Gathering the clean energy Industry, the 15th Dii Desert Energy Leadership Summit, under the patronage of UAE’s Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, provides a unique platform for the industry’s most innovative, forward-thinking and top-level leaders to accelerate action and engage in bold discussions on the key enablers of the energy transition.
6-7 November 2025 | The W Dubai – The Palm, Dubai, UAE
As the energy transformation in MENA enters exponential growth, much remains to be done to further accelerate. Under the theme of ‘Energy Transformation in MENA: Vision. Implementation. Jobs’, this year’s summit emphasizes the challenges of implementation and highlights the importance of market-driven mechanisms in advancing toward low-cost and climate-neutral energy solutions.
In its 15th edition, across two full days, the Summit program explores what should drive clean energy systems and markets. It delves into the evolving business case for climate-neutral energy, examining the right mix of carrots and sticks needed to shape viable markets – from public sector push to market pull, and the critical role of price signals.
On day two, the Summit will welcome H.E. Eng. Sharif Salim Al Olama, Undersecretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs, Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure of the United Arab Emirates to deliver the opening keynote on 7th November. The session titled ‘Powering Progress – UAE’s Strategy for Global Energy Leadership Through Innovation, Partnerships, and Infrastructure Development’ will focus on cross-border regional cooperation for energy security, where his participation will highlight the UAE’s vision and implementation strategies.
Keynote highlights
Providing a platform for visionary pioneers in the renewables and low emissions ecosystem, the Dii Leadership Summit keynote addresses provide attendees with the opportunity to hear exclusive insights on lighthouse project development and common objectives to make our economies climate neutral.
- Powering Progress – UAE’s Strategy for Global Energy Leadership Through Innovation, Partnerships, and Infrastructure Development
- H.E. Eng. Sharif Salim Al-Olama, Undersecretary for Energy and Petroleum Affairs, Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, UAE
- EU Climate Green Finance, Regional Interconnections and the pan-MENA Agenda
- H.E. Lucie Berger, Ambassador to the European Union to the United Arab Emirates
- Renewables to AI: Advancing Project Development for Data Centers
- Jose Maria Llopis, CEO, Edisun Power Europe AG
- H2Global 2.0: Update on the Second Tender
- Timo Bollerhey, CEO, H2Global Holding and Hintco
- Solar Power for a Resilient Future: Optimizing Energy for Businesses and Utilities
- Hamid Rashid Alzayani, Chairman, Midal Solar and Midal Cables Group
Fireside chats
On an interactive format, the fireside chats delve into specific projects and latest technology innovations. CEOs will share their vision for the EU-MENA low carbon market, focusing on the Southern routes and MENA’s strategic role as the Renewable Hub for East Asia and Europe
- The Southern Corridor – Securing Low-Carbon Energy
- With Dr. Egbert Laege, CEO, Securing Energy for Europe (SEFE)
- The MENA Momentum: MENA’s strategic role as the Renewable Hydrocarbon Hub for East Asia and Europe
- With Thorsten Herdan, CEO, HIF EMEA
- Beyond the cells: Bosch’s unique integrated strategy in electrolyzer stacks
- With Matthias Ziebell, Senior Vice President for Sales, Energy Markets and Business Development, Bosch
Top Executive Panel highlights
Bringing together industry experts and stakeholders, the Summit program covers holistically the energy transition spectrum.
- Key Enablers of the Energy Transformation in MENA
- Moderator: Dan Feldman, Global Head of Energy, King & Spalding
- Speakers: Eng. Abdulaziz Al Shidhani, Managing Director, Hydrom; Ebubekir Koyuncu, CEO, Blue Hydrogen Industrial Gases (BHIG) and CEO, Air Products Qudra (APQ); Tarik Mouffadal, CEO, Masen; Gauri Singh, Deputy Director- General, IRENA; Luc Koechlin, CEO Middle East, EDF Group and EDF Power Solutions; Mohammad Abdelqader El Ramahi, Chief Green Hydrogen Office, Masdar
- Leading the Way – Project Implementation and Collaboration in MENA’s Energy Landscape
- Moderator: Paddy Padmanathan, Co-Founder & Vice Chairman, Zhero
- Speaker: Nadja Håkansson, Member of the Executive Board/COO thyssenkrupp Decarbon Technologies & CEO, thyssenkrupp Uhde; Cornelius Matthes, CEO, Dii Desert Energy; Ahmed Mulla, Deputy CEO, Infinity Power; Reda Hamedoun, Executive Vice President, NAREVA HOLDING; Thore Lapp, Business Unit Manager Green Energy & Sustainability, Executive Vice President, TÜV SÜD AG
- Building Long-Term Storage for Energy Security
- Moderator: Frank Wouters, Chair, MENA Hydrogen Alliance
