Schneider Electric concludes Abu Dhabi Summit with New AI Study

Held under the theme “Advancing Energy Tech to Power Intelligence and Resilience,” the two-day summit brought together more than 2,500 energy professionals, government leaders, industry analysts, customers, partners, students and media.

The sessions examined how organizations are using AI to improve operational efficiency, strengthen industrial performance, optimize energy usage and support the rapid expansion of digital infrastructure across the region.

Schneider Electric released its 2026 Industrial AI in CPG Study: UAE during the summit. The study focused on food and beverage manufacturers which highlighted the growing use of AI across the UAE’s industrial sector with 23% of UAE manufacturers already considering AI a core part of their operations, compared with 16.3 % globally.

“We are entering an Era of Intelligence in which AI is becoming embedded in the physical economy. AI may be digital, but it runs on electricity and depends on the physical systems beneath it,” Olivier Blum, CEO of Schneider Electric said.

The report also found that 59% of UAE manufacturers expect AI to have a transformational impact on their organisations by 2030.

However, 38% of respondents identified cybersecurity as a top priority making it a major concern as AI adoption expands.

The company’s newly unveiled 3,000-square-meter Innovation Hub, showcased technologies that span the full lifecycle of infrastructure, from design and construction to operation and maintenance.

Alongside the summit, the UAE Ministry of Economy and Tourism and Schneider Electric signed an agreement to launch a 12-week NEST Accelerator Programme for high-potential startups across the Middle East and Africa.

The programme will support startups in Energy Tech, Industrial Tech and Enterprise AI, and will be delivered by a specialised third-party accelerator under Schneider Electric’s supervision.