In The Spotlight
Belgacem Merad, senior vice president for the Middle East & North Africa, Weatherford. (Image source: Weatherford)
Betting on local talent and AI to strengthen energy resilience
In an exclusive interview with Oil Review Middle East, Belgacem Merad, senior vice president for the Middle East and North Africa at Weatherford, discusses how the company is expanding its focus in the Middle East on regional manufacturing, unconventional resources and digital technology as producers navigate supply disruptions
Speaking on the sidelines of ADIPEC 2026 in Abu Dhabi, Merad said that the company is prioritising local talent, manufacturing and artificial intelligence to strengthen its Middle East operations as geopolitical tensions put renewed pressure on global energy supply chains.
The region's extensive production infrastructure, export capabilities and alternative transportation routes would remain critical to global energy security despite ongoing disruptions.
Merad expressed confidence in the region's ability to maintain its position as a dependable energy supplier, pointing to its diverse hydrocarbon resources, established infrastructure and growing investment in technology.
The Middle East's ability to produce, transport and export energy through different routes gives it a strategic advantage, he said, particularly as producers look to improve the resilience and flexibility of their operations.
Beyond its conventional oil and gas resources, the region has also invested in lower-carbon energy initiatives and technologies designed to improve operational efficiency.
AI is emerging as another important tool for producers seeking to strengthen reliability, reduce costs and improve safety across increasingly complex operations.
Merad said the region's long-term outlook remained positive despite the challenges facing the energy industry, with recent disruptions reinforcing the importance of investment in resilient infrastructure and supply chains.
Local talent drives growth
For Weatherford, expanding its regional business is closely tied to developing local expertise and increasing manufacturing capabilities in the markets where it operates.
Merad identified investment in local talent as his leading priority, highlighting the growing number of graduates entering the energy industry and progressing into technical and operational leadership positions. The company is seeking to deepen its engagement with universities and attract skilled graduates earlier in their careers, while developing the next generation of industry leaders.
Localisation, he argued, is not simply about meeting national employment targets but about building a more competitive and sustainable business.
"It makes sense economically to hire from where we operate," Merad said.
Employing local professionals also improves operational continuity, strengthens relationships with customers and gives Weatherford a better understanding of the requirements of individual markets. These advantages become particularly important during periods of disruption, when companies need to maintain operations without relying excessively on international personnel or supply chains.
The company is also investing in regional manufacturing and partnerships to increase local content and strengthen supply security. In the UAE, Weatherford operates a manufacturing centre that exports products to more than 40 countries, demonstrating how regional facilities can serve both domestic and international markets.
Merad said the objective was to combine manufacturing in the UAE with the development of local expertise and export capabilities, creating a regional industrial base that supports Weatherford's global operations. The strategy also aligns with government efforts across the Gulf to expand domestic industrial capacity, develop technical skills and increase the economic contribution of the energy sector.
Unconventional resources offer opportunities
Weatherford also sees significant opportunities in the development of unconventional oil and gas resources, particularly in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
Merad said the company's acquisition of NCS Multistage was designed to strengthen its well completion and stimulation capabilities, adding technologies that can improve reservoir performance and production efficiency. The acquisition expands Weatherford's capabilities in multistage completions, stimulation technologies and reservoir diagnostics.
Combining these technologies with its existing portfolio will allow the company to better identify productive sections of wells, understand communication between wells and distinguish areas producing oil from those producing water.
These capabilities are particularly relevant to unconventional developments, where operators require more precise reservoir management and increasingly sophisticated completion techniques.
Merad described unconventional resources as "a big growth vector in the region here."
The acquisition is expected to strengthen Weatherford's position in both the Middle East and international markets as producers seek to maximise recovery and improve the economics of complex reservoirs.
AI to improve efficiency and safety
Digitalisation represents another major opportunity for Weatherford as energy companies seek to extract greater value from operational data.
