- UAE positions itself as a platform for energy and AI infrastructure, making long-term investments
- Sultan Al Jaber highlights continued role of hydrocarbons as data center electricity demand increases six-fold
- ADSW convenes governments, investors and technology companies as climate and industrial policy converge
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week kicked off its 2026 edition with a call for energy security, AI-powered industrial strategy and long-term investment as computing demands grow and climate change targets tighten. The event, hosted in the presence of President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, set a decisive tone for the year’s first major sustainability and climate gathering.
AI, power demand, energy systems
In his opening remarks, Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Chairman of Masdar, pointed to the global economy being reshaped by artificial intelligence, data centers and advanced manufacturing.
Dr Al Jaber said artificial intelligence is rewiring every industry, reshaping every sector and resetting expectations for global growth. The world around us is changing, but one thing remains the same. And that is energy. Every algorithm, every data center, every breakthrough in advanced technology requires electricity to power it. Simply put, without real energy there is no artificial intelligence.
Citing forecasts for the next 15 years, he predicted a six-fold increase in power demand for data centers, and rapid growth in consumption across mobility, buildings, and industrial production. The outlook includes an increase of 1.5 billion urban residents and a doubling of air travel.
Meeting all this demand responsibly, reliably and affordably means accepting the reality that more than 70 percent of energy supply still comes from hydrocarbons, he said. He described this as a catalyst rather than a constraint, arguing that sustainable progress is not about slowing growth, but about designing better engines.
UAE strategy spanning molecules, electronics, and AI
Dr Al Jaber framed the UAE’s national strategy as an integrated system linking hydrocarbons, renewable energy, nuclear power and advanced technologies. The world still needs molecules that make electrons, he said. That’s why we’ve always invested in both and merged them into a single integrated system.
He cited ADNOC’s low-carbon hydrocarbons, gigawatt-scale renewable assets developed through Masdar, the country’s flagship solar and nuclear projects, and custom-designed wind power capacity. He added that AI has become the operating system of the UAE’s industrial strategy, saying it is being embedded throughout the energy and industrial infrastructure to optimize every barrel, every megawatt and every production line.
Dr. Al Jaber credited President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed for establishing Masdar 20 years ago, noting that the company has contributed to reducing the cost of renewable energy by more than 90 percent and expanded its projects to more than 40 countries. Masdar is now more than two-thirds of the way towards its goal of a 100 GW portfolio.
Related article: Abu Dhabi Sustainable Finance Forum strengthens Abu Dhabi’s role in global climate finance
Capital, policy and partnerships
This speech was also a sales pitch to investors around the world. Addressing CEOs, technologists and policymakers, Dr Al Jaber said the UAE is an open platform for partnerships that provides stability, steady leadership, long-term vision, policy clarity, advanced logistics, financial services and smart capital. If you want to design the future, he said, that work is being done here. The corridor to the future runs through here. Gigawatts of power meet terabytes of data, energy meets intelligence, and progress is made where progress is not promised.
He linked this position to governance and values, describing the UAE as a country of peaceful coexistence, guided by wise management and focused on people. We believe that humans are the ultimate destination. In a world shaped by technology, our values are our north star, guiding how we invest, build and partner.
Heritage, human development and global impact
Dr. Al Jaber reflected on the legacy of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE, stressing that Sheikh Zayed defined progress in terms of only one criterion: human dignity. He believed that leadership is measured not by wealth or power, but by the difference it makes in people’s lives.
The Zayed Sustainability Award, whose ceremony took place during ADSW, was cited as a practical embodiment of this spirit. Dr Al Jaber pointed out that the award had a positive impact on more than 400 million people. He said the award is not symbolic, but practical and very human. This award saved lives and changed people’s lives for the lasting good.
Prospects and global significance for 2026
Dr Al Jaber concluded with an appeal to channel ambition, ideas, capital and technology into practical projects. The future of sustainable human progress awaits, and its address is Abu Dhabi, he said.
For policymakers and investors, ADSW 2026’s platform message is clear. The next phase of climate and sustainable development will be shaped by the intersection of AI infrastructure, electricity markets, and industrial strategy. Financing models, regulatory design and cross-border partnerships will determine whether we can meet growing energy demands amid climate constraints. As data center expansion expands and capital markets reassess long-term investment risks, the UAE is positioning itself as a place for both.
Follow ESG news on LinkedIn
