Rising energy demand and the rapid advance of artificial intelligence are reshaping the global energy sector, requiring countries to build cleaner, smarter and more resilient power systems, a senior UAE energy official said on Wednesday.
“Energy has never been more important. Demand continues to grow, technology is advancing at an exponential rate, and artificial intelligence is reshaping how we produce, manage, and consume energy,” Sharif Al Olama, Undersecretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs at the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, told the Leadership Summit at Middle East Energy 2026 in Dubai.
“The question before us is not simply how we generate more energy, but rather how do we build a cleaner, smarter, resilient, and sustainable energy system capable of supporting long-term economic growth?” he said.
Al Olama said the UAE was pursuing a “balanced yet pragmatic approach” to its energy future, combining energy transition with energy security and innovation with reliability.
“For the UAE, the journey is guided by a simple belief: energy is not an end in itself. Energy enables progress. It enables industry. It enables technology, it enables mobility, it enables prosperity, and increasingly, it enables national competitiveness,” he said.
His remarks came as the second day of the 50th edition of Middle East Energy focused on the technologies, investment and infrastructure needed to reshape the region's energy sector, with discussions ranging from artificial intelligence and digitalisation to grid flexibility, renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Senior government officials, utilities and global finance executives discussed the growing investment opportunities in renewable energy and the challenges of moving the energy transition from policy ambition to implementation, financing and execution.
Geopolitical and supply-chain risks also featured prominently at the Leadership Summit.
Former Spanish Energy Minister Alvaro Nadal and Patricia Espinosa, former Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, discussed how shifting strategic partnerships are affecting Europe's clean-energy transition and the need for investment in grids and infrastructure to ensure a secure and affordable low-carbon energy system.
Another session examined the restructuring of global clean-energy manufacturing and critical-mineral supply chains, with Peggy Liu, chairperson of the Joint US China Collaboration on Clean Energy, and Rebecca Harding, CEO of the Centre for Economic Security, highlighting the growing importance of logistics and shipping corridors.
The event also saw the launch by Red Sea Cables of a 132 kV high-voltage cable, expanding its manufacturing capabilities for energy, utilities, infrastructure and industrial applications across Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East.
Under the patronage of the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, the Global Energy Efficiency Alliance also held a roundtable attended by Al Olama and around 30 CEOs from global energy companies.
Several companies, including Siemens, Honeywell, Schneider Electric, First Abu Dhabi Bank, Hitachi Energy, Siemens Energy and Net0, subsequently signed memoranda of understanding with the ministry to support the alliance's energy-efficiency agenda.
Middle East Energy, running from September 1 to 3 at Dubai World Trade Centre, is also showcasing technologies spanning power transmission, renewable energy, energy efficiency, smart metering and artificial intelligence.
Among the products and technologies on display are SF6-free switchgear, smart utility meters, solar and fire-resistant cables, AI-powered safety training and high-voltage transmission equipment.
The exhibition is being held alongside a programme recognising energy-sector innovations, with awards presented to Rolycab Industries for Distribution Excellence, Momentive for Energy Efficiency, CE+T Power for Power Resilience and PVFARM for Renewable Energy Innovation. --TradeArabia News Service