Merad said the industry generates enormous volumes of information from downhole equipment, drilling operations and surface facilities, but much of it remains underutilised. He estimated that only a fraction of the available data is currently being used, leaving significant scope for improvements in productivity, equipment reliability and operational safety.
Weatherford is deploying automation technologies designed to reduce the number of personnel required on drilling rigs while enabling specialists to monitor equipment remotely. One example involves automating equipment used during drilling operations, reducing human exposure to potentially hazardous environments.
The company is also using predictive analytics to anticipate equipment failures, particularly in artificial lift systems, allowing operators to plan maintenance before disruptions occur. Better forecasting can help extend equipment life, minimise downtime and improve the scheduling of drilling and intervention rigs, which often need to be booked months in advance.
Merad said integrating data across drilling, completion and production activities could deliver substantial efficiency gains by improving coordination between different stages of operations.
For Weatherford, however, the broader objective extends beyond introducing new technologies. The company wants to position itself as a long-term strategic partner capable of addressing customers' operational challenges, rather than simply supplying equipment and services.
Merad said solutions must be tailored to the specific needs of each customer, whether through technology, products, services or a combination of capabilities. The ultimate goal, he added, is to help producers lower their overall cost per barrel while maintaining safe, efficient and reliable operations.
H.E. Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and ADNOC managing director and Group CEO, speaking at the opening ceremony. (Image source: dmg events)
Record-breaking ADIPEC sees conclusion of deals worth US$67bn
ADIPEC 2026 saw the conclusion of more than 50,000 deals worth an estimated US$67bn, a 26.4% increase on 2025, according to the organisers
Government leaders, ministers, global energy CEOs, investors and technology companies gathered in Abu Dhabi to advance the partnerships, investments and projects needed to strengthen energy security and meet rising global demand.
Strong participation
240,000 attendees from 170 countries attended the show at this critical time for the energy industry with 2,260 companies exhibiting across 16 halls, 30 country pavilions and four specialised industry zones. China, the United States, and Italy accounted for the largest number of exhibitors.
The event also welcomed its strongest-ever participation from Asia, with 353 exhibiting companies, representing a 12% increase year on year, reflecting Asia's growing influence on global energy demand, industrial development, investment and technology deployment.
The AI Zone at ADIPEC 2026 grew 20% in size compared to last year, bringing together global technology leaders including Microsoft, NVIDIA, IBM, Dell, Huawei, Honeywell, Siemens, Unitree, Presight, AIQ and Etisalat, demonstrating how AI, automation and robotics are being deployed to improve operational performance, safety and infrastructure resilience across the energy sector.
Against a backdrop of geopolitical shifts, increasing demand and supply dynamics, His Excellency Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and ADNOC managing director and Group CEO, called on the energy industry to rethink how it builds, protects and delivers secure energy, arguing that resilience must be built into every stage of the energy value chain. While Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, said AI can help tackle some of the world's most complex energy challenges. By combining frontier AI, sovereign infrastructure and industry expertise, he said energy companies can accelerate decision-making, improve operational performance and unlock new opportunities across the energy value chain.
Across 13 conference programmes and more than 380 sessions, over 1,800 speakers examined the forces reshaping the global energy landscape, exploring supply resilience, infrastructure investment, international cooperation and the growing role of AI in strengthening energy systems.
From these discussions, a common message emerged: delivering the energy future will demand coordinated investment in the infrastructure, technologies and partnerships that underpin energy security, economic growth and long-term resilience.
Major announcements
As in previous years, a number of companies took the opportunity at ADIPEC to make announcements and conclude major deals. Chief among them was ADNOC's landmark partnership with OpenAI and G42, which highlighted the growing convergence of energy and artificial intelligence as energy companies seek to improve operational performance, strengthen resilience and meet rising global demand.
Among the other deals made during the week was XRG's Us$1.5bn deal with Shell, whereby XRG will acquire Shell's stake in Australia's North West Shelf LNG project.
