The inaugural Abu Dhabi Infrastructure Summit (ADIS) 2025 launched on June 17, with a bold vision to redefine urban development under the theme Future Cities: Rethinking Infrastructure for Better Lifestyles.
Drawing more than 2,500 delegates, the event brought together over 70 global speakers, 30-plus exhibitors, and a diverse assembly of policymakers, investors, innovators, and industry leaders from around the world.
ADIS 2025, backed by a high-profile coalition of public and private partners, serves as a platform to align infrastructure development with the UAE’s sustainability and innovation priorities.
Key supporters of the event include Modon, Aldar, Bloom, Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), and Etihad Rail, as well as Abu Dhabi Police. Other notable sponsors include Lead Development, Etihad Airways, and National Bank of Fujairah (NBF).
Read: ADQ drives Abu Dhabi’s growth amid critical infrastructure, supply chains expansion
Strategic vision for a global model in urban development
Opening ADIS 2025 H.E. Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, chairman of the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), set a confident tone with a keynote address that outlined Abu Dhabi’s proactive, people-centric infrastructure strategy.
Stressing the interdependence between economic growth and liveability, he reaffirmed the emirate’s commitment to becoming a global leader in infrastructure-led urban transformation.
The day’s keynote fireside chat, Developing the World’s Most Liveable City: Infrastructure as a Catalyst for Holistic Urban Progress, featured H.E. Al Shorafa and H.E. Ahmed Jasim Al Zaabi, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED). Together, they explored the intersection of infrastructure, investment, and quality of life.
In a major announcement, H.E. Al Shorafa unveiled LIVEX – the Liveability and Investment Exhibition – a new initiative aimed at attracting international partnerships and furthering Abu Dhabi’s goal to be not just livable, but “lovable.”
H.E. Al Zaabi highlighted the strong performance of Abu Dhabi’s construction sector, which has grown over 40 percent in the past five years. Its contribution to GDP rose from AED 76.7 billion in 2020 to AED 107.4 billion in 2024, demonstrating infrastructure’s pivotal role in economic diversification and resilience.
Launch of ADPIC’s five-year strategic roadmap
Adding to the momentum of ADIS 2025, H.E. engineer Maysarah Mahmoud Salim Eid, director general of the Abu Dhabi Projects and Infrastructure Centre (ADPIC), unveiled the ADPIC Five-Year Strategic Roadmap.
This comprehensive plan outlines priorities such as climate action, modular construction, private sector engagement, and local content development, reinforcing infrastructure as a transformative lever for sustainable urban growth.
Abu Dhabi as a lifestyle capital
In a series of high-level sessions, leaders explored Abu Dhabi’s emergence as a global hub for lifestyle-oriented development. H.E. Dr. Saif Sultan Al Nasri (DMT) emphasized the importance of integrated planning and smart infrastructure in promoting mobility and social cohesion.
H.E. Badr Al Olama (ADIO) highlighted the role of strategic investment in fostering innovation and sustainability, while Dr. Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, group CEO of Miral, emphasized destination-led development as a means to deliver economic and social value through tourism and placemaking.
Adel Albreiki, CEO of Aldar Projects, detailed the collaborative model between public and private sectors in delivering people-first, mixed-use developments that balance growth with cultural and environmental stewardship.
Innovation, technology, and smart urbanism
ADIS 2025 highlighted the transformative power of emerging technologies in infrastructure, from AI and Building Information Modelling (BIM) to modular construction.
International case studies, including innovative approaches from Hong Kong, underscored the role of digital transformation in scaling affordable housing and improving project outcomes.
Driving global partnerships and economic resilience
Panel discussions at ADIS 2025 emphasized Abu Dhabi’s strategic focus on international collaboration and integrated logistics infrastructure to reinforce its position as a regional logistics hub.
Sessions delved into advanced contracting models, global best practices, and regulatory frameworks designed to ensure efficiency and transparency in large-scale infrastructure delivery.
Supporting local economies through ICV and SME empowerment
Day one of ADIS 2025 concluded with a dedicated panel on empowering local economies, featuring: H.E. Adel Al Nuaimi, executive director – Capital Projects Contractual Affairs, ADPIC; Moustafa Fahour, COO, Plenary Middle East; and Ahmed Al Zaabi, executive director of Delivery, Modon.
The panel discussed the UAE’s In-Country Value (ICV) Program and Abu Dhabi SME Champion Program, underscoring their critical role in strengthening local procurement, manufacturing, and workforce capabilities.
Global collaboration platform
ADIS 2025 is further enriched by the involvement of prominent global organizations such as the International Project Finance Association (IPFA), CEMEX/Mexican Business Council, Turkish Contractors Association, IFLA, FIDIC, Emirates Green Building Council, and FIABCI, cementing its status as a world-stage event for infrastructure innovation and policy.
Day 1 of ADIS 2025 concluded with a powerful message: infrastructure is more than physical development — it is a vehicle for economic resilience, social equity, and environmental sustainability.
With critical insights, visionary leadership, and a strong commitment to partnerships, Abu Dhabi is positioning itself not only as the most liveable city in the Middle East but also as a global benchmark for future-ready urban living.
For more news, click here
