Global utility leaders to gather in Abu Dhabi for World Utilities Congress

The 4th World Utilities Congress will take place from 27–29 May 2025 at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi.

The congress will convene the world’s foremost utility and energy leaders under the theme Innovating for a New Age of Utilities.

The strategic conference at this year’s World Utilities Congress will serve as a key platform for high-level dialogue and international cooperation, addressing the rise in global energy demand and the need for more diversified utility systems.

With electricity demand expected to grow by 3.4% annually until 2026, and the rising importance of the energy-water nexus, utility leaders are being called upon to design systems that are smarter, cleaner, more resilient, and equitable.

With a strong emphasis on transformation, the event is designed to fast-track the shift to a digitally enabled and collaborative global utilities ecosystem.

More than 130 international speakers will participate in over 30 sessions alongside ministers, policymakers, CEOs, and senior decision-makers to define the path toward a low-carbon, tech-driven, and water-secure future.

2025 programe

This edition will spotlight digital transformation, artificial intelligence, smart grid flexibility, and sustainable financing. Global energy leaders will examine critical issues, from deploying AI while managing its energy consumption to unlocking the US$1.5 trillion needed annually for renewable energy via new investment models and enhancing flexibility in an increasingly solar and wind-powered world.

Christopher Hudson, president of dmg events, said, “As utilities evolve to meet rising demand and climate objectives, the World Utilities Congress offers a focused environment for global leaders to assess priorities, share insights, and align on the actions needed to deliver tangible progress. This year’s strategic conference brings a stronger emphasis on practical outcomes, with ministers, CEOs, and technology pioneers gathering to strengthen partnerships and help shape a more connected, efficient, and sustainable future.”

Looking ahead to her global leadership panel on transforming water scarcity into opportunities, Hebah Abbas, chairwoman of the sustainability committee at the Kuwait Water Association, said, “The World Utilities Congress is a unifying force for collaboration, ushering in a new era of regenerative practices and systems innovation. This event gathers visionary leaders and forward-thinkers, where digital, circular, and decentralised solutions converge to redefine energy, water, and utilities. To tackle the systemic challenges in water management, we must forge effective multi-stakeholder partnerships that drive meaningful progress.

“By designing water infrastructure beyond traditional pipes and pumps, we create climate-resilient, inclusive systems that adapt to future shocks. This holistic approach is essential for turning obstacles into opportunities and securing a sustainable future in water management and utilities.”

The 2025 programme will also reexamine water’s crucial role in climate adaptation, the promise of AI in operational optimisation, and how capital reallocation and financial innovation can accelerate investment in grid and clean water infrastructure.

Through these themes, the strategic conference continues to guide the global utilities sector through uncertainty toward a future that is sustainable, inclusive, and interconnected.

As momentum builds around the world’s climate goals, Abu Dhabi will once again take centre stage as a hub for strategic thinking, collaboration, and actionable innovation.