meed-logo

line1 line2 line3
SIGN IN / REGISTER

Adnoc CEO backs AI to stimulate energy sector growth

4 November 2024

Register for MEED's 14-day trial access 

Sultan Ahmed Al-Jaber, managing director and group CEO of Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc Group), has highlighted the interconnectedness of energy and artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential to transform energy systems.

In his keynote address at the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (Adipec), Al-Jaber appealed for an integrated, cross-sectoral response to meet the fast-growing energy needs of AI.

Al-Jaber, who is also the UAE's Industry & Advanced Technology Minister, said that the UAE has built an AI ecosystem that is fostering growth and low-carbon development. 

He said the adoption of AI is also accelerating Adnoc’s growth strategy.

“For Adnoc, AI stands for applied intelligence. We chose to be one of the earliest adopters, because we saw it as a strategic imperative to drive efficiency, unlock value, enhance growth, lower emissions and future-proof our business,” he said.

Al-Jaber also announced the launch of ENERGYai (Energy to the Power of AI), a new AI system that Adnoc has developed in partnership with Abu Dhabi-based firms AIQ and G42, as well as technology giant Microsoft. The platform will be the first to apply agentic AI at scale within the energy industry and is capable of autonomously analysing vast datasets, making real-time decisions and driving operational improvements.

ALSO READ: Adnoc publishes report on role of AI in energy

ENERGYai will combine large language model technology with AI agents that are trained in specific tasks across Adnoc’s value chain.

These specialised AI agents bring autonomy and precision to critical tasks, from seismic analysis to energy efficiency and real-time process monitoring. Designed for seamless integration into existing workflows, the agents harness machine learning and predictive analytics, improving decision-making and operational efficiency.

Built using 80 years of Adnoc’s data, the three-year development programme for ENERGYai will begin testing with real-world datasets by the end of 2024 in several specific areas. It is projected that the system will cut by up to 75% the time it takes to build detailed geological models using very large and diverse datasets to support planning and development of large-scale carbon dioxide storage solutions.

In development planning, Adnoc says the new AI system will accelerate plans from one to two years to weeks, minimising costs and emissions in the process. It can analyse several scenarios in parallel, and this ability to run detailed, advanced simulations across all variables helps make faster and more accurate decisions.

Further along the value chain in the downstream business, the future-proof and scalable design of ENERGYai integrates with Adnoc’s existing technologies and platforms.

“It will not only analyse petabytes of data, it will proactively and autonomously identify operational improvements. It will perceive, think, learn and act. It will speed up seismic surveys from months to days. It will increase the accuracy of production forecasts by up to 90%. And it will be a powerhouse for value creation, efficiency and sustainable energy production that can benefit the whole industry,” Al-Jaber said.

Energy trends

AI is among three "megatrends" in the global energy sector that Al-Jaber highlighted in his opening remarks at Adipec, with the other two being the rise of emerging markets and energy system transformation. He said that harnessing the megatrends requires unprecedented cross-sectoral integration to accelerate sustainable growth.

Al-Jaber noted that targeted investment, enhanced grid and energy infrastructure and enabling policies and regulations are crucial to unlocking the transformative potential of the megatrends.

Adnoc, he added, is embracing the megatrends and pivoting to new opportunities across the energy value chain and around the world to future-proof its business, decarbonise and deliver long-term sustainable value.

He said that by 2050, the world’s population will grow by a further 1.7 billion, mostly in the Global South, and as a result, energy markets must shift and grow, and energy systems must be transformed.

“Wind and solar will expand seven times. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) will grow by 65%. Oil will continue to be used for fuel and as a building block for many essential products. And as the world becomes increasingly urban, demand for electricity will double.

“Adding to this demand is AI. AI is one of those era-defining breakthroughs that is changing the pace of change itself. It is redefining the boundaries of productivity and efficiency. And it has the potential to accelerate the transformation of energy systems and to supercharge low-carbon growth.

“But the exponential growth of AI is also creating a power surge that no one anticipated 18 months ago. That’s when ChatGPT took off. A single prompt on ChatGPT needs 10 times more energy than a Google search. As AI expands, it will rely on a massive scale-up of data centres for its huge and fast-growing computational needs. Over the next six years, data centres will more than double, requiring at least 150GW of installed capacity by 2030 and double that again by 2040,” Al-Jaber said.

He noted that no single source of energy is going to be enough to cater to this demand, and that meeting this demand sustainably will require harnessing diverse energy sources, from renewables and nuclear to LNG, alongside advanced infrastructure and increased investment.

“We need more infrastructure that is fit for purpose and fit for the future. We need investment in the power sector to grow to at least $1.5tn per year. We need enabling policies and regulations to accelerate and protect those investments. And we need to leverage AI’s potential to optimise energy sources, predict peaks and dips in demand and enhance battery storage,” Al-Jaber said.

“The train is leaving the station. What we decide right now will decide our destiny. This is a moment that will separate leaders from those who are left behind. And, when called on to lead, this industry always steps up,” he concluded.

