Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, November 2nd / PRNewswire / -- ADIPEC 2026 officially commenced in Abu Dhabi today, with global leaders from the energy, government, finance, and technology sectors gathering together. Among them was Sam奥特曼 (Sam奥特曼), the CEO of OpenAI, to discuss how resilient energy systems, infrastructure investments, artificial intelligence, and international cooperation can enhance energy security and support future economic growth.
This conference is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Abu Dhabi, and is organized by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company ( ADNOC ). ADIPEC 2026 is the largest edition in the history of this event, and it is expected to attract 239,000 participants from over 170 countries. The focus of discussions on the opening day was on ensuring that energy remains reliable, accessible, and affordable while meeting the growing demand, as well as the increasing importance of supply resilience, smart energy systems, and long-term investment.
Against the backdrop of rising energy demand, geopolitical changes, and stressed infrastructure, the four-day event focused on enhancing resilience, mobilizing capital, and advancing the technologies and partnerships necessary to support long-term growth.
The opening ceremony began with a keynote speech delivered by His Excellency Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology of the United Arab Emirates, Chairman, Managing Director, and CEO of ADNOC. He stated that after a year of unprecedented turmoil that exposed critical vulnerabilities in the international supply chain, the global energy industry must fundamentally rethink how to build, protect, and deliver safe energy.
Al-Jaber stated that it is not possible to control every situation, nor is it possible to eliminate every risk. He said, "The choices we make today will determine the energy landscape ten years from now. Let us learn from the experiences we have already gained. Let us build up production capacity and everything that supports it. Let us establish partnerships that remain effective at critical moments. If you want a reliable partner, then you are in the right room, in the right city, in the right country. Because at the most critical times, you can rely on the United Arab Emirates."
In discussing more resilient energy systems, Al-Jaber stated that since the disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, nearly one billion barrels of crude oil have been consumed from reserves. He outlined five steps that the energy industry can take to mitigate the impact of future shocks.
First, accessible supply. We need to expand strategic reserves, increase finished product inventories, and allocate more flexible refining capacity closer to consumer markets. Second, the routes to market. Supply is only meaningful if it actually arrives. Infrastructure must be built in advance of demand and supported by advanced logistics. Third, operational intelligence. We need to shift from automated operations to intelligent energy systems that can predict risks in advance, optimize performance, and reduce the cost per barrel of crude oil. Fourth, capital follows confidence. Policies must create confidence, finance must accelerate it, and insurance must ensure that trade continues to function. Fifth, and I believe this is the most important point, it's about people. Behind every barrel of crude oil that arrives, there is a person who ensures its delivery. The system does not take responsibility; people do.
When discussing the resilience of the UAE during recent market turmoil, Al-Jaber stated: "It wasn't during this turmoil that we wrote our resilience manual; we wrote it years ago. This didn't exempt us from the impact, but it did prepare us. The foresight of our leadership in driving the modernization of ADNOC has played a role, from integrated transactions to investment in talent, to world-class logistics, to our global portfolio in natural gas, chemicals, and energy solutions."
The obvious result is that our end-to-end operation model, empowered by AI, is built to meet the needs of a world with growing demands. We are able to deliver what our customers need, when they need it, and where they need it. Our goal is to make ADNOC the most customer-centric energy company in the world.
The opening ceremony also included a speech and interview with OpenAI CEO Sam奥特曼, bringing a global technological perspective to the discussions surrounding the increasingly close relationship between artificial intelligence, energy demand, and infrastructure investment.
I am very excited to see AI helping and empowering the energy industry, and even more so to see that with the support of sufficient energy, people can draw inspiration, creativity, and leverage from AI, thereby enabling the world to achieve these wonderful things.
Ultraman emphasized the increasingly strong interdependence between AI and energy. He believes that while AI can help make energy systems more efficient, reliable, and innovative, the rapid expansion of AI will also require more energy. He stated that AI is being used more and more often as a platform for scientific discoveries and problem-solving, not just as a tool for productivity, and has the potential to change energy operations, material development, and system design.
Ultraman also praised the leadership of the UAE in the application of AI, and described the cooperation with ADNOC-G42-OpenAI as an example of applying advanced AI to real industrial challenges.
"I believe that the United Arab Emirates has always been one of the most forward-thinking countries in the world when it comes to the application of AI. From the very beginning of the release of ChatGPT, this country decided to fully commit to AI – both through the government and through the entire economy. This embrace is astonishing, and it comes from the leadership. People have realized that society needs to invest in these technologies," he said.
As the strategic meeting kicked off, the focus of discussion shifted to the decisions and investments required to strengthen energy systems and meet the growing global demand.
Opening the ministerial-level panel discussion titled "Energy Security is National Security: Building Resilient Supply in an Uncertain World," H.E. Suhail Mohammed Al-Mazroui, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure of the United Arab Emirates, discussed with H.E. Ekperikpe Ekoe, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Natural Gas) of Nigeria, how both countries can ensure secure and adequate energy supplies to support their respective economic growth targets.
When discussing the UAE's strategy to further enhance the resilience of its energy sector, Al Mazroui stated: "We need to establish additional layers of protection to ensure that we have sufficient resilience and spare capacity. All of this requires technology, and we also need AI to design better and become more resilient."
The opening of the CEO panel discussion titled "Energy Security in a Fragmented World: Designing Systems Capable of Withstanding Shocks" featured participants including Meg O'Neill, CEO of bp, Richard Jackson, President and CEO of Oxy, and Max Kreber, CEO of RWE AG. The discussion focused on how the industry can ensure supply, enhance operational resilience, and expand energy production capacity.
When discussing the challenges faced by the energy industry this year, Richard Jackson, President and CEO of Oxy, stated: "For us, after experiencing these shocks, our strategy is durability. We often talk about resilience, but within our team, we place more emphasis on long-term durability... We focus on sustainable cash flow and production, and we seize opportunities to invest in more durable capacity."
In addition to the conference hall, the ADIPEC 2026 exhibition area has also opened, with a total of 2,260 exhibitors spread across 16 exhibition halls. The exhibition brings together companies from around the global energy value chain to showcase technologies and solutions that support energy security, operational performance, and infrastructure development, while also creating opportunities for business cooperation and investment.
The scale of participation from Asia set a new record for this event, with booths from countries such as China, India, Malaysia, Singapore, and South Korea, totaling 30 national pavilions. Four thematic areas – AI, digitalization, low carbon, and chemicals and maritime logistics – brought together companies covering the entire energy value chain.
ADIPEC 2026 will last until November 5th, by which time over 1,800 speakers will participate in 13 conference programs and more than 380 sessions to discuss the priorities for shaping global energy. In the coming days, the discussions will focus on how to transform strategic priorities into investment decisions, partnerships, and practical solutions in order to strengthen today's energy systems and expand future production capacity.
For more information, please visit: https :// www.adipec.com /
