“The Corridor to the Future Runs Through the UAE”: Abu Dhabi Positions Itself at the Center of the AI-Powered Global Economy

Abu Dhabi is emerging as a central force in the global artificial intelligence era, powered by large-scale energy infrastructure, pragmatic economic strategy and long-term partnerships. Speaking at the opening of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2026, HE Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Chairman of Masdar, emphasized that sustainable human progress in the AI age will depend on reliable energy, digital capability and global collaboration—an equation the UAE is uniquely positioned to deliver.

AI, Energy and the New Engine of Global Growth

Addressing global leaders, heads of state and industry executives in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, Dr Al Jaber described the current moment as a new era of human progress—defined for the first time by computational power and digital intelligence.

He highlighted that artificial intelligence is reshaping every industry and accelerating demand for energy at an unprecedented scale. Data center power requirements are projected to increase more than sixfold over the next 15 years, while air travel is expected to double and urban populations grow by an additional 1.5 billion people. These shifts will significantly increase demand for power across cooling, mobility, industrial production and digital infrastructure.

Designing Sustainable Growth Through Realism and Scale

Dr Al Jaber stressed that meeting this surge in demand responsibly requires confronting energy realities. Despite rapid progress in renewables, more than 70 percent of global energy demand will continue to be met by hydrocarbons in the coming decades.

Rather than viewing this as a limitation, he framed it as an opportunity to design a better, more efficient engine for growth—one that balances clean energy expansion with reliable molecular energy sources. He emphasized that “the world still needs molecules to make electrons,” underlining the UAE’s strategy of investing simultaneously in both hydrocarbons and renewable energy systems.

Where Gigawatts Meet Terabytes: The UAE’s Integrated Model

The UAE’s economic model, Dr Al Jaber noted, is grounded in pragmatism, long-term planning and disciplined investment. The country has fused energy production and advanced technology into a single, integrated system—spanning carbon-efficient hydrocarbons, clean gigawatts from Masdar, nuclear energy, large-scale solar, and next-generation wind technologies.

Artificial intelligence, he added, is no longer an auxiliary tool but the operating system of the UAE’s industrial strategy. AI is being embedded across energy and industrial operations to optimize efficiency at every level, from energy generation to manufacturing and logistics.

Masdar Marks 20 Years with 65GW Global Renewable Capacity

Marking Masdar’s 20th anniversary, Dr Al Jaber revealed that the company has reached a global renewable energy capacity of 65 gigawatts, placing it more than two-thirds of the way toward its 100GW target by 2030.

Founded in 2006, Masdar has developed renewable projects in over 40 countries and played a pivotal role in reducing renewable energy costs globally by more than 90 percent. Dr Al Jaber credited the long-term vision of the UAE’s leadership for enabling Masdar’s sustained growth and global impact.

Radical Collaboration and an Open Platform for Partnership

A central theme of Dr Al Jaber’s address was the UAE’s approach to “radical collaboration.” He positioned the country as an open platform for serious investors, technologists, policymakers and innovators seeking stability, scale and long-term alignment.

The UAE, he said, offers access to world-class energy and digital infrastructure, advanced logistics, robust financial systems, policy clarity and a business environment underpinned by good governance and the rule of law. These foundations enable partnerships built on conviction rather than convenience.

Legacy, Human Impact and Sustainable Progress

Reflecting on the legacy of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Founding Father of the UAE, Dr Al Jaber highlighted the Zayed Sustainability Prize as a practical embodiment of values-driven leadership. Since its establishment in 2008, the prize has positively impacted more than 400 million lives across six continents by supporting sustainable, inclusive and scalable solutions.

He emphasized that progress should ultimately be measured by its impact on human dignity and quality of life, reinforcing the UAE’s people-centric approach to development.

Abu Dhabi as the Address for the Future

Concluding his address, Dr Al Jaber issued a direct call to global stakeholders to bring their ideas, capital and technologies to Abu Dhabi. He positioned the emirate as the place where energy meets intelligence, opportunity is operationalized and partnerships are built for the long term.

As artificial intelligence reshapes the global economy, Abu Dhabi is positioning itself not just as a participant, but as a foundational enabler of sustainable human progress in the digital age.