While TA'ZIZ reached financial close on AED5.1 billion for the TA'ZIZ Terminal and TA'ZIZ Ammonia projects in Ruwais, with both transactions oversubscribed, highlighting strong investor confidence in Abu Dhabi's industrial growth strategy and supporting the expansion of chemicals, export and industrial infrastructure.
Abdulmunim Saif Al Kindy, chairman of ADIPEC 2026, said, “ADIPEC 2026 has been defined by energy resilience and intelligence, not as ends in themselves, but as enablers of global stability and growth. As global energy demand continues to rise, meeting the world’s needs will require sustained investment in supply and infrastructure, stronger international partnerships and the intelligent deployment of technology across the energy system to support economic stability and growth.
“The breadth of international participation, from energy, advanced technology and investment sectors, the record exhibition scale and billions of dollars in agreements advanced this week are particularly significant against the backdrop of this year’s extraordinary challenges. They demonstrate what ADIPEC is here to do: connect energy, technology and capital to turn ambition into action. They also reinforce
Abu Dhabi’s position as a trusted global centre for the energy industry and the UAE’s commitment to working with partners around the world to strengthen energy security and unlock long-term economic growth.”
Christopher Hudson, president of dmg events, organisers of ADIPEC, added, “The unprecedented participation at ADIPEC this week, with our greatest number of exhibitors, is a powerful demonstration of the energy sector’s resilience, confidence and determination to invest in the future. At a time of growing global demand and increasing pressure on energy systems, the industry continues to come together to develop the partnerships, technologies and solutions needed to strengthen energy security and support long-term economic growth.
“The scale of engagement, the quality of discussions and the agreements reached throughout the week show a sector focused not only on addressing today’s challenges, but on building a more resilient and connected energy system for the future.”
ADIPEC will return to Abu Dhabi from 1-4 November 2027.
Middle East land drilling demand is forecast to grow by 60% from 2025 levels by 2035. (Image source: Adobe Stock)
Middle East land drilling rig demand set to grow strongly
Middle East land drilling rig demand is forecast to rise 60% from 2025 levels by 2035 despite the geopolitical uncertainty as operators push ahead with major developments, according to new analysis from Westwood Global Energy Group
Westwood's Global Land Drilling Rig Outlook 3Q 2026 projects average global demand of approximately 4,250 rigs annually between 2026 and 2030, rising to almost 4,550 between 2031 and 2035 – 12% above the 2021–2025 average. Meanwhile, as older rigs are retired and demand continues to grow, the gap between supply and demand is expected to narrow, pushing global utilisation from an average of 48% in 2026–2030 to 53% in 2031–2035.
Key findings from the outlook include:
• Middle East growth: Rig demand is forecast to reach around 820 units by 2035, a 60% increase on 2025 levels. Despite disruption to drilling activity in 2026, Westwood expects a recovery from 2027, led by Saudi Arabia and a UAE. Saudi Arabia is pursuing crude increment projects as it looks to maintain maximum sustainable capacity at 12 mn bpd, and is pursuing major gas developments with the aim of lifting gas production by 80% over 2021 levels by 2030. These include the Jafurah gas development, the largest unconventional largest liquid-rich shale gas play in the Middle East which produced first gas in December 2025 and is targeting sustainable sales gas production of approximately 2 billion standard cubic feet per day by 2030. While the UAE is also pursuing major developments with the target of increasing oil production to 5mn bpd by 2027, and now that it is freed from OPEC quotas, is looking to bump this up even more. On the gas front ADNOC is delivering one of the world's largest integrated gas growth programmes, with US$28bn capex set to be invested between 2026 and 2030. The programme includes Rich Gas Development, which will expand gas processing capacity and increase the availability of natural gas for domestic customers, Estidama, which will optimise and modernise ADNOC Gas' pipeline network to support growing demand across the UAE, and the Ruwais Diyab Unconventional Gas Development in Abu Dhabi, which will deliver 345 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) of raw gas from 2029 with the potential to reach up to 1 billion scfd in the future.
