Schneider Electric, a global energy technology leader, announced that its second Innovation Summit Middle East & Africa will be held in Abu Dhabi on April 28-29.
The summit will bring together global energy and technology leaders and government officials to advance the regional transition to energy intelligence, as data center growth, AI adoption, and national vision place unprecedented demands on energy systems.
Schneider Electric is advancing its energy technology ambitions by integrating electrification, automation and digital intelligence, deployed across buildings, data centers, industrial applications and the power grid to unlock the full value of energy and ensure efficiency and sustainability for everyone.
This year’s summit comes at a pivotal time for the Middle East and Africa, a region experiencing rapid growth with national visions, mega-projects and rapid expansion of AI, data centers and digital infrastructure.
In this context, Saudi Arabia stands out as one of the most dynamic markets in terms of investments in digital infrastructure and sustainable energy.
With global electricity demand expected to grow at a strong compound annual growth rate of 3.6% over the period 2026-2030, and global AI workloads expected to increase data center electricity demand by 160%, the imperative for intelligent and sustainable energy solutions has never been more important.
“Energy today is the foundation of national resilience and competitiveness. The region is at a tipping point, with electricity consumption in the Middle East and North Africa having tripled since 2000 and expected to increase by 3-4% annually, reaching a whopping 50% by 2035, driven by surging demand for cooling, desalination and urbanization,” said Walid Sheta, Schneider’s Zone President for the Middle East and Africa. electricity.
“The Innovation Summit Middle East & Africa highlights our commitment to accelerating energy technology innovation and strengthening energy intelligence across the region. This time, we highlight our emergence as a trusted energy technology partner to lead the next phase of the region’s transformation.”
This year’s summit will focus on regional benchmarks from more than 80 countries, from 100% SF6 removal and carbon footprint reductions for South African fruit growers to the savings EcoStruxure Power & Grid is realizing for Senegal’s national power company. This guarantees a reduction in recovery time of 3 hours to 3 minutes.
A mix of high-impact programs and cutting-edge product launches that put Schneider Electric at the center of MEA’s energy transformation story include:
CEO Forum in partnership with Forbes Middle East: an executive-only initiative that brings together 100 business leaders to address the strategic challenges of energy intelligence.
Keynotes and thought leadership sessions: Featuring executive speakers from industry-leading companies and insights from strategic partners including Bain & Company.
Innovation Hub Experience: Guided tours and live demonstrations, and 3,000 square feet of immersive space to provide a customized customer experience of Schneider Electric’s most innovative and integrated energy technology solutions that address critical challenges in energy efficiency, grid modernization, and digital infrastructure.
Stakeholder Recognition: Schneider Electric’s dedicated partners will be awarded 20 cluster awards and five Middle East and Africa awards across four categories: Growth Award, Efficiency Award, Innovation Award and Sustainability Award on the second day of the summit.
“Energy intelligence is becoming a reality across the Gulf as public and private companies compete to align with national visions for decarbonization and a sustainable future,” said Amer Shadri, president of the Gulf Cluster at Schneider Electric.
“As one of the most local of global companies, Schneider Electric helps our customers go beyond electrification and implement AI-driven, software-defined energy systems that deliver efficiency, resiliency and sustainability on a national scale. This summit provides a roadmap for what comes next as we continue to redefine the relationship between energy and digital capabilities.”
As AI, cloud, and high-performance computing become the foundation of national competitiveness, today’s energy technologies must evolve to become resilient, sustainable, and scalable to meet the demands of modern intelligence.
Schneider Electric’s new position as an energy technology partner reflects the company’s approach to supporting regional transformation.
Schneider Electric’s Innovation Summit Middle East and Africa will focus on real-world applications across key sectors such as utilities, data centers, commercial buildings, industrial facilities and critical infrastructure, demonstrating how intelligent energy management can deliver operational excellence, resiliency and sustainability across the region’s most important projects.
