Abu Dhabi Positions UAE as Global Gateway for AI and Energy Expansion

HE Dr. Sultan Al Jaber opened Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2026 with a powerful address defining the UAE as the essential corridor for the digital era. Speaking in the presence of UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, he highlighted how global progress now depends on the convergence of computational power and reliable energy. Al Jaber stated that there is no artificial intelligence without actual energy to drive it.

The UAE is bracing for a massive surge in energy demand as data center requirements are set to increase by over 500 percent in the coming years. To meet this growth, the nation is adopting a pragmatic strategy that combines hydrocarbons and renewables. Al Jaber explained that the world still needs molecules to make electrons, requiring a balanced approach to sustain industrial expansion and digital capability.

Marking its twentieth anniversary, Masdar has achieved a global capacity of 65 gigawatts of renewable energy. This milestone represents two thirds of the company's ambitious 100 gigawatt goal for 2030. The achievement underscores the UAE’s long term commitment to scaling clean energy while supporting its role as a global technology hub at https://www.masdar.ae.

The UAE positions itself as an open platform for radical collaboration between technologists, investors, and policymakers. It offers stability and world class infrastructure for those looking to engineer the future. This environment is designed to bridge the gap between gigawatts of power and terabytes of data, providing the smart capital needed for global growth.

Beyond technology, the nation continues to honor the humanitarian legacy of Sheikh Zayed through the Zayed Sustainability Prize. This initiative has positively impacted over 400 million lives across six continents. The prize remains a practical tool for driving global inclusivity and human dignity alongside industrial progress at http://www.adsw.ae. Dr. Al Jaber invited the world to bring its ambition and capital to Abu Dhabi to operationalize new opportunities. He concluded that the future of sustainable human progress is waiting in the UAE capital. The country remains focused on delivering progress through wisdom, hard work, and sound stewardship for the long term.

Abu Dhabi has established itself as the essential hub where the digital revolution meets physical power. During the opening of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2026, HE Dr. Sultan Al Jaber emphasized that the future of human progress depends on the synergy between AI and energy. He described the UAE as a corridor where terabytes of data meet gigawatts of electricity, providing the foundation for global growth.

The demand for power is expected to soar as artificial intelligence rewires global industries and reshapes every sector. Dr. Al Jaber noted that data center requirements alone could increase sixfold over the next fifteen years. He stated clearly that there is no artificial intelligence without actual energy, highlighting the urgent need for reliable and affordable power sources to drive advanced technological breakthroughs.

To meet this massive growth, the UAE is utilizing a dual approach described as molecules and gigawatts. While renewable energy is scaling rapidly, 70 percent of energy demand is still expected to be met by hydrocarbons in the near term. This strategy integrates carbon-efficient molecules from ADNOC with the clean capacity of Masdar into a single integrated system.

Marking its 20th anniversary, Masdar revealed it has reached a global renewable capacity of 65GW. The company is now two-thirds of the way toward its ambitious 100GW target for 2030. This growth is a result of two decades of visionary leadership and consistent investment in sustainable technology across more than 40 countries, helping to drive down renewable costs significantly.

The UAE is offering an open platform for global partnerships, specifically targeting technology leaders, investors, and policymakers. By providing stability, policy clarity, and world-class digital infrastructure, the nation aims to solve the bottlenecks currently affecting other international markets. It positions itself as a place where progress is not just promised but delivered through radical collaboration and steady leadership.

Beyond industrial strategy, the event highlighted the legacy of Sheikh Zayed through the Zayed Sustainability Prize. The prize has positively impacted more than 400 million lives across six continents since its inception in 2008. This focus on human dignity remains the guiding star for all technological and economic ambitions, ensuring that progress serves a greater social purpose.