ADIPEC 2026 closed in Abu Dhabi on 5 November after four days of exhibitions, conferences and deal-making at ADNEC Centre. Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, hosted by ADNOC and organised by dmg events, this year’s edition was the largest in the show’s history and once again confirmed Abu Dhabi as the meeting point of the global energy industry.
The show had outgrown its usual space: for the first time, the opening ceremony moved to the Abu Dhabi Energy Centre so that every square metre of ADNEC could be used for the exhibition. Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and ADNOC Managing Director and Group CEO, opened the week with a keynote on energy security and investment, followed by a conversation with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman on what AI can do for energy.
ADIPEC 2026 by the numbers
According to the organisers, this year’s edition brought together:
- 2,260 exhibiting companies, a record, across 16 fully sold-out halls
- 240,000 attendees from 170 countries
- 30 country pavilions, including six from Asia (China, India, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea)
- 54 national and international oil and energy companies
- 40+ ministers and policymakers
- 1,800+ speakers in 380+ sessions across 13 conference programmes
- 50,000+ deals worth an estimated US$67 billion recorded over four days
China, the United States and Italy brought the largest numbers of exhibitors, and Asian participation reached a new high with 353 companies. The AI Zone grew by 20% on last year, with Microsoft, NVIDIA, IBM, Dell, Huawei, Honeywell and Siemens among the exhibitors.
Among the agreements announced during the week: ADNOC’s AI partnership with OpenAI and G42, XRG’s US$1.5bn acquisition of Shell’s stake in Australia’s North West Shelf LNG project, and financial close on AED 5.1bn for the TA’ZIZ Terminal and Ammonia projects in Ruwais.
Why it matters for exhibitors
ADIPEC is no longer only an oil and gas show. Alongside upstream and LNG, the halls now cover AI and digitalisation, low-carbon fuels and chemicals, grids, and maritime logistics, each with its own zone. Visitors are the people who sign contracts: national oil companies, EPC contractors, procurement teams and ministerial delegations.
For exhibitors, the consequence is simple. With 2,260 companies in 16 halls, a visitor walks past hundreds of stands every day. The ones that stop people have a clear message visible from the aisle, a reason to come in, and a proper place to hold a meeting.
What an ADIPEC stand needs to work
Energy technology is hard to show: drilling equipment, valves, sensors, software and engineering services. A strong ADIPEC stand usually has to:
- Display heavy or technical equipment safely, with structural calculations and floor-load approvals.
- Explain the product in under a minute, through LED walls, scale models and live digital demos.
- Host serious conversations, with closed meeting rooms or a hospitality area for delegations.
- Look premium without slowing the build, because ADNEC has strict build-up rules and short installation windows.
Many exhibitors also choose double-decker stands to add meeting space without paying for more floor area.
Planning for ADIPEC 2027
ADIPEC 2027 will take place on 1–4 November 2027 at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi. The 2026 halls sold out before the show, so space for 2027 goes early. For a custom stand, design, approvals and production should start four to six months ahead, which means a brief by May or June 2027. Companies that exhibit across the energy calendar can also plan for Middle East Energy in Dubai and WETEX at Dubai World Trade Centre.
How Expo Events Consulting works
Expo Events Consulting designs and builds turnkey exhibition stands for the energy, oil and gas industry across the UAE and Saudi Arabia, and in Europe with our partner Negus Messe Service GmbH.
- Free 3D design concept for your stand before you commit.
- One partner from concept to dismantling: design, engineering, production, logistics, installation and on-site service.
- Local production and build crews in the UAE and in Riyadh, with experience at ADNEC, DWTC and venues across Saudi Arabia.
- Heavy-duty structures, double-decker stands and country pavilions, with a dedicated English-speaking project manager.
Exhibiting at ADIPEC 2027?
Send us your stand size and a few words about your products, and we will prepare a free 3D concept.
Explore our portfolio and see upcoming exhibitions in the UAE