Photo credit: Adnoc via

https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/12847454/main4207.jpeg
Indrajit Sen

Register for MEED's guest program now to access this article.

Click here to register
Exclusive from Meed
Related Articles
  • WEBINAR: UAE Projects Market 2026

    15 April 2026

    Webinar: UAE Projects Market 2026
    Tuesday, 28 April 2026 | 11:00 GST  |  Register now

    Agenda:

    • Overview of the UAE projects market landscape
    • 2025 projects market performance
    • Value of work awarded 2026 YTD
    • Impact of the Iran conflict on the projects market and real estate, assessing supply chain disruptions, material cost inflation and war risk premiums
    • Key drivers, challenges and opportunities
    • Size of future pipeline by sector and status
    • Ranking of the top contractors and clients
    • Summary of key current and future projects
    • Short and long-term market outlook
    • Audience Q&A

    Hosted by: Colin Foreman, editor of MEED 

    Colin Foreman is editor and a specialist construction journalist for news and analysis on MEED.com and the MEED Business Review magazine. He has been reporting on the region since 2003, specialising in the construction sector and its impact on the broader economy. He has reported exclusively on a wide range of projects across the region including Dubai Metro, the Burj Khalifa, Jeddah Airport, Doha Metro, Hamad International airport and Yas Island. Before joining MEED, Colin reported on the construction sector in Hong Kong.

    Click here to register

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16401868/main.gif
    Colin Foreman
  • Saudi Landbridge finds its moment in Gulf turmoil

    15 April 2026

    Commentary
    Yasir Iqbal
    Construction writer

    The strategic case for the Saudi Landbridge has never been more urgent. SAR’s appointment of Spain’s Typsa as lead design consultant, reported by MEED this week, is more than a procurement milestone. After two decades of delays, it reflects how the long-deferred project has become a strategic necessity.

    The conflict reshaping the Middle East has made that necessity more immediate. Red Sea transits are costly and unpredictable. The Strait of Hormuz carries risk no insurer can fully price. Saudi Arabia’s most valuable exports, including crude oil, refined products, petrochemicals and industrial goods, move almost entirely by sea through routes that are no longer reliably secure.

    The kingdom sits between two coastlines with no rail link connecting them. That gap is now an economic exposure.

    The $27bn project addresses it directly. More than 1,500 kilometres of track, anchored by a 900km railway between Riyadh and Jeddah, will provide direct freight access from King Abdullah Port on the Red Sea, with upgrades to the Riyadh-Dammam line and a new connection to Yanbu.

    Together, they create what Saudi Arabia has never had: a continuous land corridor linking Gulf industrial ports to Red Sea export terminals, entirely within its own borders.

    The commercial implications are substantial. Aramco’s downstream output, Sabic’s chemicals, and the manufacturing clusters of Jubail and Yanbu gain flexible access to both coasts.

    Exporters targeting Europe and the Americas load at Jeddah; those serving Asia pivot east to Dammam by rail, on demand, without Hormuz risk or Red Sea freight surcharges.

    No neighbouring economy has that optionality. The network also underpins a broader economic ambition. Connecting Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam, Jubail, Yanbu, King Abdullah port and King Khalid airport by rail positions the kingdom as a genuine logistics corridor between East and West. 

    With design now under way and construction tenders expected imminently, the Landbridge is closer to reality than at any point in its troubled history. Regional disruption did not create this project. But it has made the argument for it unanswerable.

    MEED’s April 2026 report on Saudi Arabia includes:

    > COMMENT: Risk accelerates Saudi spending shift
    > GVT &: ECONOMY: Riyadh navigates a changed landscape
    > BANKING: Testing times for Saudi banks
    > UPSTREAM: Offshore oil and gas projects to dominate Aramco capex in 2026
    > DOWNSTREAM: Saudi downstream projects market enters lean period
    > POWER: Wind power gathers pace in Saudi Arabia
    > WATER: Sharakat plan signals next phase of Saudi water expansion
    > CONSTRUCTION: Saudi construction enters a period of strategic readjustment
    > TRANSPORT: Rail expansion powers Saudi Arabia’s infrastructure push

    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16401567/main.png
    Yasir Iqbal
  • Kuwait awards $565m upstream oil contract

    15 April 2026

    Kuwait’s Heavy Engineering Industries & Shipbuilding Company (Heisco) has been awarded a contract for flowlines and associated works in North Kuwait by the state-owned upstream operator Kuwait Oil Company (KOC).

    In a statement to Kuwait’s stock exchange, Heisco said it had received a formal contract award letter for the project, valued at KD174.2m ($565m).

    The contract was awarded under Tender No. RFP-2141028 and was approved by Kuwait’s Central Agency for Public Tenders.

    Heisco was the fourth-lowest bidder for the contract.

    In its stock market statement, Heisco said that the financial impact of the contract will be determined at a later stage, with further updates to be provided as the project progresses.

