Eighty-five percent of energy industry leaders say the sector is more attractive for investment than it was five years ago, while 77% remain optimistic about the next decade, according to the ADIPEC Global Energy Report for 2026, released on October 22.
The report, released by the organizers of the Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC), found that 64% of senior industry leaders believed the global energy system had proved more resilient than expected through recent disruptions.
Based on surveys of more than 1,800 senior business and energy leaders, the report identified growing diversification and interconnection across the global energy system, a shift in the sector’s center of gravity toward the Middle East and Asia, and the increasing influence of artificial intelligence (AI) on energy demand and industry operations.
The findings were released ahead of ADIPEC 2026, scheduled to take place in Abu Dhabi between 2 and 5 November. The event is expected to attract 239,000 attendees, with more than 1,800 speakers and 2,250 exhibiting companies.
Christopher Hudson, president of ADIPEC organizer DMG Events, said confidence in the industry had held up despite recent disruptions, but stressed the need to translate investment appetite into projects, infrastructure and partnerships.
The report attributed the energy system’s resilience primarily to its ability to adapt quickly to shocks, continued supply flows and diversification of energy sources and routes.
Respondents ranked investment in diversified energy sources, renewables and the protection of critical infrastructure ahead of domestic self-reliance among nine energy security priorities.
The Middle East was identified as the region offering the greatest opportunities over the next decade, with 72% of respondents expecting it to become more important to global energy.
About half of oil and natural gas producers identified Asia-Pacific and the Middle East as among their most significant customer regions over the next five years, highlighting the growing commercial importance of energy trade between the Gulf and Asia.
More than four in five respondents expected electricity demand driven by AI to exceed current forecasts, including 32% who anticipated demand would be much higher.
Meanwhile, 71% viewed AI as more of an opportunity than a risk. Some 43% expected technology and AI companies to gain the most influence over the global energy system over the next decade, ahead of governments and regulators, financial institutions and traditional energy companies.
The report found broad agreement that future energy demand would require a diversified supply mix, with 93% of respondents saying growth across multiple energy sources would be necessary rather than reliance on a single dominant source.
Infrastructure constraints could complicate efforts to meet that demand. Delays in building and connecting electricity grids ranked among the biggest barriers after geopolitical factors, while the report highlighted increased grid investment as a priority.
About 74% of respondents expected the Middle East to play a greater role in developing energy infrastructure over the coming decade.
