UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism to Deliver Opening Keynote at Schneider Electric's Innovation Summit MEA 2026 in Abu Dhabi

ABU DHABI, UAE, 14 September 2026 — H.E. Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy and Tourism, will deliver the keynote address at the opening of Schneider Electric's Innovation Summit Middle East & Africa 2026, as Abu Dhabi convenes government leaders, business executives and technology innovators to chart the region's energy future. Taking place at ADNEC Abu Dhabi from September 15-16, the summit will position the UAE capital as the region's most energy-intelligent strategic hub.

At a time when countries and industries are rethinking how energy is generated, managed and consumed, Abu Dhabi offers a compelling background: a city translating long-term energy ambition into infrastructure, investment and innovation at scale to power the future economy. As a key contributor to Schneider Electric’s regional operations, Abu Dhabi and the wider UAE offer a natural stage for the company to demonstrate solutions already being deployed across Gulf grids, buildings and industry.

The opening day will focus on how software, automation and artificial intelligence are reshaping the way energy is designed, managed and consumed across the region. Discussions will examine software-defined energy systems, industrial automation, AI-driven efficiency, sustainability, the CEO agenda and the future of work, with parallel Innovation Hub Theatre tracks exploring AI data centers, eMobility, water technology, grid resilience, airports, autonomous operations, intelligent buildings and hotels.

The second day, themed 'The Era of Intelligence,' will explore how digital intelligence is moving from concept to deployment across infrastructure, industry and energy-intensive sectors. Across both days, delegates will also be able to experience the Innovation Hub — more than 3,000 square meters of live demonstrations showcasing energy technology in action, from connected systems and resilient grids to smarter buildings and industrial operations.

Walid Sheta, Middle East and Africa Zone President, Schneider Electric said: "Abu Dhabi is a fitting place to have this conversation because the energy transition here is already taking shape within the infrastructure being built, the investments being made and the technologies being adopted. With electricity demand rising across the region, the focus is on making energy systems more efficient, resilient, and easier to manage. At Schneider Electric, we are working with customers across the Gulf to digitize grids, buildings and industrial sites, and this summit is a chance to look at that progress in practical terms."