Introduction

From November 4-7, ADIPEC celebrated its 40th anniversary in Abu Dhabi, drawing over 205,000 participants from 172 countries and generating more than $10 billion in deals.

This year was especially important for WeConnect Energy, as we joined as exhibitors for the very first time alongside Scottish Development International (SDI) and the Energy Industries Council (EIC). It was an honour to represent Scotland at such a major industry event. What made this experience even more special was the incredible team we brought to ADIPEC - our largest WeConnect Energy team at the event yet! It was fantastic finally meeting some of my colleagues in person for the first time since I joined the company in summer 2024 and getting to visit our offices in the vibrant cities of Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

Many people I spoke with said this year’s ADIPEC was the best yet, and so I’m excited to share my thoughts and highlight the standout moments that made this event one to remember.

Event Highlights

Decarbonisation

Decarbonisation was a central theme at ADIPEC this year, with initiatives and commitments to sustainable practices taking center stage. One the opening day I managed to catch an interesting talk delivered primarily by the CEO of Tenaris focused on ‘Optimising Operations to Advance Decarbonisation: A Digital and Cultural Shift’. I thought the focus on building clear decarbonsation KPI’s throughout his company was bold, and clear communication throughout the supply chain, to get all layers working towards these an interesting approach.  The collective drive toward decarbonisation was clear, and it was inspiring to see E&P operators not only exploring new ways to reduce emissions but actively implementing strategies that could reshape the industry's future. This focus on sustainability brought useful perspectives to my own work, particularly in recruitment, where finding talent that can support these initiatives is becoming a growing priority.

‍

One of our main goals at WeConnect Energy is to support energy companies by ensuring they have access to the right skills and talent they need to achieve their decarbonisation goals.

‍

In discussions with technical E&P leaders, it was encouraging to see their innovative approaches toward global decarbonisation within traditional energy frameworks. Looking ahead, while renewable energy continues to grow, oil and gas will remain essential to powering infrastructure, transportation, and industry. ADIPEC 2024 underscored the importance of balancing this dual focus—working to reduce emissions and increase sustainability while still meeting global energy demands. The takeaway was clear: transformation and reliability must go hand in hand, addressing our needs for both exploration and production.

This mission closely aligns with WeConnect Energy’s commitment to providing talent solutions that support energy companies in achieving their decarbonisation goals. ADIPEC highlighted the urgency for the sector to balance the demands of traditional energy sources with the drive toward sustainability.

AI

As expected, Artificial Intelligence (AI), was a running theme throughout ADIPEC 2024, where its potential to reshape the energy sector was highlighted by industry leaders like Dr. Sultan Al Jaber. He highlighted AI’s exponential growth and transformative impact on managing and predicting energy demand. AI is already being used to optimise energy systems, reduce operational costs, and improve safety through advanced data analysis.  Some of the team managed attend a session during the second day, titled “The power of AI for the energy transition”. Top executives from the private sector including ADNOC and Total spoke impressively and at length, and they discussed the challenges of balancing the major energy requirements for such technology vs it’s impact on jobs and communities eye opening.  

Global Collaboration

The sheer volume of attendees at ADIPEC 2024 made for an exciting, albeit somewhat frantic, networking experience. At times it seemed like most of my LinkedIn network were in Abu Dhabi!  One of the highlights for me was meeting contacts and building new connections with people from overseas who I had only ever spoken to online. The introductions over coffee (or Irn Bru if you were lucky enough to visit the Scotland Pavilion) and the conversations at various stands allowed for more genuine exchanges and a deeper discussion of ideas. Seeing digital representations of projects we have supported—or look forward to supporting—added an extra layer of value to the process.