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The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy dispatched a delegation led by Chairman Dr Abdulla Humaid Al Jarwan to the United States in September 2025 to bolster international cooperation in the energy and water sectors. The group visited California, Texas, Michigan, Massachusetts and New York, where it held high-level meetings with government officials, research institutions, technology firms and investment entities. Discussions centred on advanced infrastructure, sustainable regulatory models, digital technologies and clean energy initiatives, the department reported.
A landmark memorandum of understanding was signed between the department and Goldman Sachs International during the trip, marking the first such pact between an Abu Dhabi government body and the global financial firm. Under the agreement the parties will examine avenues to draw foreign direct investment, build public-private partnerships and execute joint ventures aimed at upgrading water infrastructure. Advanced treatment technologies, improved network resilience and strategies for asset monetisation to unlock private capital will also be explored, according to the department.
The pact supports the department’s goal of securing as much as AED400 billion in foreign investment for the energy and water sectors by 2050 through greater private sector involvement. Development of the AD.WE digital platform, created with AIQ and Presight, also featured in the talks as a tool for resource management optimisation. The Abu Dhabi Media Office detailed how the platform drew interest from American counterparts for potential collaboration.
Outcomes from the visit included the creation of cooperation frameworks, joint task forces, knowledge exchange programmes and pilot initiatives focused on artificial intelligence, energy storage and water efficiency. Plans were set to welcome US companies and institutions to the Abu Dhabi Energy and Water Week scheduled for 2026. The department indicated these steps would help integrate global best practices across energy, water and agriculture sectors.
Further initiatives will see the establishment of a business development platform in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development and the Abu Dhabi Investment Office. This platform is intended to cultivate ties with prominent research centres, universities, entrepreneurs, investment firms and sovereign wealth funds. The department’s announcement emphasised the role of such alliances in fostering innovation and sustainable growth.
The visit forms part of broader UAE-US energy engagement, with Reuters reporting that the UAE intends to lift its energy sector investments in the United States to $440 billion by 2035. Such moves build on existing commitments that include significant ADNOC projects with American partners. The department’s efforts highlight Abu Dhabi’s focus on technology-driven solutions to meet future demand in critical resources.