• Latin America expansion: Regional rig demand is forecast to increase 54% from 2025 levels to around 260 units by 2035. Argentina's Vaca Muerta shale play remains a major driver, with demand expected to increase from 84 rigs in 2025 to 113 by 2035. Venezuela also presents significant potential, with demand projected to grow over 600% on 2025 by 2035, driven by strong operator investment plans, support from the US administration and the partial lifting of sanctions – although infrastructure, workforce and supply chain constraints remain.
• Growing demand for high-specification rigs: High-horsepower rigs are forecast to achieve average utilisation of 64% over 2026–2035, compared with 35% for lower-horsepower units as operators increasingly target deeper and more complex reservoirs. This is also contributing to the redeployment of under-utilised US rigs to international growth markets, including Argentina, Australia and the Middle East.
With digital technologies and AI increasingly being harnessed by operators to improve operations, there is an increasing demand for automated rigs for improved efficiency and safety. ADNOC for example has deployed its AI-enabled Real-Time Operations Center (RTOC) across its fleet of more than 120 onshore and offshore drilling rigs. The platform brings live rig data from across drilling operations into a unified, real-time environment that gives ADNOC teams greater visibility of activity across the fleet, helping them improve coordination, identify risks and issues earlier and make faster, more informed decisions, thereby managing operations more effectively. The RTOC combines operational data, automated dashboards, advanced analytics and AI-driven insights to turn large volumes of drilling data into clear, actionable information.
Ben Wilby, research manager, Onshore Energy Services at Westwood, said, “The conflict in the Middle East has significantly disrupted drilling activity this year, particularly in Iraq. A return to 2025 levels of rig demand will depend on regional security stabilising and reliable access to export routes. Nevertheless, operators continue to make long-term commitments to the region, giving us confidence in its growth prospects once conditions allow.
“More broadly, the outlook for land drilling is positive, with growing demand and a gradually shrinking rig fleet expected to support higher utilisation. But not every rig will benefit equally. Operators are drilling deeper, more complex wells and increasingly want modern technology and automation to improve efficiency and safety. Contractors need to make sure their fleets meet increasingly demanding operator specifications if they want to capitalise on that growth.”
Hassan Abdulhak, general manager of Integrated Rectifier technologies (IRT) at ADIPEC. (Image source: IRT)
An integrated offering for protecting critical assets
In an exclusive interview with Oil Review Middle East at ADIPEC, Hassan Abdulhak, general manager of Integrated Rectifier Technologies (IRT), discussed IRT’s regional presence, its product applications and the strategic benefits of its acquisition by GPT Industries
The Alberta-based company, which supplies rectifiers, junction panels and control systems for the cathodic protection industry, became part of GPT Industries this year. This strategic acquisition unites GPT’s expertise in flange isolation technology and remote asset monitoring with IRT’s long-standing reputation for reliable rectifier systems. It further strengthens GPT’s role in helping operators mitigate corrosion and maintain asset integrity across energy and infrastructure sectors, while better positioning IRT to support customers and partners worldwide through expanded regional sales, technical expertise and customer support.
Leveraging synergies
Abdulhak stressed the synergies between the two companies and how the acquisition will strengthen GPT Industries’ portfolio and create a more integrated offering for end-users, with GPT’s isolation gaskets complementing its rectifiers and together resulting in a complete cathodic protection offering – helping operators isolate, protect and monitor critical assets while supporting long-term integrity and corrosion prevention.
“GPT’s isolation gaskets align with our rectifiers, as they help contain the protective current to specific pipe sections, giving protection in emergencies such as fire and explosions. Without an isolation gasket, the current we are putting in will go along the whole pipe,” he explained.
At ADIPEC, IRT exhibited with GPT Industries, showcasing its cathodic protection rectifiers and control equipment alongside GPT Industries’ Pikotek isolation gaskets and kits, EVOLUTION isolation technology, monolithic isolation joints and Iso-Smart remote integrity monitoring solutions.
