By Avi Kaner

In a world racing to balance energy security with climate imperatives, few leaders stand out like Dr. Sultan Al Jaber. The UAE’s Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology is not just navigating the global energy transition—he’s shaping it.

Whether forging clean energy alliances in Madrid, representing President Mohamed bin Zayed at strategic summits in Central Asia, or delivering policy roadmaps in Washington, Al Jaber moves with purpose. His presence signals more than diplomacy—it reflects the UAE’s ambition to be the global convener on energy’s future.

At the Washington Energy Forum, Al Jaber outlined a bold agenda: modernize global infrastructure, streamline regulations, train one million energy technicians, and accelerate investment across renewables, gas, and nuclear. He didn’t just highlight gaps—he offered blueprints. He also warned that the current global energy system is ill-equipped for the demands of artificial intelligence, a frontier the UAE is already preparing for.

Through platforms like Masdar, ADNOC, and the emerging XRG, Al Jaber reframes energy as more than a commodity. It becomes the foundation for smart cities, climate resilience, and economic sovereignty. In this vision, energy policy is national security policy.

Crucially, Al Jaber rejects the tired binary of “green dreams” vs. fossil fuel realities. Instead, he offers a third path—one grounded in science, trust, and long-term thinking. The UAE’s growing energy collaboration with the U.S.—from the Gulf to Texas—demonstrates that strategic alignment can transcend politics and ideology.

Abu Dhabi isn’t just responding to the energy transition—it’s architecting it. And at its helm is Sultan Al Jaber: not a theorist or guest at the table, but a builder of the next global energy order.