The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority announced plans for WETEX 2026 under the patronage of Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy. The event will focus on renewable and clean energy solutions alongside water technologies, environmental protection and smart-city applications that align with national sustainability targets. DEWA organises the exhibition annually in line with directives from Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, to foster collaboration among global stakeholders. The 2026 edition aims to expand opportunities for exhibitors and visitors to explore investment prospects in vital sectors.
WAM reported that the exhibition will occupy Sheikh Maktoum Hall and adjacent venues at Dubai World Trade Centre across three days in October 2026. Parallel conferences will address green mobility, renewables, innovation and water management through more than 100 specialised sessions based on prior programming. Organisers expect participation from governments, private firms and research institutions drawn by the event’s established reputation. The format includes dedicated areas for artificial intelligence applications and sustainable urban development projects.
The previous edition in 2025 drew more than 50,000 visitors and 3,100 exhibiting companies from 65 countries according to figures released by DEWA in its post-show report. That gathering featured 18 country pavilions, 68 sponsors and generated 7,862 business-to-business and business-to-government meetings along with 135 panel discussions. DEWA data places the 2025 exhibition area at 95,000 square metres, marking a steady rise from earlier years when visitor numbers stood at 38,718 in 2019. These metrics underscore the event’s expansion as a regional benchmark for sector engagement.
A DNV assessment found that solar and wind capacity across the MENA region is projected to increase ten-fold by 2040 with solar expected to supply close to one-fifth of electricity by the end of the decade. The UAE has committed to net-zero emissions by 2050 and continues to scale clean energy including nuclear and solar resources that reached 47 percent of Abu Dhabi’s power mix in recent years. WETEX provides a venue for showcasing technologies that support these goals through practical demonstrations and knowledge exchange. Industry participants use the platform to present storage solutions that enhance grid reliability amid rising demand.
Wood Mackenzie data indicates that data centres in the UAE consumed around 3 terawatt hours in 2025 and are forecast to exceed 6 terawatt hours by 2030 as artificial intelligence infrastructure expands. This growth intersects with digital transformation themes at WETEX where exhibitors highlight smart technologies that optimise energy use and support decarbonisation efforts. The exhibition will feature innovations tailored to high-consumption sectors including cloud services and hyperscale facilities. Such integrations reflect broader trends identified in regional energy reviews.
Organisers have scheduled the World Green Economy Summit to run concurrently with WETEX 2026 on October 21 and 22 at the same venue. The summit will convene policymakers and experts to discuss climate finance, sustainable development and circular economy models that complement the exhibition’s core themes. Additional programming includes health and safety conferences alongside seminars on emerging workplace risks and regulatory updates. These side events have historically attracted ministerial delegations and international partnerships that extend beyond the show floor.
HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, managing director and chief executive officer of DEWA and founder and chairman of WETEX, commended partners, sponsors, exhibitors and visitors from the prior edition in an official statement. He expressed anticipation for continued collaboration at the 2026 gathering to advance shared objectives in sustainability. The exhibition has operated since 1999 and maintains its status among the largest specialised events of its kind in the region according to DEWA records.