Discussing its air-cooled rectifier, Abdulhak explained that its primary function is to protect pipes from corrosion by converting AC current to DC through a diode bridge.
“The negative lead goes to the structure, and the positive lead goes to the anode,” Abdulhak said. “The anode will corrode with time, but the pipe is protected from corrosion.”
IRT has a strong presence in the utilities and water sector as well as oil and gas, with products including its Aqua-Line rectifiers designed specifically for water and wastewater applications, which protect water tanks from corrosion. While its main customer base in the water sector currently remains in the USA, Abdulhak suggested this could change following the acquisition.
Strong presence in the Middle East
Abdulhak highlighted IRT’s significant presence in the Middle East, particularly in Saudi Arabia, where it is the only rectifier company approved by Aramco. The company operates through three manufacturing partners in the Kingdom who assemble products locally using parts supplied by IRT’s Edmonton, Alberta facility. It is looking to expand beyond the Saudi market, leveraging the access it now has to global markets worldwide through its acquisition by GPT with its network in South America, Middle East, Europe and China. IRT has already begun moving into the Africa market, starting with Nigeria. Looking ahead, the company is setting its sights on further growing its footprint in the Middle East, whether through a physical presence or through distributors and partners, further expansion in South America, where it is already doing business with Columbia and Mexico, and growing its market share in the USA, where there is strong competition.
The future looks bright for IRT!
ADNOC reaches FID for Ruwais Diyab development.
ADNOC reaches FID for Ruwais Diyab development
In a major move to advance its integrated global gas growth strategy, ADNOC has taken final investment decision (FID) for the Ruwais Diyab Unconventional Gas Development during ADIPEC in Abu Dhabi
Unlocking a new source of energy, the project is set to generate 345 mn standard cu/ft per day of raw gas starting 2029. This will have the the domestic as well as international markets covered, not only for more than a 25-year period but also ensuring a future capacity of up to 1 bn standard cu/ft per day.
After processed on site, the gas will be channelised through new pipeline infrastructure to take over UAE's gas network. Once supply begins, it will significantly add to the nation’s economic and industrial growth while also fulfilling ADNOC’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) export ambitions.
Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and ADNOC Managing Director and Group CEO, said, “Ruwais Diyab is ADNOC’s first large-scale unconventional gas development and this FID marks an important milestone in unlocking Abu Dhabi’s vast gas resources. This investment will strengthen the UAE’s energy security, support industrial growth and advance ADNOC’s integrated global gas growth strategy to responsibly meet rising demand at home and abroad.”
The development will be a new addition to UAE's gas reserves, which is known to be the seventh-largest in the world at 298 trillion standard cu/ft of conventional gas reserves and 160 trillion standard cu/ft of unconventional gas resources. The Ruwais FID comes at a time when global demand for reliable, lower-carbon energy continues to grow. This strategic decision will help ADNOC expand its LNG portfolio.
Ruwais Diyab’s additional unconventional gas supply will strengthen ADNOC’s gas value chain, including ADNOC Gas’s ability to meet rising domestic and international customer demand.
Ruwais Diyab advances ADNOC’s ambition to establish a scalable unconventional gas business and create a platform for future growth. The development follows a disciplined program of technical studies, field testing and subsurface analysis, delivered by ADNOC Onshore under a design-build-operate (DBO) model, to reduce development risk. It brings together advanced subsurface expertise, AI-enabled drilling and completion technologies, and integrated project delivery capabilities to support the efficient and responsible development of domestic gas resources.
