Energy Demand Becomes Manufacturing Opportunity as MoIAT Takes Centre Stage at ADIPEC 2026

The Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology is channelling the UAE's rising energy needs into a strategic push for domestic industrial capability, leveraging ADIPEC's global platform to attract investment and build resilience across the supply chain.

The energy sector’s appetite for growth presents something rare in industrial strategy: a moment when demand and capability can be deliberately aligned. At ADIPEC 2026, the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology is making precisely this calculation, positioning the UAE’s domestic manufacturers and investors at the intersection of global energy requirements and local production ambition.

The Ministry’s participation spans high level conversations and practical opportunity mapping. On the opening day, Hasan Jasem Al Nowais, Under-Secretary of MoIAT, will convene a roundtable bringing together local and international leaders from energy and industrial sectors to discuss building industrial resilience through energy sector demand. He will also speak on a panel alongside Jasim Al Shirawi, Secretary-General of the International Energy Forum; Abdulaziz Mohamed Al Obaidli, Director-General of Regulatory Affairs at the Department of Energy – Abu Dhabi; and Angela Wilkinson, Secretary-General and CEO of the World Energy Council, exploring how to secure energy systems while maintaining open markets.

The scope of opportunity is substantial. MoIAT has identified AED25 billion in energy sector procurement opportunities, while ADNOC has signalled more than AED60 billion in UAE manufacturing opportunities through 2030. The Ministry’s focus extends across drilling and completion equipment, production equipment, electrical systems and components, pipes, networks and valves, and industrial spare parts. These are sectors where local production can strengthen supply chain resilience whilst creating skilled employment.

Supporting infrastructure exists. As we reported in our coverage of Factory Forward UAE’s launch in September, the technology transformation programme has already supported more than 700 manufacturers in adopting advanced technologies. The National In-Country Value Programme has directed more than AED473 billion into the national economy and includes more than 7,000 certified factories. The AED1 billion National Industrial Resilience Fund specifically supports localisation of critical industries.

Mr Al Nowais articulated the strategic intent with clarity. Rising energy demand, he noted, presents an opportunity to build new national industrial capabilities and localise critical industries. His priority is translating this demand into real investments and manufacturing projects within the UAE, securing supply chains, creating high-quality jobs and enhancing global competitiveness.

ADIPEC itself underscores the scale of this endeavour. The conference is expected to attract more than 239,000 attendees from over 170 countries, with 2,260 exhibiting companies, more than 1,800 speakers and 30 country pavilions. For a ministry focused on translating opportunity into industrial reality, few platforms offer greater reach among the decision-makers, investors and technology companies who shape investment flows.

The conversation extends beyond ADIPEC. The Ministry will advance these partnerships and opportunities further at Make it in the Emirates, scheduled for Abu Dhabi from 3rd to 6th May 2027, continuing the dialogue between energy sector requirements and manufacturing capability.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

For Abu Dhabi’s industrial ecosystem, this moment represents alignment between external demand and internal capacity building. The energy sector’s expansion creates concrete procurement pathways for local manufacturers, whilst the Ministry’s support mechanisms—from the Industrial Resilience Fund to Factory Forward UAE—equip producers with the technology and financing to meet those demands. This cycle of investment and capability building strengthens both employment and economic diversification.

At a broader level, Abu Dhabi’s industrial base becomes more resilient. Local supply chains reduce dependency on imports, particularly for critical energy infrastructure. The redirection of AED473 billion through the In-Country Value Programme and the participation of more than 7,000 certified factories means that industrial growth is already embedded in the fabric of the national economy. ADIPEC provides the platform to accelerate this trajectory, attracting international investors to produce within the UAE rather than export to it.