Abu Dhabi to host global infrastructure summit in May

The Abu Dhabi Projects and Infrastructure Centre (ADPIC) announced the second Abu Dhabi Infrastructure Summit (ADIS), scheduled for May 12–14 at the ICC Hall in ADNEC Center.

ADIS 2026, the emirate’s flagship infrastructure and urban development event, will return with an expanded format focused on scale, impact, and delivery. The summit is themed Urban Evolution: Rethinking Cities, Redefining How We Live, and aims to bring together government leaders, global CEOs, developers, investors, and innovators.

Anchored by Abu Dhabi's US$57 billion infrastructure pipeline covering housing, transport, culture, education, and social projects, ADIS 2026 positions the emirate as a global model for sustainable urban development. ADPIC’s 2025 Achievement Report noted the completion of 100 capital projects, underscoring Abu Dhabi’s capacity to execute large-scale initiatives.

Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of the Department of Municipalities and Transport, said, “ADIS is not simply a platform to showcase what Abu Dhabi plans to build. It is a platform to demonstrate how we plan, design, and deliver cities that place people at the centre of development. Through integrated urban planning, advanced mobility systems, and world-class infrastructure, Abu Dhabi continues to shape communities that are connected, sustainable, and built to enhance quality of life.”

He added that addressing urban challenges requires global collaboration, and ADIS 2026 provides a forum for sharing governance frameworks, delivery models, and partnerships with international stakeholders.

With projections that 70% of the world’s population will live in cities by 2050, ADIS 2026 reflects the urgent need for sustainable urban growth. Abu Dhabi’s economy reached a record AED325.7 billion in Q3 2025, with construction expanding 13.9% year-on-year, highlighting the emirate’s rapid urban development.

Maysarah Mahmoud Eid, Director-General of ADPIC, said, “Abu Dhabi has earned its position as a global benchmark for infrastructure excellence not through ambition alone, but through execution. ADIS 2026 reflects our continued commitment to advancing this momentum, convening leading global partners, investors, and innovators to collectively advance how cities are planned, financed, and delivered. Abu Dhabi’s pipeline is open to the world, and we invite the world’s best to help shape it.”

ADIS 2026 will feature a multi-day conference, a dedicated exhibition, and structured matchmaking focused on four themes: delivery-first infrastructure, urban wellbeing, smart solutions, and sustainability and resilience. The program will address governance frameworks, digital infrastructure, sustainable housing, and advanced construction, emphasizing actionable solutions over dialogue.

For the first time, the summit will host sessions with the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC), covering contracting, dispute avoidance, and resolution practices aligned with the Abu Dhabi Capital Projects Framework.

International participation will increase, with delegates from Singapore, China, and Turkey. ADPIC’s 2025 roadshows in these countries generated nine memoranda of understanding and over 30 business-to-business meetings, expanding opportunities for cross-border collaboration in infrastructure projects.