Two conferences in the Middle East this month focused on energy and sustainability from a Middle Eastern perspective. ADIPEC in Abu Dhabi featured hundreds of speakers discussing energy growth, AI efficiency gains, and investments in oil and gas. A smaller event in Dubai, the Dii Desert Energy summit, highlighted a new energy future for the region.

Dr. Sultan Al Jaber emphasized the need for investment to sustain energy growth, predicting a doubling of renewables by 2040 and continued demand for oil. The discussion included concerns about capital tied up in existing energy infrastructure assets and the need for innovation to enable decarbonization.

OPEC presented its World Oil Outlook 2025 report at ADIPEC, forecasting a 23% growth in global energy demand by 2050. Despite concerns about investment, there was little sign of oversupply in 2026. The focus was on long-term capital deficiencies in the oil sector and the necessity for deregulatory efforts to ensure demand satisfaction.

Natural gas was reframed as a ‘destination’ fuel, surpassing coal in status, as discussions at ADIPEC highlighted rising global demand for gas. Market dynamics include a wave of new energy capacity, downward pressure on prices, and opportunities for growth in price-sensitive markets. The emphasis was on the importance of investing in gas infrastructure.

The Dii Desert Energy Leadership Summit in Dubai gathered industry leaders to develop net-zero energy solutions in the MENA region. The focus on renewable energy capacity building and the increasing investment in low-carbon energy signals a shift towards sustainability. The region’s potential for sustainable data centers using renewable energy was highlighted as a key opportunity for growth.

Read more at Yahoo Finance: Middle East Energy Leaders Warn of Underinvestment in Oil, Bet on Digital Growth