets and geographies. At XRG, we bring financial discipline, long-term capital and deep energy expertise to investments across gas, chemicals and energy infrastructure, working alongside experienced local and international partners. That is why ADIPEC is more important than ever as a forum for the industry to unlock investment and forge the partnerships needed to strengthen energy security and support global growth.”

On the exhibition floor, ADIPEC’s expanded AI Zone, co-hosted by AIQ, will showcase how artificial intelligence, robotics and digital technologies are moving from concept to commercial deployment across the energy sector. 

Bringing together technology innovators, energy operators and project owners, the Zone will feature real-world applications spanning reservoir modelling, autonomous upstream operations, infrastructure inspection, grid management and subsea robotics. Exhibitors including Honeywell, EY, Gecko Robotics, Stone Ridge Technology and Sinaha will demonstrate how intelligent technologies are helping improve operational performance, enhance reliability, optimise asset management and accelerate decision-making. 

Strong global participation ahead of ADIPEC 2026

Thomas Löffler, Executive Vice President, dmg events, said: “ADIPEC brings together a unique combination of energy producers, investors, technology leaders and industrial companies at a scale few events globally can match. At a time of rising demand and significant investment requirements, those conversations and partnerships have never been more important. 

“The level of industry participation this year shows just how important ADIPEC has become as a global platform for energy. We’re seeing strong commitment from across the Middle East and internationally, with leaders coming to Abu Dhabi to discuss shared priorities, explore new opportunities and build partnerships. That’s what makes ADIPEC so valuable, particularly at a time when the industry needs to work more closely together.”

Across 13 conference programmes and more than 380 sessions, ADIPEC will address priorities including energy security and resilience, investment, infrastructure, natural gas and LNG, AI and advanced technologies, and industrial growth.

The exhibition will span 16 halls and four specialised industry zones, providing a global marketplace for technology, projects and commercial partnerships.