Schneider Electric to Host 2026 Innovation Summit in Abu Dhabi Amid Surging AI and Data Center Energy Demand

Schneider Electric has announced that the second edition of its Innovation Summit Middle East & Africa will take place in Abu Dhabi from April 28–29, 2026, bringing together global energy and technology leaders alongside government officials to accelerate the region’s shift toward energy intelligence.

The summit comes at a critical moment for the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region, where rapid digital transformation, exponential AI adoption, and large-scale infrastructure projects are placing unprecedented pressure on power systems. As countries roll out ambitious national visions and giga-projects, electricity demand is rising at a pace that demands smarter, more resilient energy solutions.

According to industry projections cited by Schneider Electric, global electricity demand is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.6% between 2026 and 2030. Meanwhile, global AI workloads are projected to drive a 160% surge in data center power demand by 2030. These trends are reshaping energy priorities across the MEA region, where cooling, desalination, and urbanization are further intensifying consumption patterns.

“Energy today is the foundation of national resilience and competitiveness,” said Walid Sheta, Zone President, Middle East and Africa at Schneider Electric. He noted that electricity consumption in the Middle East and North Africa has tripled since 2000 and is expected to grow by an additional 50% by 2035, expanding at 3–4% annually. “The region is at an inflection point. Innovation Summit Middle East & Africa underscores our dedication to accelerating energy technology innovation and powering energy intelligence throughout the region.”

Schneider Electric is positioning itself as an integrated energy technology partner, combining electrification, automation and digital intelligence across buildings, data centers, industrial applications and power grids. The company says this approach is designed to unlock greater efficiency, resilience and sustainability across critical infrastructure.

Abu Dhabi was selected as host city due to its emergence as a regional hub for energy transition and digital innovation. The UAE’s net-zero ambitions and heavy investments in power and digital infrastructure reflect both the scale of the energy challenge and the opportunity to embed intelligence into next-generation systems.

This year’s summit will spotlight regional case studies drawn from more than 80 countries. These include the elimination of SF6 and carbon footprint reduction initiatives for fruit producers in South Africa, as well as operational improvements enabled by EcoStruxure Power & Grid for Senegal’s National Electricity Company, which reduced recovery times from three hours to just three minutes.

The two-day event will feature a CEO Forum held in partnership with Forbes Middle East, convening 100 C-suite executives to discuss strategic imperatives in energy intelligence. Keynote sessions will include executive speakers from leading global companies and insights from strategic partners such as Bain & Company.

An Innovation Hub Experience will offer live demonstrations and guided tours of Schneider Electric’s integrated solutions across a 3,000-square-foot immersive space, focusing on energy efficiency, grid modernization and digital infrastructure. On the second day of the summit, Schneider Electric will also recognize partners through 20 Cluster awards and five Middle East and Africa awards across categories including Growth, Efficiency, Innovation and Sustainability.

Amel Chadli, President, Gulf Cluster at Schneider Electric, emphasized the region’s momentum toward intelligent energy systems. “Across the Gulf, energy intelligence is becoming the operational reality as public and private sector enterprises align with national visions for a decarbonized and sustainable future,” she said. “As one of the most local of global companies, Schneider Electric is empowering customers to move beyond electrification and implement AI-driven, software-defined energy systems that deliver efficiency, resilience and sustainability at national scale.”

With AI, cloud computing, and high-performance computing increasingly central to national competitiveness, the summit aims to demonstrate how intelligent energy management can support operational excellence across utilities, data centers, commercial buildings, industrial facilities, and critical infrastructure.

As MEA economies accelerate digital and industrial growth, the 2026 Innovation Summit in Abu Dhabi is expected to serve as a platform for defining how energy intelligence will underpin the region’s next phase of transformation.

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