Scotland Week 2026 Energy Transition Activation Convened in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi, UAE
28-29 January 2026:
Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi - KEZAD Group, one of the largest operators of integrated and purpose-built economic zones in the GCC region hosted the Scotland Week 2026 Energy Transition Activation at its headquarters in Abu Dhabi.
The event convened a high-level delegation of leading Scottish energy and industrial companies with senior UAE stakeholders to advance collaboration, market entry, and practical deployment opportunities.
The day opened with the official launch of Cable Solutions Worldwide’s new facility in KEZAD, reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s position as a strategic hub for global manufacturing and advanced industrial activity.
Led by Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Development International (SDI), in partnership with Kantar Advisory Partners (KAP), the programme brought together UAE government entities, industrial players, investors, and innovation partners to explore how Scotland’s expertise can support the UAE’s energy transition and industrial decarbonisation priorities.
This was followed by a structured Energy Transition Forum at KEZAD Group headquarters, featuring high-level panel discussions moderated by the Energy Industries Council (EIC). The panels brought together senior representatives from across industry, academia, and advisory organisations to examine UAE–Scotland energy transition pathways and practical approaches for international companies to enter, localise, and scale within the UAE market.
Panel participants included representatives from Wood, EMSTEEL, Heriot-Watt University, DNV, Frontier 25, Xodus, Norco, Euro Mechanical, and KEZAD Group. The discussions focused on industrial decarbonisation, project bankability, localisation strategies, and the role of international expertise in supporting the UAE’s advanced industrial ambitions.
A key element of the programme was a Scottish Enterprise showcase, where eight innovative companies presented their technologies and services to a targeted UAE audience. Participating companies included Cairn Risk, eCERTO, Trident IES, AJT Engineering Ltd., Interocean Marine Services, TenzorGEO Ltd, Waterwhelm, and WeConnect Energy.
The presentations highlighted their strengths in industrial decarbonisation, digital solutions, subsea technologies, energy services, and sustainability innovation, demonstrating strong alignment with UAE market requirements. The activation concluded with curated roundtable discussions, bringing together Scottish companies and UAE stakeholders in focused working groups to explore partnership models, pilot opportunities, localisation pathways, and next steps for collaboration.
As part of the wider programme, the Scottish delegation also participated in a guided tour of Khalifa Port and KEZAD’s economic zones, gaining first-hand insight into Abu Dhabi’s logistics infrastructure, and advanced industrial ecosystem. This on-ground exposure reinforced the discussions from the day and laid the foundation for a second day of follow-on engagements across Abu Dhabi’s innovation and investment landscape, including meetings with the Abu Dhabi Investment Office, Hub71, and a visit to Masdar City.
Across two days, participating companies gained a comprehensive understanding of how to live, work, and grow in Abu Dhabi, along with the structured support available to establish and scale within the UAE market. The Scotland Week 2026 Energy Transition Activation underscored KEZAD Group’s role as a gateway for international industrial collaboration and highlighted Kantar Advisory Partner’s focus on enabling structured, execution-driven market entry, laying the groundwork for tangible partnerships, pilot deployments, and long-term collaboration between Scottish companies and the UAE’s industrial ecosystem.
“UAE Scotland Week has been a fantastic platform to spotlight the world-class expertise and innovative capabilities that Scottish supply chain companies can offer the UAE as it accelerates its ambitious energy transition. The week has sparked fresh enthusiasm and deeper understanding among businesses about the dynamic opportunities for partnership, opening doors to collaborate with key local stakeholders who are shaping the UAE’s clean energy future. I’d like to thank Kezad Group for hosting us for being an excellent local delivery partner. The senior-level engagement throughout has been both inspiring and insightful and SDI is looking forward to supporting Scottish companies to seize the opportunities and move confidently toward market entry and long-term growth in the region.”
“The launch of our new facility at KEZAD marks an important milestone for Cable Solutions Worldwide as we expand our stocking & operational presence in the UAE. Establishing in Abu Dhabi allows us to be closer to our regional partners and projects whilst benefiting from KEZAD’s integrated industrial ecosystem and strong connectivity. Being part of Scotland Week 2026 has also been valuable in strengthening ties between Scottish industry and the UAE, and we look forward to building on the relationships and opportunities that have emerged.”
“It has been a pleasure working closely with Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Development International to deliver Scotland Week 2026 and support the delegation’s engagement in Abu Dhabi. The programme was structured to give Scottish companies a practical understanding of the UAE’s industrial landscape while facilitating meaningful senior level introductions. Strong coordination across all partners enabled focused dialogue and laid the foundations for long-term collaboration.
We are also grateful to KEZAD Group for hosting the programme and for their continued collaboration in showcasing Abu Dhabi’s industrial ecosystem to international partners.”
About KEZAD Group
KEZAD Group is the UAE’s largest operator of integrated economic zones and a key enabler of Abu Dhabi’s industrial and economic diversification strategy. Offering world-class infrastructure, competitive operating environments, and seamless access to global markets, KEZAD supports international companies to establish and expand within the region. KEZAD Group’s vital infrastructure and services span 12 economic zones (located in Abu Dhabi City, Al Ain City and Al Dhafra Region) covering a total area of 550 km2 and including more than 40 staff accommodation complexes under Sdeira Group.
About Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Development International
Scottish Enterprise is Scotland’s national economic development agency, supporting innovation, investment, and international growth.
Scottish Development International (SDI) is the trade & investment arm of SE, assistings Scottish companies in accessingto access global markets and attracting international investment to Scotland.
About Kantar Advisory Partners
Kantar Advisory Partners (KAP) supports governments, economic zones, and innovative companies in market entry, deployment, and scale-up across the UK, Middle East, and Africa, with a focus on energy transition and advanced industrial sectors.
About Cable Solutions Worldwide
Cable Solutions Worldwide is a specialist provider of cable installation, management, testing, and maintenance services for energy, industrial, and infrastructure projects worldwide, supporting critical power and utility systems across the full project lifecycle
For media enquiries:
Yasir Zubairi, Communication Manager, Kezad Group: yasir.zubairi@adports.ae
Alyssa Doueihy, Communication & Media manager: Alyssa.doueihy@kantaradvisory.com
Scott Grant, General Manager,: Scott.Grant@cablesolutionsuk.com
Murray bainbridge, Trade team leader: murray.bainbridge@scotent.co.uk