ADIPEC 2026 opens in Abu Dhabi
ADIPEC 2026 has opened in Abu Dhabi, bringing together more than 40 ministers, alongside policymakers, regulators, global CEOs and decision-makers to examine how resilient energy systems, infrastructure investment, AI and international partnership can strengthen energy security and support long-term economic growth
Taking place from 2-5 November at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), ADIPEC 2026 is set for its biggest exhibition to date, with a record 2,260 exhibiting companies, 16 halls fully booked, 30 country pavilions and more than 239,000 attendees expected from over 170 countries. Among the participants are 54 national and international oil and energy companies (NOCs, IOCs, NECs and IECs), including bp, TotalEnergies, Eni, Oxy, ExxonMobil, Chevron, NNPC and INPEX. Major technology and industrial companies including Siemens AG, IBM and Microsoft will also participate.
Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and hosted by ADNOC, ADIPEC 2026 takes place at a critical time for the global energy industry. Rising energy demand, geopolitical shifts and growing infrastructure requirements are placing energy security, resilience and investment at the centre of global economic priorities. Discussions on the opening day highlighted the growing importance of supply resilience, intelligent energy systems and long-term investment in meeting rising demand while ensuring energy remains reliable, accessible and affordable.
Keynote address
Delivering a keynote address at the opening ceremony, His Excellency Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and ADNOC managing director and Group CEO, set the direction for four days of strategic dialogue and commercial engagement.
He highlighted that energy security has shifted from a specialist topic to a critical concern for every industry and household. Global supply buffers have eroded, evidenced by the loss of nearly 1bn barrels from inventories due to disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz. In some markets, stocks of diesel are at their lowest seasonal level in 35 years, while others are facing a 600 billion cubic feet LNG supply gap.
“But supply is only half the story. The other half is delivery. Before the disruption, logistics were less than 5% of the cost of a barrel. Today, they are more than 30%. In short, energy security is not only measured at the point of production. It is now also measured at the point of delivery.”
Five key steps for energy resilience
Dr. Al Jaber outlined five steps the energy industry can take to reduce the impact of future shocks.
“First accessible supply. We need expanded strategic storage, larger stockpiles of products and flexible refining capacity closer to consumer markets.
“Second, routes to market. Supply only counts when it arrives. Infrastructure must be built before it is needed and enabled by advanced logistics.
“Third, operational intelligence. Moving from automation operations to intelligent energy systems that anticipate risk, optimise performance and drive down the cost of every barrel.
“Fourth, capital follows confidence. Policy must create it, finance must accelerate it and insurance must keep trade moving.
“Fifth, which is in my view the most important, is people. Because behind every barrel that arrives is a person who made sure it did. Systems don’t carry responsibility, people do.”
Dr. Al Jaber praised the UAE’s armed forces, Civil Defense, firefighters, first responders and ADNOC’s front line employees for their selfless service in testing times and also acknowledged regional and global partners in the energy community for their contribution to keeping energy flowing during this period.
Dr. Al Jaber paid tribute to the example set by His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, highlighting his leadership and the values of unity and belonging that underpin the country’s resilience.
“Talent stayed. Capital stayed. Investment kept coming and the economy kept moving. That is the UAE model, pressure-tested and proven by results.
“The UAE will always advocate for dialogue, active diplomacy and pursue political solutions that bring stability to markets, to energy flows and to the global economy.”
Reflecting on the UAE’s resilience during recent market disruptions, Dr. Al Jaber said, “We did not write our resilience playbook during this disruption. We wrote it years before. And at ADNOC, it did not make us immune, it made us prepared. Our leadership’s foresight in modernising ADNOC made the difference, from integrated trading, to investing in people, to world-class logistics, to XRG’s global portfolio in gas, chemicals and energy solutions.
“The evident result is our end-to-end AI-enabled operating model, built for a world of rising demand and delivering what customers need, when they need it, where they need it.”
AI initiatives
Dr Al Jaber announced a new agreement between ADNOC, OpenAI and G42 as an example of how strategic collaboration and advanced AI can help reshape the energy industry, to optimise energy production and meet rising global demand. This collaboration will make ADNOC the world’s first energy company to deploy OpenAI Frontier to create smarter, safer and more resilient energy systems.
