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.

Starkey today announces the regional introduction of Omega AI+, its most advanced hearing technology family ever. Powered by Starkey’s proprietary Quad deep neural network (DNN) Architecture and revolutionary G4 Gen AI Neuro Processor, Omega AI+ introduces the world’s first DNN Dual Compressor, an all-new feedback management system and expanded AI-powered performance across more products and adds new wellness and connectivity capabilities. Omega AI+ will be available through Starkey’s authorized partners.

At the core of Omega AI+ is Starkey’s G4 Gen AI Neuro Processor, with neural network intelligence built directly into the silicon. Featuring Starkey’s proprietary, breakthrough Quad DNN Architecture, Omega AI+ uses four specialized deep neural networks that work in concert to analyze, interpret, and optimize sound in real time. Inspired by how multiple neural systems in the human brain process information, the architecture enables faster, more natural hearing while maintaining exceptional power efficiency.

“The human brain relies on multiple neural systems working together to make sense of the world of sound,” said Achin Bhowmik, Ph.D., Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President of Engineering at Starkey. “Omega AI+ applies that same principle through our proprietary brain-inspired Quad DNN Architecture, where four specialized deep neural networks continuously work together to optimize speech understanding, environmental awareness, sound quality, and listening comfort. The result is faster, more intelligent, and more natural hearing.”

“Omega AI+ reflects where Starkey is taking hearing technology, and our vision for what it can become,” said Giscard Bechara, Managing Director, Starkey MEA FZCO. “We are not simply building better hearing aids. We are creating intelligent technology that understands, adapts, and responds more like the human brain itself. By bringing together our most advanced AI, exceptional sound quality, seamless connectivity, and health and wellness technology, Omega AI+ moves hearing technology beyond better hearing, helping people connect more naturally, live more confidently, and experience more of life.”

Why Hearing Health Matters

Hearing loss is a growing public health challenge worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly 2.5 billion people are projected to have some degree of hearing loss by 2050, and more than 700 million will require hearing rehabilitation. WHO also notes that unaddressed hearing loss poses an annual global cost of almost US$1 trillion.

“Hearing health is an essential part of overall well-being, and people across the Middle East deserve access to the most advanced hearing technology available,” added Giscard. “With Omega AI+, available through Starkey’s authorized partners, we look forward to helping more people in the region hear better, connect more fully, and live healthier lives.”

AI Performance Redefined

At the center of Omega AI+ is Starkey’s proprietary Quad DNN Architecture, where four specialized deep neural networks continuously analyze and optimize listening experiences in real time.

One of the architecture’s breakthrough innovations is the world’s first DNN Dual Compressor. Traditional hearing technology has long required a tradeoff between speech intelligibility and sound quality. Omega AI+ eliminates that compromise by intelligently determining when to optimize for speech clarity and when to preserve natural sound quality, creating a smoother and more natural listening experience.

Powered by the G4 Gen AI Neuro Processor, Omega AI+ processes sound up to 2.7 times faster than leading hearing aids that market DNN processing capabilities. The platform also introduces enhanced Edge Mode technology, which can remain active continuously to provide ongoing AI-driven optimization without requiring manual activation.

Bringing Advanced AI to More People

Omega AI+ extends Starkey’s most advanced AI technologies across a broader range of hearing solutions. Custom rechargeable products now feature Starkey’s proprietary DNN 360 technology, designed to improve speech intelligibility, enhance spatial awareness, and reduce listening effort.

The Omega AI+ family also expands to include custom non-wireless devices with Automatic Edge Mode, bringing dynamic environmental adaptation and premium AI-powered performance to Starkey’s smallest custom hearing aids.

Omega AI+ also supports Auracast™ broadcast audio, enabling wearers to access compatible public and personal audio broadcasts while staying connected to conversations, entertainment, and important information.

By combining a groundbreaking Quad DNN Architecture, the world’s first DNN Dual Compressor, advanced wellness capabilities, and seamless connectivity, Omega AI+ establishes a new benchmark for intelligent hearing technology and reinforces Starkey’s vision of helping people hear better, connect more fully, and live healthier lives.

As geopolitical shifts, changing trade relationships and evolving financial conditions reshape the global economic landscape, RISE Summit 2026 brought together leading investors, policymakers, developers and industry decision-makers at Dubai World Trade Centre today to examine where capital is moving and where the next phase of global growth could emerge.

Held under the theme ‘Recharging Momentum in Global Economies,’ the Summit explored how changing investment priorities are influencing global markets, infrastructure, cities and real estate, alongside the future experience economy spanning hospitality, tourism and new models of urban growth.

The UAE’s broader economic transformation was also a central theme of the Summit. Speaking during ‘From Resilience to Opportunity in a Realigning World,’ H.E. Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism, highlighted the country’s focus on building a more productive economy.