    Heisco has also signed a renewal agreement with a local bank for a KD50m ($165m) loan.

    The company said in a disclosure statement that the loan is intended to finance Heisco’s activities in Kuwait and other countries.

    “Our company has renewed the credit facilities agreement with one of the local banks to finance its activities,” it said.

    Earlier this month, Heisco submitted the lowest bid for a project to upgrade part of the Mina Abdullah refinery’s export infrastructure.

    It submitted a bid of KD11,919,652 ($38.6m) for the project to implement renovation works on the artificial island that forms part of the port at the refinery.

    The only other bidder was Kuwait’s International Marine Construction Company (IMCC), which submitted a bid of KD12,480,113 ($40.4m).

    Kuwait is currently seeing significant disruption to its oil and gas sector due to fallout from the US and Israel’s war with Iran.

    The Mina Abdullah refinery was integrated with the Mina Al-Ahmadi refinery as part of the $16bn Clean Fuels Project, which came online in 2021.

    Several units at the Mina Al-Ahmadi Refinery were shut down after the refinery was hit by drone attacks last month.

    READ THE APRIL 2026 MEED BUSINESS REVIEW – click here to view PDF

    Economic shock threatens long-term outlook; Riyadh adjusts to fiscal and geopolitical risk; GCC contractor ranking reflects gigaprojects slowdown.

    Distributed to senior decision-makers in the region and around the world, the April 2026 edition of MEED Business Review includes:

    > GCC CONTRACTOR RANKING: Construction guard undergoes a shift
    To see previous issues of MEED Business Review, please click here
    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16394808/main.png
    Wil Crisp
  • Sirte oil projects expected to progress in Libya

    15 April 2026

     

    Three oil projects located in Libya’s Sirte basin are expected to be prioritised in the wake of Libya’s recent budget deal, according to industry sources.

    The projects are being developed by Libya’s Waha Oil Company, a subsidiary of the state-owned National Oil Corporation (NOC).

    All three projects will develop Libyan reservoirs that have not yet been tapped.

    The projects are known as:

    • NC98
    • Gialo 3
    • 6J North Gialo

    Together, the projects are expected to double Waha’s production from around 300,000 barrels of oil a day (b/d) to 600,000 b/d.

    The Waha concession covers 13 million acres.

    The stakeholders in Libya’s Waha concessions include France’s TotalEnergies, which has a 20.41% stake, and US-based ConocoPhillips.

    In March, MEED revealed that South Korea’s Daewoo had pulled out of the tender process for Libya’s 6J North Gialo oil field development project.

    Daewoo had formed a partnership with Egypt’s Petrojet to participate in the tender process.

    The only other company to submit a bid for the project was UK-based Petrofac, which filed for administration in October last year.

    In September last year, MEED reported that two bids had been submitted for the project and were under evaluation.

    The 6J North Gialo project was the first to be tendered; it was expected to be followed by NC98, with the Gialo 3 project likely to be tendered last.

    The NC98 field is located in the southeast area of Libya’s Sirte basin. Waha Oil Company ran a technical workshop for the NC98 project in June 2023.

    The workshop included a presentation of a study conducted by TotalEnergies that considered different development options for injecting gas and water, as well as exporting gas.

    At the time, Waha Oil said that the project to develop NC98 was one of its “major strategic projects” and by implementing it, it hoped to raise production by an average of 60,000 b/d.

    The Gialo 3 project scope includes installing surface facilities to channel output to a new production unit. Three existing production units will also be upgraded as part of the project.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16394706/main.png
    Wil Crisp
  • EtihadWE tenders feasibility study for UAE-India power link

    14 April 2026

     

    Etihad Water & Electricity (EtihadWE) has tendered a contract for a techno-economic feasibility study of a proposed UAE-India undersea power interconnector.

    The study aims to assess the long-term technical, economic and market viability of a power exchange between the UAE and India.

    The deadline for interested firms to purchase tender documents is 23 April.

    The proposed scheme would be the UAE’s first direct subsea cross-border electricity interconnector and the first direct power link between the UAE and India.

    In January, MEED exclusively reported that the utility was seeking consultants to register their interest in participating in the tender process.

    It is understood that firms may bid as single entities or as part of a consortium.

    According to the utility, the scope of work includes developing feasible interconnection options and defining design parameters and capacity.

    It will cover preliminary and survey-supported routing for the subsea cables and the identification of landing points and onshore transmission links.

    The study will also provide refined cost estimates, supply-chain and execution timelines, legal and regulatory reviews, commercial frameworks, risk identification, and support for the preparation of draft tender documents and technical specifications.

    In addition, it will outline bankable financing, ownership and operational structures as well as an implementation and operations schedule.

    Furthermore, the consultant will be required to assess the project’s impact on the grid and optimise interconnector capacity through sensitivity studies.

    https://image.digitalinsightresearch.in/uploads/NewsArticle/16385529/main.jpg
    Mark Dowdall