Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi is accelerating efforts to strengthen public-private collaboration and expand long-term infrastructure development as it advances a AED209bn capital projects pipeline spanning more than 500 projects, according to the Director General of Abu Dhabi Projects and Infrastructure Centre (ADPIC), Eng. Maysarah Mahmoud Eid.
Speaking during a media roundtable held on the sidelines of the Abu Dhabi Infrastructure Summit (ADIS) 2026 that concluded last week, he highlighted the growing scale and strategic importance, which returned this year for its second edition following its inaugural launch in 2025.
“First thing, thank you for coming to Abu Dhabi,” Eid told journalists. “It’s our honour to have you here as one of our family members in our beloved emirate.”
He noted that attendance at this year’s summit had reached 17,000 participants, representing nearly four times the size of the inaugural edition. The event also brought together 75 exhibitors and more than 100 speakers from across the infrastructure ecosystem.
According to Eid, ADIS has evolved beyond a traditional industry gathering to become a collaborative platform connecting policymakers, developers, contractors, consultants, business leaders, and government officials to identify future opportunities for infrastructure development in Abu Dhabi.
“The summit itself is extraordinary. It is not a normal summit like elsewhere,” he said. “It is a platform where experts, leaders, businesses, companies, developers, contractors, consultants, policymakers, and government officials come together to identify opportunities for developing infrastructure in Abu Dhabi.”
Eid stressed that partnership with the private sector remains central to Abu Dhabi’s long-term development strategy.
“We believe in Abu Dhabi in partnerships,” he said. “We believe that government and the private sector should work hand in hand. To deliver a long-term development vision, we need to increase such collaboration.”
He noted that the summit is expected to continue annually, with the next edition anticipated to take place again in May next year. Providing an overview of ADPIC’s role, Eid explained that the government entity operates as a centralised authority reporting directly to Abu Dhabi’s Executive Council and oversees all government-funded capital projects across the emirate.
“Our portfolio exceeds AED200bn with hundreds of capital projects,” he said.
Responding to a query from The Peninsula regarding the allocation of the AED209bn capital projects pipeline across sectors, including transport, housing, utilities, healthcare, and digital infrastructure, Eid said the investments span virtually every area of public infrastructure development in Abu Dhabi.
“We cover every area, from transport to hospitals, education, national buildings, and lifestyle developments,” he said. “The goal in Abu Dhabi is to reach every area and support all parts of the emirate.”
He also stressed that ADPIC follows institutional frameworks and long-term planning mechanisms established by the Abu Dhabi government to ensure projects are delivered in alignment with the emirate’s broader economic and social development objectives.
The summit comes as Abu Dhabi continues to ramp up infrastructure investment to support population growth, economic diversification, sustainability goals, and urban expansion, while positioning itself as a global hub for innovation-led development and smart city transformation.