- Speakers: Pascal Baylocq, CEO, Geostock; Dr. Ahmed Ali Al-Ebrahim, Chief Executive Officer, GCC Interconnection Authority; Sebastian Budischin, Senior Vice President of Business Development and Origination, Hydrogen and Clean Energy Business, Securing Energy for Europe (SEFE); Christian Matthies, Executive Director Middle East & Turkey, Linde Gas Middle East LLC
- Investments in AI and Data Centers – Assessing Alternatives and Integrated Net-zero solutions
- Moderator: Alicia Eastman, Managing Director, APC Investors
- Speakers: Dr. Andreas Widl, CEO and Chairman of the Executive Board, SAMSON; Dr. Olaf Berlien, President & CEO, INNIO Group; Charlie Sanchez, President – Infrastructure Advisory, Black & Veatch; Andrea Lovato, Chief Development Officer, Datavolt
- MENA as a Net-Zero Transport Hub – Ports, Airports & Common User Infrastructure for Energy Transformation
- Chairperson & Moderator: Alex Sarac, Partner, Addleshaw Goddard
- Speakers: Dr. Abdullah Al Abri, Vice President – Sustainability, SOHAR Port and Freezone; Ankit Jain, Chief Investment Officer, Nextgen Infra; Samir Rachidi, Director General, IRESEN; Captain Saif Al Mheiri, CEO, Abu Dhabi Maritime, Chief Sustainability Officer, AD Ports Group; Kenny Kitamura, Chief Representative for the Middle East, Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC)
- Funding the Future – Financing Low Emission Projects in MENA
- Chairperson & Moderator: Siddharth Malik, Managing Partner, Green Investors AG
- Speakers: Harry Boyd-Carpenter, Managing Director, Sustainable Infrastructure, EBRD; Trang Huynh, Vice President Structured Finance Middle East, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation; Sami Neffati, Managing Partner, Investcorp and Aberdeen Standard Infrastructure Partners; Andrei Klevchuk, Director of Project Finance, AMEA Power
See the full list of keynote sessions here.
New Dii Desert Energy’s Studies will be unveiled: Data Centers: ‘The New Super Offtakers of Clean Energy’ with Innio Jenbacher and ‘Unlocking The Hydrogen Economy: How Common User Infrastructure Drives Project Bankability’ with Addleshaw Goddard and ILF Consulting Engineers
Dii Desert Energy conducts in-depth studies on a range of emerging energy transition topics, distinguished by their inclusion of bilateral expert interviews with partners. Providing firsthand insights directly from the market, studies are then analyzed by Dii’s experienced and independent research team. This approach combines academic rigor with the perspectives of top management and practical industry experiences, ensuring that the findings are comprehensive and actionable.
- ‘Data Centers: The New Super Offtakers of Clean Energy with Innio Jenbacher’
- As the Middle East’s data center capacity booms, this study explores the synergy between digital infrastructure and the region’s world-leading clean energy resources. We analyze pathways to power next-generation AI facilities with renewables and green hydrogen, highlighting how the region can pioneer sustainable, carbon-free digital ecosystems.
- ‘Unlocking The Hydrogen Economy: How Common User Infrastructure Drives Project Bankability with Addleshaw Goddard and ILF Consulting Engineers’
- This paper offers a strategic analysis of how Common User Infrastructure (CUI) is essential for accelerating hydrogen developments. We examine how a CUI model can overcome investment hurdles, mitigate risk and serve as a key tool for creating a structured, competitive hydrogen market.
Dii Style Interactive Roundtables
Through the two days, Interactive Roundtables, focused on topics along the emission-free energy value chain, will be held including:
- Blockchain, IoT & Emerging Tech
- With: Raghu Yabaluri, Senior Managing Director & Global Market Leader, Oil & Gas, Infrastructure Advisory, Black & Veatch
- Decarbonizing Aviation – e-SAF Market Takeoff
- With: Adamo Screnci, Vice President Business Development and Strategy, NextChem
- Localization and Supply Chain Resilience
- With: Heba Rabie, Director MENA, Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC)
- Electrical Interconnections for an Integrated Energy System
- With: Antonio Iliceto, Chairman, CIGRE Study Committee C1, Power System Development & Economics
See the full list of roundtables here.
The conference is complemented by unique networking opportunities across the two days, including the Drinks & Dinner Reception at the AKIRA Back, hosted by Siemens Energy.
Sponsors and Supporting Partners
The 15th Dii Desert Energy Leadership Summit is proudly supported by companies at the highest level of the renewable energies industry:
- Platinum Sponsors – ACWA Power, State Grid Corporation of China, Enowa-Neom, Smartenergy, thyssenkrupp
- Gold Sponsors – Air Products Qudra, Al Gihaz Holding, AMEA Power, E.on, Envision Energy, Innio, King & Spalding, Nareva, Nextgen Infra, SEFE
- Dinner Host – Siemens Energy
- Silver Sponsor – Midal Solar
- Supporting Partners – Clean Energy Business Council, Cleanteach Business Club, GH2 India, Global Renewables Alliance, Global Wind Energy Council, Hydrogen Economist, Hydrogen Europe, LDES Council, IRESEN, MED-GEM, New Energy, UNIDO, ZETA Global