Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2026 will begin next week in Abu Dhabi.
Hosted by Masdar, the event will bring together Heads of State, ministers and senior government officials alongside business leaders, investors and innovators to address pressing sustainability challenges and outline a roadmap for global progress.
Speaking at a press conference, Masdar Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi said ADSW has grown into the world’s largest sustainability gathering, with the 2026 edition set to be its biggest and most ambitious yet. He highlighted the urgency of aligning today’s systems with future needs as countries confront climate, energy and development pressures.
“We stand at a critical moment: we need to align the systems we rely on today with those we urgently need tomorrow. ADSW 2026’s theme ‘The Nexus of Next: All Systems Go,’ reflects the opportunity we have to lead global systemic change and shape our collective future,” he said. “The energy transformation will be central to these discussions, and at ADSW Masdar will celebrate 20 years of renewable energy leadership. Partnership lies at the heart of Masdar’s mission, and at the heart of ADSW, and we look forward to welcoming partners, old and new, to drive the change the world needs.”
ADSW 2026 aims to set a new benchmark for collaboration and measurable impact, encouraging leaders across energy, finance, food, water and nature to rethink how these interconnected systems can scale together and reinforce one another.
The press conference also featured H.E Francesco La Camera, Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA); Mohamed Saleh Alhadhrami, Energy and Water Efficiency Performance Director at the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy and ADSW’s principal partner; Ali Alshimmari, Managing Director and CEO of Global South Utilities; Dr Lamya Fawwaz, Executive Director for Brand and Strategic Initiatives at Masdar and the Zayed Sustainability Prize; and Leen Alsebai, General-Manager of RX Middle East and Head of the World Future Energy Summit.
La Camera underlined the significance of the coming decade for the energy transition, noting that electricity is projected to become the dominant energy carrier by 2050. He said, “The global energy transition is entering a decisive decade… Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week has become a leading platform for advancing sustainable energy solutions. IRENA is a proud partner, and we are looking forward to kickstarting an exciting ADSW 2026 with our General Assembly.”
Other speakers emphasised the role of smarter infrastructure, artificial intelligence and coordinated action across the Global South, reinforcing ADSW 2026’s focus on moving from ambition to implementation through partnership, innovation and investment.