His Excellency said: “When you ask about 2027, we’re not going to come back to the same economy. We’re going to have a different economy in 2027, a more productive economy.”

Global Leaders Series examines international forces sharping investment landscape

The Summit opened with its Global Leaders Series, examining the changing dynamics of international capital and the forces reshaping long-term investment decisions. In ‘The Great Capital Shift,’ José Manuel Barroso, Chairman of International Advisors at Goldman Sachs and former President of the European Commission, examined how geopolitical and economic realignment is changing perceptions of where capital can be deployed safely and productively, and which markets are emerging as beneficiaries of this shift.

This was followed by Ludovic Subran, Group Chief Investment Officer and Chief Economist at Allianz, who addressed the implications of the changing interest-rate environment for institutional investors in ‘Long-Term Capital in a Higher-Rate World’, including the evolving balance between fixed income, real estate, infrastructure and private markets.

Highlighting the need for investors to adapt to a rapidly evolving global landscape, Barroso said: “We are witnessing a fundamental change. This is not only geopolitical; it is also a scientific and technological revolution, and the way we allocate capital is going to change phenomenally. Long-term investors need to think strategically about what will change markets in the years ahead – energy, infrastructure, technology and defence. Don’t pay any price for growth, keep some liquidity and, above all, diversify – geographically and across sectors. For me, that is the key.”

On the Gulf’s position within shifting global capital flows, Barroso added: “Global competition is going to continue. The US will remain the central part of the world economy because of the pre-eminence of the dollar, its advances in innovation and science and its geopolitical power. At the same time, global investors will not want to be so heavily exposed to the US, so there will be diversification. The Gulf has been wise in keeping its options open, using its centrality to play an articulation role between new destinations for investment.”

Looking beyond the AI investment boom

Turning to the global growth outlook, Subran highlighted the increasing influence of AI investment on economic momentum, while warning of growing caution across the wider economy. With data-centre investment and AI-related capital expenditure continuing to underpin growth, he questioned what could emerge as the next major economic driver as the current cycle eventually begins to shift.

Subran said: “My main concern is whether the US can sustain the momentum we have seen so far with what is coming in 2027. Global trade is in recession this year if you take out AI, which shows how much the AI economy and data-centre capex are driving global and US growth. At some point that will inflect, and we need to understand what comes next. Outside AI, firms are already very cautious about the future and about making their next investment.”

Against this higher-rate backdrop, Subran also pointed to a changing role for real assets within institutional portfolios, as the boundaries between real estate, infrastructure and technology become increasingly blurred.

He added: “Real estate is really morphing into something much more complicated. The lines between real estate and infrastructure are getting blurred, particularly across logistics and warehousing, creating interesting opportunities for portfolio construction.”

Deepening global appeal through local strength

Dubai’s own development trajectory formed another major strand of discussion. Mohamed Alabbar, Founder and Managing Director of Emaar Properties, examined the role of long-term conviction in city-building and why major development can continue through changing market cycles, while H.E. Issam Kazim, CEO of Dubai Corporation for Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) explored the economic architecture underpinning Dubai’s resilience and the next phase of growth under the D33 Economic Agenda.

Pointing to Dubai’s established strengths across multiple sectors, Kazim highlighted how the D33 agenda is building on existing foundations to deepen the city’s appeal to international businesses and investors, supported by its connectivity to global markets.

Kazim said: “When we started our D33 strategy, we focused on industries including logistics, manufacturing, financial services and tourism. None of these were new industries for us; we were already strong in them, but perhaps we were not as vocal about them. Today, we are doubling down on those strengths. Companies establish their regional headquarters in Dubai not simply for the four million residents here, but because of the global population and markets they can reach from Dubai.”

Tourism remains central to this proposition, with Kazim emphasising the value of attracting visitors who develop a lasting relationship with the city and become advocates for Dubai beyond their initial stay.

He added: “For me, the biggest value is quality rather than quantity. The quality visitors who come to Dubai become genuine advocates of the city because they understand the value Dubai adds. Around 25% of our visitors are repeat visitors within 12 months. That is a significant number, and it demonstrates the kind of relationship people develop with Dubai after experiencing the city.”

Beyond the macroeconomic outlook, RISE Summit examined how changing investment priorities are translating into opportunities across the built environment and the infrastructure needed to support future economic growth.

Across the programme, RISE Summit 2026 highlighted a changing investment environment in which capital remains available, but investors are becoming increasingly selective about markets, assets and partnerships. Discussions heard by over 500 delegates pointed to economic resilience, infrastructure capacity, regulatory clarity and access to long-term growth as increasingly important factors shaping global investment decisions.

By connecting institutional investors, sovereign capital, private equity, family offices, policymakers, developers and project owners, RISE Summit provides a platform for senior decision-makers to examine how global economic change is translating into new opportunities across markets, infrastructure, cities and real estate.