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The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy said its delegation, led by Chairman Dr Abdulla Humaid Al Jarwan, concluded an official visit to the United States that targeted expansion of strategic partnerships in energy and water innovation, regulation and advanced technologies. Meetings took place in Boston, New York and California with universities, research centres, regulatory bodies and leading companies in technology, investment and infrastructure sectors. Discussions addressed artificial intelligence, automation, quantum computing, regulatory modernisation, system reliability and investment in future technologies, according to the department. The visit sought to strengthen international cooperation in policy and regulatory frameworks to support Abu Dhabi’s sustainable, knowledge-based economy.
According to the department’s statement distributed by WAM, the team worked to build alignment around Abu Dhabi’s Energy and Water Resilience Framework with the goal of developing it into a globally recognised reference applicable across different markets. It also aimed to create an international network of partners for framework implementation, knowledge exchange and enhanced sector readiness to respond to future challenges. The delegation invited the organisations met during the trip to participate as strategic partners in Abu Dhabi Water and Power Week 2026 and contribute to its programmes, in support of the UAE’s priorities for the 2026 United Nations Water Conference.
Dr Abdulla Humaid Al Jarwan stated, “Abu Dhabi continues to build an integrated ecosystem that is shaping the future of energy and water through a forward-looking vision centred on innovation, high-impact international partnerships, advanced regulatory frameworks and investment in future technologies.” He added that the visit represented a strategic milestone in expanding cooperation with leading global institutions that would contribute to knowledge exchange, accelerate innovative solutions and enable the application of artificial intelligence, emerging technologies and quantum computing. Al Jarwan noted that strategic partnerships are central to developing the next generation of energy and water systems and translating innovation into practical solutions that strengthen reliability, efficiency and sustainability.
The department reported signing several memoranda of understanding with strategic partners covering regulatory cooperation, artificial intelligence, advanced technology solutions and innovative applications designed to improve operational efficiency and sector readiness. Additional MoUs were signed with regulatory and academic entities to strengthen cooperation in electricity and water regulation, modernise energy and water networks and advance future energy systems. The DoE explored the establishment of an AI-powered laboratory with international academic and research institutions to develop and test advanced solutions for the energy and water sectors.
Potential areas of cooperation examined include using quantum computing to enhance water-use efficiency, improving planning and forecasting, strengthening demand and resource management, increasing asset and network efficiency and supporting decision-making, the statement indicated. The delegation also examined opportunities to accelerate automation across the energy and water sectors and use Abu Dhabi’s artificial intelligence capabilities to develop a smarter, more connected ecosystem. This initiative supports Abu Dhabi’s efforts to build a resilient and integrated energy and water ecosystem based on knowledge, innovation and advanced technology while expanding international partnerships and investments, according to the department.
The outcomes will contribute to discussions at Abu Dhabi Water and Power Week, an event the Abu Dhabi Media Office said is set for May 2026 at ADNEC to bring together decision-makers, experts and global companies. This follows the department signing strategic agreements in May at the Abu Dhabi Infrastructure Summit, including a memorandum for a unified governance framework for infrastructure projects with the Abu Dhabi Projects and Infrastructure Centre and 14 government entities. The department’s actions build on the longstanding UAE-US energy relationship, which a US Department of Energy overview described as facilitating structured engagement on energy security, innovation and sustainability priorities, including prior investments such as ADNOC’s expanded partnerships with American firms.
