WETEX 2026 Ignites UAE's Energy Future Amidst Soaring Demand

Thousands of energy industry professionals convened at the Dubai World Trade Centre on Tuesday for the inaugural day of WETEX 2026. Companies across the UAE's power, construction, and technology sectors utilized the exhibition to present their strategies for addressing the escalating electricity demand that current infrastructure is struggling to meet. The Water, Energy, Technology and Environment Exhibition, an annual event organized by the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), brought together cable manufacturers, EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) contractors, property developers, and enterprise technology firms under one roof across multiple halls of the expansive convention center.

Discussions throughout the event focused on the increasing demand for renewable energy sources and data centers, alongside a growing imperative for the tools required to manage these resources effectively. Fortunately, innovative solutions to these challenges were abundant.

Ranjod Singh, whose company Aasa Power has been active in the UAE's power infrastructure for three decades, highlighted the event's significance: "This event is extremely significant in terms of presenting our capabilities to the utilities here," he stated. "It provides a great platform for all the EPC contractors, the clients, the consultants and DEWA itself to come together. There is a lot of technological exchange, a lot of development happening."

The pace of development outside the exhibition halls is relentless, driven by the nation's continuous growth. Data centers are expanding, residential masterplans are reaching into new areas, and industrial zones are attracting fresh investment, all of which require substantial power. "The power requirement will definitely outcast current capacity,” Mr. Singh observed. "We have to be ready." Aasa Power's proposed solution, a headline feature at this year's WETEX, is a containerized, mobile solar unit designed to power construction sites without relying on diesel generators. This system deploys foldable solar panels from a transportable container, generating clean electricity for site offices and equipment remotely. The unit's mobility allows it to be relocated and reused indefinitely, addressing not only carbon emissions but also the noise and power quality issues associated with diesel generation.

As power demand escalates, so does the need for cables. Charles Mellagui, chief executive of the Cable Business Unit at DUCAB, outlined critical infrastructure needs: "Some estimates say we need 80 million kilometers of transmission cable by 2040," he informed The National. "Simply because of electrification and renewables, creating this need for cable." He further noted that raw materials present the most significant challenge to meeting this demand at scale. Global copper demand is projected to nearly double in the coming years, yet a new copper mine takes a decade to become fully operational. "We are in 2026," Mellagui stated, "so the output will come fully by 2036, meaning there is a constraint on the supply chain." DUCAB is responding by aiming to increase its use of recycled copper from its current 12-13 percent to over 25 percent by 2040, while also developing cables that utilize polypropylene, a more environmentally friendly and fully recyclable alternative to traditional materials. DUCAB, which counts DEWA, TAQA, and Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority (SEWA) among its strategic partners, has been a consistent participant at WETEX for several years. "WETEX has grown year after year in terms of reputation and also in terms of international connection," Mr. Mellagui commented. "WETEX brings a lot of players in energy transition, in sustainability, in electrification together – they are bringing innovation, they are sharing solutions."

In the realm of the built environment, DAMAC Properties is showcasing the evolution of design and construction across its developments at WETEX. Mohammed Tahaineh, chief projects officer at DAMAC, pointed to the recently completed DAMAC Lagoon as an example of this shift. "It is the first master plan to get a Platinum Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certificate in the UAE," he said. "This required a lot of detail, studying a lot of design, using a lot of technologies that enhance the lifestyle of residents." DAMAC has invested approximately $50 million in its own offsite manufacturing facilities, producing bathrooms, kitchens, precast components, and tiling systems under controlled factory conditions. Approximately 80 percent of their villas are now assembled using factory-made components, with composite construction technologies reportedly reducing concrete consumption by 30-40 percent in certain applications, leading to corresponding decreases in water and energy usage during construction. "Today we are not considering sustainability or green building as a choice," Mr. Tahaineh emphasized. "It is a responsibility of us, as a leading development company in the region, to educate the people, to give them a sustainable lifestyle." Mr. Tahaineh expressed high expectations for WETEX this year: “I am expecting a lot from this,” he stated. “I feel that our presence here is to know what else we can give our customers.” The event also facilitates knowledge exchange, with participants visiting and being visited by companies to learn about new sustainability practices and power and water conservation methods for future generations.

Artificial intelligence (AI) emerged as another prominent theme throughout the exhibition. For SAP, a technology partner to DEWA and related organizations for over 15 years, WETEX 2026 presents an opportunity to advance discussions with major energy clients. "The importance of this event for us is mainly two things," explained Marwan Zeineddine, managing director of SAP UAE. "The networking with all our partners, and it's a big opportunity for us to showcase our latest innovations – especially around the autonomous enterprise and agentic AI." SAP envisions an enterprise where finance, procurement, human resources, logistics, and operations are managed end-to-end by AI agents, ensuring governance, security, and accuracy by drawing on an organization's own data. The company is actively engaged in discussions with DEWA regarding the implementation of these capabilities. SAP has also developed a 'green ledger,' a control tower designed to track carbon emissions across all operations, a tool already in use by major UAE industrial clients. Mr. Zeineddine argued that the primary challenge is not a lack of ambition but rather the pace of adoption. "The main challenge for all technology companies like SAP is speed – how quickly you can develop, especially in the AI era. You have to be very quick in developing and making sure your solutions work with the latest innovations. If you are late, someone else will be doing it.” Events like WETEX are crucial platforms for these necessary innovative solutions. Mr. Zeineddine added that this year's event is particularly important as organizations navigate regional turbulence and global technological shifts, emphasizing that "The investments should be very smart.”