AI Adoption Drives Efficiency Focus at Record-Breaking ADIPEC Energy Conference in UAE

The four-day Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) concluded in Abu Dhabi after gathering more than 2,250 exhibitors and over 239,000 visitors, marking the largest edition in the event's history since its launch in 1984. Organizers established dedicated exhibition zones for AI, digitalization, low-carbon and chemicals, and maritime and logistics amid industry attention on energy security and supply chain resilience following regional shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz.

Energy sector executives at the event reported that artificial intelligence is moving into core operational workflows, extending from exploration and extraction to corporate administration and inventory management. Huzaifa AJ, vice chairman and CTO of Sharjah-based equipment supplier Dolphin Group, noted that companies are applying AI at fundamental operational levels to benchmark worker productivity, track stock levels, and streamline logistical intake.

Operators highlighted specific operational yield improvements linked to algorithmic tools. Khamis Al Mazrouei, CEO of Sharjah government-owned producer SNOC, stated that AI guidance on tracking laterals during drilling and development at the Hadiba field helped increase productivity by 300 times. Additionally, Sherif Foda, chairman and CEO of oilfield services firm National Energy Services Reunited Corp (NESR), noted that reprocessing decades of historical seismic data with AI agents could improve recovery factors and potentially extend field operating life by 30 to 40 years.