“From the moment ChatGPT was born, the world has asked what energy can do for AI. And now, together, we will find out what AI can do for energy.”
Following on from this, the gathering was addressed by Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI who noted that while the AI industry has long requested energy, AI can now repay the favour by optimising the energy sector, describing the current era as a “new renaissance” where AI enables humans to solve complex problems and innovate at scale. He said AI is increasingly being used not just as a productivity tool, but as a platform for scientific disovery and problem-solving, with the potential to transform energy operations, materials development and system design.
Altman praised the UAE as “the most forward looking country in the world for AI adoption” and noted the partnership with G42 and ADNOC is an opportunity to apply frontier AI models to the hardest problems in the energy industry. He stressed however that humans must remain in control of the future, ensuring AI serves as a tool for people rather than a replacement for human agency.
“This is a value that we intend to really go fight for.”
The report highlights the evolution of AI in the energy sector
Powering Possible 2026 report highlights contribution of AI to energy resilience
AI investment and adoption are accelerating across the energy industry as leaders increasingly recognise the potential for it to strengthen energy reliability and resilience in the current volatile environment, according to the third annual Powering Possible report from ADNOC, XRG and Microsoft
The report, entitled Energy Resilience in the Intelligence Era, highlights a significant shift from AI ambition to implementation, with AI delivering growing financial returns as well as creating new infrastructure challenges.
Key findings
• AI becomes a top corporate priority: 62% of energy leaders now rank AI among their top two priorities, up from 42% in 2025, while 89% report increased investment over the past year
• AI investments begin to deliver returns: 63% expect returns on existing investments to cover or exceed costs, rising to 89% for future investments
• Energy demand creates new infrastructure challenges: 74% expect AI to increase energy consumption by 2030, yet only 52% are confident existing infrastructure can meet AI-driven electricity demand – unchanged from 2025. Grid modernisation and smart-grid technologies are the leading investment priority for supporting AI growth, cited by 67% of respondents, followed by energy storage at 42%.
• Importance of energy reliability rises as a measure of AI value: 39% identify supply stability and reliability as AI's most important contribution, up from 26% in 2025, reflecting the current supply volatility. While the share giving cost savings as AI's leading contribution fell from 19% to 13%.
• AI has the potential to accelerate sustainable energy production: 71% of energy leaders expect AI to increase the speed at which the energy sector becomes more sustainable, alongside growing expectations that AI can strengthen resilience, efficiency and the ability to meet rising energy demand. 57% of respondents identify the optimisation of power flows, dispatch and balancing as the area where AI could make the greatest contribution to the energy transition.
• AI moves into everyday operations: The share of organisations deploying integrated agentic AI workflows more than doubled from 15% to 33%, while 60% are piloting or deploying robotics in physical operations, from inspecting infrastructure to performing hazardous tasks.
His Excellency Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, ADNOC managing director and Group CEO and executive chairman of XRG said: “AI is creating significant new opportunities for the energy industry to drive greater value, strengthen resilience and improve safety and reliability. At ADNOC, we are embedding AI, robotics and advanced technology across our operations to optimize every barrel, every molecule and every megawatt we produce. As AI scales, energy and technology must advance together.”
Brad Smith, vice chair and president, Microsoft, added, “As AI becomes embedded in the sectors that underpin the global economy, the measure of progress will not be adoption alone, but whether it delivers lasting value while earning public trust. In the energy sector, where reliability and security are fundamental, that requires strong governance, clear accountability and sustained investment in people and skills. Innovation at scale must be matched by responsibility at the same scale.”
The findings underline the need for investment in energy and digital infrastructure to advance together, backed by strong cybersecurity, trusted AI-ready data, common standards, sound governance and a skilled workforce, so AI can be deployed safely and reliably at scale.
Powering Possible 2026 is being published ahead of the fourth ENACT Majlis in Abu Dhabi and ADIPEC 2026 and is based on a survey of almost 400 senior energy and finance leaders.