The 2026 Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) opened in Abu Dhabi on November 2, bringing together more than 2,250 exhibitors, over 239,000 expected visitors and representatives from more than 170 countries to discuss the future of the global energy industry.
Held at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) through November 5, the event has attracted government officials, executives of national and international oil companies, energy investors, technology providers and industry experts.
This year's edition focuses on energy security, oil and gas investment, artificial intelligence (AI), digitalisation, natural gas, LNG, downstream industries and low-carbon technologies.
Artificial intelligence and digitalisation have emerged as major themes at ADIPEC 2026. Discussions are focusing on the application of AI in exploration, drilling, reservoir management, predictive maintenance, production optimisation and industrial operations.
The exhibition has attracted senior government representatives, including energy ministers from the UAE, Egypt, Turkey, Germany and Japan, as well as executives from major international companies such as BP, Siemens, Oxy, INPEX, Equinor, SLB, Baker Hughes, OMV and Halliburton.
Several commercial developments have also been announced during the event. ADNOC Gas and TotalEnergies announced a five-year LNG supply agreement, while Abu Dhabi's Department of Energy signed a cooperation agreement with Evolve Fuels to assess opportunities for synthetic sustainable aviation fuel production.
Meanwhile, Nigeria's national oil company highlighted a reported 600,000 barrels per day increase in the country's oil production and efforts to attract further investment in its energy sector.
The event also places considerable emphasis on downstream industries, including refining and petrochemicals, with discussions covering feedstock security, industrial integration, production efficiency and the development of higher-value products.
For Middle Eastern oil and gas producers, ADIPEC 2026 provides a platform to explore investment opportunities, establish international partnerships and showcase technologies aimed at increasing production capacity and improving operational efficiency.
The discussions are particularly relevant to Iran's energy industry, where investment in mature oil fields, South Pars gas production, gas compression, associated gas recovery, petrochemical feedstock security and export infrastructure remain major priorities.
Overall, ADIPEC 2026 highlights the continued importance of conventional hydrocarbons in global energy supply, while demonstrating how digital technologies, infrastructure investment and low-carbon solutions are reshaping the industry's development priorities.