The ADNOC Technical Academy has embedded the Neuron 5 AI-powered monitoring tool into its training programs for young Emirati engineers. Developed with AVEVA and AIQ, the technology predicts equipment faults and boosts reliability across operations. ADNOC has deployed it at more than 20 percent of critical infrastructure, where it has cut unplanned shutdowns by 50 percent and reduced planned maintenance by one fifth, according to the company.
Since opening in 1978 the academy has prepared more than 6,000 UAE nationals for roles in industry and energy. It currently enrolls 1,300 trainees at campuses in Abu Dhabi and Al Dhanna while aligning courses with national development priorities. More than 40,000 ADNOC employees have received AI fundamentals training to date as the company pursues its target of becoming the world’s most AI-enabled energy producer by 2030.
The first group of nearly 150 Emirati engineers completed the intensive AI Accelerator program this year, gaining capabilities for onshore and offshore sites. This cohort forms part of a sustained push to integrate artificial intelligence from field operations to executive decision-making. ADNOC continues to expand such initiatives on days such as International Youth Day to strengthen its domestic talent pipeline.
In a parallel step ADNOC began admitting Emirati women to technical diploma programs at the academy for the first time, with the inaugural cohort of up to 50 trainees starting a 24-month course that combines classroom study and on-site work. The company aims to graduate roughly 250 female technicians between 2028 and 2030 while lifting female representation in technical positions to 25 percent. Emirati women currently account for 14.4 percent of the ADNOC workforce and 42.4 percent of its technical roles, a company assessment found.
The drive to empower Emirati talent to shape future of energy also includes a memorandum of understanding with the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council that targets 13,500 new private-sector positions in ADNOC’s supply chain by 2028. The pact allocates 1,000 training places for university graduates through the Khebraty program and focuses on fields such as artificial intelligence and low-carbon solutions. It advances the national goal of creating 100,000 private-sector jobs for UAE nationals over three years.
Collaborations with partners including Mubadala Investment Company facilitate leadership exchanges and mobility programs for outstanding Emirati professionals. These agreements emphasize upskilling in renewable energy, advanced technology and sustainable practices while supporting career pathways across both organizations. ADNOC has similarly joined with SLB on the Energy Futures Initiative, which uses AI analytics to personalize development plans and has improved digital skills for 90 percent of participating new hires.
Outcomes from these programs have included more than 32 innovative solutions developed with SLB and a 30 percent rise in the share of women in key digital roles. The academy and associated initiatives remain central to ADNOC’s strategy of investing in human capital to drive efficiency, innovation and long-term growth in the UAE energy industry.
