10:44 am - October 15, 2026
The Department of Energy – Abu Dhabi has signed memoranda of understanding with US regulators, universities and technology firms, targeting artificial intelligence and quantum computing for the emirate’s energy and water networks.
A delegation from the Department of Energy – Abu Dhabi (DoE) has concluded an official visit to the United States, signing memoranda of understanding with regulatory, academic and technology partners across the energy and water sectors, according to a statement issued on 22 August by the Abu Dhabi Media Office.
His Excellency Dr Abdulla Humaid Al Jarwan, chairman of the DoE, led the delegation. It held meetings in Boston, New York and California with universities, research centres, regulatory bodies and companies working in technology, investment and infrastructure. Talks covered artificial intelligence, automation, quantum computing, regulatory modernisation and system reliability.
The memoranda of understanding cover regulatory cooperation, artificial intelligence and advanced technology applications for operational efficiency across both sectors. Separate agreements with regulatory and academic bodies deal with electricity and water regulation, the modernisation of networks and the development of future energy systems. The department did not name the counterparties or say how many agreements it signed.
The delegation also examined setting up an AI-powered laboratory with international academic and research institutions. The laboratory would develop and test solutions for the energy and water sectors, shortening the path from research to deployment. Proposed work includes quantum computing applications for water-use efficiency, alongside forecasting, demand and resource management, and asset and network performance.
“This visit represents a strategic milestone in expanding our cooperation with leading global institutions,” Dr Al Jarwan said. He said the partnerships would speed the development of innovative solutions and enable the application of artificial intelligence, emerging technologies and quantum computing in a more efficient and resilient system.
Building support for the resilience framework
A second objective was international backing for Abu Dhabi’s Energy and Water Resilience Framework. The department wants the framework recognised as a reference standard that other markets can adopt, positioning the emirate as a model for governing critical infrastructure. It is also building a partner network to support the framework’s rollout and to exchange technical expertise.
The DoE invited the institutions it met to join Abu Dhabi Water and Power Week 2026 as strategic partners. That event supports the UAE’s priorities for the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, giving the visit’s outcomes a route into a wider diplomatic agenda on water.
For UAE climate tech firms, the practical read is where the emirate is directing procurement and research money. Abu Dhabi’s utility regulator is buying into AI, automation and quantum computing as tools for grid and water network management. Companies with products in forecasting, demand management and asset optimisation now have a clearer signal of what the market will pay for.
