Abu dhabi: The Abu Dhabi Projects and Infrastructure Centre (ADPIC) has announced the second iteration of the Abu Dhabi Infrastructure Summit (ADIS), scheduled to take place from 12th to 14th May 2026 at the ICC Hall in ADNEC Centre.
According to Emirates News Agency, the emirate's premier conference and exhibition for infrastructure and urban development, ADIS 2026, is returning with an expanded format to meet the increasing global demand. The event will have a sharper focus on scale, impact, and delivery. Under the theme Urban Evolution: Rethinking Cities, Redefining How We Live, the summit will gather government leaders, global CEOs, developers, investors, and innovators from the global infrastructure ecosystem. The objective is to accelerate the creation of more resilient, sustainable, and people-centered cities.
The summit is anchored by Abu Dhabi's US$57 billion infrastructure pipeline, which spans across housing, transport, culture, education, and social infrastructure. ADIS 2026 positions Abu Dhabi as a model for sustainable urban development, translating ambition into measurable outcomes. ADPIC's Achievement Report highlights that the Centre successfully delivered 100 capital projects in 2025, marking significant progress in Abu Dhabi's urban development.
Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of the Department of Municipalities and Transport, emphasized that ADIS is not just a platform to showcase future projects. It is a platform to demonstrate the planning, design, and delivery of cities centered around people. Al Shorafa highlighted the importance of integrated urban planning, advanced mobility systems, and world-class infrastructure in shaping connected and sustainable communities. He added that the challenges cities face today necessitate collaboration on an unprecedented scale, and Abu Dhabi is committed to sharing its governance frameworks and delivery models globally.
With 70 percent of the world's population expected to live in cities by 2050, the demand for smarter, sustainable cities is urgent. Abu Dhabi's economy reached a record AED325.7 billion in Q3 2025, with construction expanding by 13.9 percent year-on-year. ADIS 2026 addresses this global challenge and serves as a platform to showcase how Abu Dhabi is translating vision into delivery.
Maysarah Mahmoud Eid, Director-General of ADPIC, stated that Abu Dhabi has become a global benchmark for infrastructure excellence through execution, not just ambition. ADIS 2026 is a testament to Abu Dhabi's commitment to advancing this momentum by convening global partners, investors, and innovators to enhance city planning, financing, and delivery.
ADIS 2026 will feature a multi-day conference, a dedicated exhibition, and structured matchmaking centered on four critical themes: delivery-first infrastructure, urban wellbeing, smart solutions, and sustainability and resilience. The program aims to drive execution at scale and accelerate low-carbon urban development.
For the first time, the summit will include dedicated sessions in collaboration with the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC). These sessions will focus on contracting, dispute avoidance, and resolution practices under the Abu Dhabi Capital Projects Framework, highlighting Abu Dhabi's commitment to governance excellence and international project delivery standards.
Additionally, ADIS 2026 will see increased international participation from Singapore, China, and Trkiye, building on the momentum generated by ADPIC's international roadshows in 2025. These roadshows yielded nine memorandums of understanding and over 30 B2B meetings. This expanded presence will enable contractors, developers, and industry leaders from these nations to showcase their capabilities and engage with Abu Dhabi's project owners and delivery authorities, fostering long-term collaboration and shared investment.