The global energy industry has gathered in the UAE capital this morning, as ADIPEC 2026 opens its doors at a time of high oil prices and unsettled shipping lanes.
The four-day event brings together more than 40 ministers, policymakers, regulators and global chief executives for high-level discussions, investment and business engagement. It runs from 2 to 5 November at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, under the patronage of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. ADNOC is the host.
A sold-out show
Demand for space has forced a change of plan. Organisers have moved the opening ceremony to the Abu Dhabi Energy Centre to create more exhibition space at ADNEC. The exhibition will feature 2,260 companies, including 54 national and international oil and energy companies, as well as 30 country pavilions.
Organisers expect more than 239,000 visitors from upwards of 170 countries, and every one of the 16 halls at ADNEC has been booked. Christopher Hudson, president of organiser dmg events, described the event as the industry’s largest edition yet.
Who is speaking
Chief executives scheduled to attend include Meg O’Neill of bp, Richard Jackson of Oxy, Dr Roland Busch of Siemens, Lorenzo Simonelli of Baker Hughes and Takayuki Ueda of INPEX. Other energy majors, including TotalEnergies, Shell, Eni, Chevron and ExxonMobil, are also listed among the participants.
The conference programme covers 13 streams, with more than 1,800 speakers across 380 sessions. Topics include upstream development, clean molecules, power grids and workforce skills. Artificial intelligence and the financing of energy infrastructure are also on the agenda.
Asia at the centre
Asia will have its strongest representation yet at this edition. That fits the commercial logic of the show. Asian buyers are among the biggest customers of Gulf crude and gas, and security of supply is a central worry for them while shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains disrupted. For those buyers, ADIPEC offers a chance to talk with Gulf producers about supply security, infrastructure investment and long-term partnerships.
The scale of the deal-making
ADIPEC is also a business event. Organisers say last year’s edition recorded 49,131 agreements worth $53 billion, and they expect more to be announced this time. Those figures are the organisers’ own and cover agreements of all sizes, so they should be read as a measure of activity and not as new investment.
A tense backdrop
The event opens against a difficult market. Brent crude was trading around $111 a barrel this morning, and the regional conflict continues to affect shipping. ADNOC has said it plans to move more crude outside the Strait of Hormuz, a topic likely to feature in conversations at the show. Expect energy security to dominate the opening sessions.
What drivers need to know
The event brings a surge of visitors to the capital, and Abu Dhabi has responded with traffic measures. Abu Dhabi Mobility has announced temporary transport restrictions from 2 to 5 November. Heavy trucks are restricted on Abu Dhabi Island around the clock, while labour buses face restrictions between 6.30am and 8pm daily.
Motorists heading to or past ADNEC should allow extra time, particularly at peak hours. Parking restrictions have also been announced around the venue, and drivers should check the latest notices before setting out.
Opening hours and access
Exhibition hours are 10am to 6.30pm on 2, 3 and 4 November, and 10am to 5.30pm on 5 November. The opening ceremony is by invitation only. Young ADIPEC finalists present their solutions on the final day.
Why it matters beyond the halls
ADIPEC is one of the few places where producers, buyers, financiers and technology companies sit in the same building within a few days of one another. For the UAE, it is also a showcase. The country wants to be seen as a reliable supplier and a centre for energy technology at a moment when reliability is hard to guarantee.
Over the coming days, announcements on partnerships, technology and investment are likely to follow. The Emirates Times will report the main developments as they emerge.
