Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week Brings Together Global Leaders to Accelerate Sustainable Progress

Abu Dhabi Sustainability Initiative

Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week Brings Together Global Leaders to Accelerate Sustainable Progress

Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2026 will launch next Sunday. 

Hosted by Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar), the event will bring together heads of state, ministers, government officials, business leaders, investors, and innovators to address the most pressing sustainability challenges and develop action plans to accelerate sustainable progress globally.

During a press conference held last Wednesday, Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO of Masdar, emphasized that Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week currently represents the largest global gathering to discuss critical sustainability issues, and that this year's edition will be the largest since its inception, with broader horizons and aspirations.

He added: "The week is being held at a time that necessitates aligning existing systems with those we need for the future." The 2026 edition of the week will be held under the theme "A Integrated Launch Towards the Future," and represents an opportunity to lead global efforts to achieve tangible positive change and build a better future for all.

Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week Reveals Details of its 18th Edition

Al Ramahi noted that the week's discussions will focus on ways to achieve a qualitative leap in the energy system. It also coincides with Masdar's 20th anniversary, marking its establishment and consolidation of its leadership in the renewable energy sector. 

The week will provide an opportunity for experts and specialists in the energy, finance, food, water, and environment sectors to develop new solutions that will support the interconnectedness of these systems and sectors, expand their impact, and enhance integration among them.

For his part, Francesco La Camera, Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), said: “The global energy transition is entering a crucial decade, and electricity is expected to become the primary energy source, providing more than half of final energy consumption by 2050. 

He continued: “In particular, developing countries are being deprived of opportunities such as job creation, business development, enhanced energy security, and increased system resilience at a time of heightened uncertainty due to rising energy demand, climate change impacts, and geopolitical challenges. 

Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week has established itself as a leading platform for promoting sustainable energy solutions, and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is proud to partner with this event and looks forward to a successful launch of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2026, coinciding with its General Assembly.”

Engineer Ahmed Al Falasi, Executive Director of the Energy Efficiency Sector at the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy, said: “We have reached a point where the question is no longer simply how much infrastructure we are building or how well we are investing in what we already have. The future of energy and water systems lies in making them more advanced, sustainable, efficient, and resilient.”

Ali Al Shammari, Managing Director and CEO of Global South Utilities, the principal partner of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, said: “In the Global South, progress is not achieved through capital alone, nor through policies alone, nor through implementation alone. 

Rather, it is achieved when governments, investors, and implementers act together with a spirit of shared responsibility and at an urgent pace. In this context, we are launching Global South Utilities on January 14th as a platform focused on implementation and investment in emerging markets, bringing together partners in real projects to achieve tangible results on the ground.”

Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2026 offers new features, including the launch of new events, AI-enhanced digital tools to monitor key ideas, and highlighting innovative clean technologies, including solutions in the fields of energy, water and digital technologies that are being showcased for the first time.