Italian Innovation Takes Centre Stage at WETEX 2026
The Italian Trade Agency showcases 43 companies and pioneering start-ups at the region's premier water, energy and environmental exhibition, reinforcing decades of bilateral partnership and technological excellence.
The Italian Trade Agency, operating through its Dubai office, will present 43 Italian companies and innovative start-ups at the 28th edition of the Water, Energy, Technology and Environment Exhibition, taking place from 20 to 22 October 2026 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. This participation represents a continuation of more than 15 years of collaborative engagement with the region’s most prestigious platform for technological advancement in sustainability and resource management.
The Italian National Pavilion will serve as a gateway for exhibitors to connect with procurement bodies, project stakeholders and prospective business partners seeking solutions across the water, energy and environmental spectrum. The participating companies will present innovative technologies encompassing water and wastewater management, waste treatment, electrical systems, renewable energy and environmental applications, all designed to address the most pressing requirements in resource efficiency, utilities and sustainable infrastructure.
Italian expertise in this domain remains exemplary. Between January and July 2026, taps and valves, liquid pumps, and centrifuges and filtering or purification equipment for liquids and gases constituted the leading Italian export categories to the United Arab Emirates within these sectors, collectively accounting for EUR 233.4 million, representing 37.7% of the total value. Water filtering and purification equipment exports reached EUR 14.7 million during this period, reflecting an encouraging increase of 13.4% compared with the corresponding period in 2025.
Several electrical equipment segments have demonstrated notable expansion. Exports of electrical control and distribution panels for voltages exceeding 1,000 volts reached EUR 19.8 million, nearly tripling year-on-year, whilst panels for voltages up to 1,000 volts increased by 2.8% to EUR 21.1 million. These figures underscore the deepening commercial relationship and the technical sophistication that Italian manufacturers bring to the region’s infrastructure development.
Lorenzo Fanara, Ambassador of Italy to the United Arab Emirates, remarked that Italy and the Emirates share a resolute partnership grounded in mutual trust, close economic ties and a shared commitment to sustainable development. He noted that Italy’s participation in WETEX 2026 reaffirms the commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation and creating fresh opportunities in the green technology and clean energy sectors.
Valerio Soldani, Italian Trade Commissioner and Director of ITA Dubai, emphasised that the Agency’s focus at WETEX is to facilitate Italian exhibitors in converting technical discussions into concrete business opportunities. By connecting companies with buyers, project developers and potential partners, the initiative aims to support access to procurement opportunities and the cultivation of enduring commercial relationships.
Italian exports to the United Arab Emirates in water, environmental technologies, energy and electrical equipment reached EUR 1.25 billion in 2025. In the first seven months of 2026, these exports totalled EUR 619.0 million, accounting for 6.52% of UAE imports in these sectors, a reflection of the commercial relevance and technical capabilities represented at the Italian Pavilion.
This year holds particular significance as the Italian Trade Agency celebrates its centenary, marking a remarkable 100 years of supporting Italian exports globally since the Agency’s establishment in 1926. The United Arab Emirates remains a priority market for ITA, with enhanced resources allocated to trade promotion throughout 2026 and 2027, encompassing an expanded programme of exhibitions, business missions and targeted matchmaking initiatives.
Source: WAM