HE Dr. Al Jaber giving the opening address at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW). (Image source: MASDAR)

At the opening of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2026, HE Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Masdar chairman, hailed a new era of human progress powered by computational power and digital capability, all underpinned by energy

“Artificial intelligence is rewiring every industry, reshaping every sector and resetting expectations for global growth,” HE Dr Al Jaber said. “While the world is changing around us, one constant remains. And that is energy. Every algorithm, every data centre, every breakthrough in advanced technology needs power to drive it. Simply put, there is no artificial intelligence without actual energy.”

“Meeting all this demand responsibly, reliably and affordably means coming to terms with reality,” HE Dr Al Jaber said. “Over 70% of this energy will still come from hydrocarbons.” This should be seen not as a constraint, he told the assembled audience, but rather as a catalyst. “Sustainable progress is not about slowing down growth, it is about designing a better engine.”

The UAE has structured its economy to meet this new reality, HE Dr Al Jaber said, stressing “the world still needs molecules to make electrons. That is why we have always invested in both and fused them into a single integrated system: from the carbon-efficient molecules of ADNOC to the clean gigawatts of Masdar; from the largest solar projects ever built, to the first solar plants that work around the clock; from nuclear energy to custom-tailored wind turbines that work at low speed.”

The UAE also applies technology “system-wide,” HE Dr Al Jaber said. “AI is no longer a tool we add at the margins; it has become the operating system of our industrial strategy. We are embedding AI across our energy and industrial base to optimise every barrel, every megawatt, every production line.”

HE Dr. Al Jaber highlighted the key role played by Masdar in developing renewable energy projects globally and driving renewable energy costs down, revealing that it is now more than two thirds of the way to its target of 100 gigawatts (GW) portfolio capacity. Through long-term partnerships, innovation, and US$45bn in investment, Masdar has contributed to reducing costs, increasing efficiency, and overcoming structural challenges such as intermittency, helping make renewables the cheapest and fastest way to deploy new electricity capacity globally.

HE Dr Al Jaber ended by highlighting the attractions of the UAE as a business destination.

“Bring your ambition, your ideas, your capital and your technology, and put them to work where progress is powered, opportunity is operationalised and partnerships are permanent. The future of sustainable human progress is waiting, and its address is Abu Dhabi.”

ADSW 2026 opened on 13 January under the theme “The Nexus of Next: All Systems Go,” convening global leaders to accelerate collaboration across interconnected systems including energy, finance, food, water, and nature. Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, ADSW 2026 is hosted by Masdar.

The opening ceremony gathered Heads of State, Ministers, senior government officials, business leaders, investors, and innovators, celebrating landmark achievements to date while mobilising momentum and investment for the critical decade ahead.

While there is no single solution that fits all contexts, systemic innovation can reshape the future of global energy systems, according to a new report from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

Launched during a Ministerial Dialogue on the role of artificial intelligence at IRENA’s Assembly, the report, Innovation landscape for sustainable development powered by renewables, emphasises that meaningful transformation occurs when technological advances are integrated with innovation in policy, regulation, market design, system operation and business models. Rather than focusing on technology alone, the report highlights the importance of coordinated, system-wide change.

The study identifies 40 innovations spanning artificial intelligence and digital applications, smarter grid planning, off-grid solutions and emerging business models. It concludes that adopting a systemic and integrated approach can strengthen power system resilience, expand energy access, maintain affordability and unlock the full potential of the energy transition. The report is the third in IRENA’s Innovation Landscape series, which examines emerging solutions to maximise the impact of renewables across global energy systems and economies.

“The question isn't whether we can transform our energy system”, said Francesco La Camera, Director-General of IRENA, “it’s whether we will seize the moment to do it in a holistic way, benefitting all. The energy transition is not only about availability of technology, but also about solutions which deliver social justice. With Today’s report we call for a systemic innovation approach and guide policymakers with a toolkit to formulate tailored solutions.”

IRENA notes that renewable technologies are now the lowest-cost source of electricity in most regions. When combined with decentralised innovation, this cost advantage places universal electricity access and more resilient power systems within reach, particularly for emerging markets and developing economies pursuing a just transition and economic growth.

The report stresses that successful implementation depends on system-specific strategies, taking into account national grid conditions, economic structures, resource availability and social and cultural factors. Many of the highlighted innovations are already being piloted worldwide. Examples include community-owned renewable projects in Tanzania, Kenya, Colombia and Malaysia; cross-border power sharing through West African regional power pools; dynamic line rating in Malaysia to increase transmission capacity; battery swapping for electric mobility in Uganda and Rwanda; and pay-as-you-go models delivering affordable power to hundreds of thousands of people in Sierra Leone and Liberia.

To support policymakers, the 40 innovations are grouped into four strategic toolkits addressing grid modernisation, decentralised solutions, inclusive local development and energy access. IRENA concludes that coordinated action across international institutions, governments and communities is essential to translate these innovations into sustainable, context-specific outcomes.

As the global energy transition gathers pace, the World Future Energy Summit, taking place at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi from 13–15 January as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week hosted by Masdar, is set to spotlight the growing role of green hydrogen in industrial decarbonisation.

The Summit will bring together policymakers, industry leaders and investors to examine how hydrogen can move from early-stage projects to large-scale deployment.

With the UK targeting 10GW of low-carbon hydrogen production by 2030, the event provides a timely platform for dialogue between stakeholders from the UAE and the UK. Discussions will focus on how the UAE’s experience in renewable energy and large-scale carbon capture, utilisation and storage projects can support the scaling of the UK’s green hydrogen market, while opening the door to deeper strategic partnerships and cross-border investment.

Market analysts note that after an initial surge of enthusiasm, green hydrogen has entered a more realistic phase of development. This shift is reflected in increasingly confident signals from the UK Government. Sarah Jones, the UK’s Minister of State for Industry, recently said: “I am convinced hydrogen must be at the heart of our plans to grow the economy and to become net zero by 2050. Already, Government and industry are delivering real projects to kickstart the UK hydrogen economy.”

The UAE is well positioned to play a significant role in this next phase. Dr Carole Nakhle, CEO of Crystol Energy and Secretary General of the Arab Energy Club, who will speak at the Summit, said: “The UK and the UAE share a long-established strategic relationship that goes far beyond energy, but hydrogen is now a natural extension of that partnership as both countries pursue industrial decarbonisation and long-term growth. After the initial surge of enthusiasm, the hydrogen market has entered a more sober and disciplined phase, where scale, capital strength, technical expertise, and genuine long-term commitment will determine who succeeds.”

Momentum is also being driven by rising investment needs. UK Government projections indicate that a further £9bn (AED 44.6bn) of private sector funding will be required to meet 2030 targets, supported by recent public funding commitments aimed at accelerating hydrogen infrastructure development.

For the UAE, this represents an opportunity to strengthen its position as a long-term strategic partner. Domestically, multi-billion-dollar investments are already under way, while internationally, UAE-backed projects continue to expand. With complementary ambitions, shared expertise and growing demand for clean energy, the World Future Energy Summit will explore how closer UK–UAE collaboration on green hydrogen can support faster industrial decarbonisation and long-term economic growth.

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.