- The largest and most prestigious oil and gas show for the African upstream which is scheduled to run from November 8 to November 11 will be taking place at Madinat Jumeirah Conference Centre, Dubai
- This is the first time the conference is taking place in the UAE.
- The 2022 event will then return to CTICC in Cape Town, South Africa for which the organizers have signed a 3-year deal.
The much-awaited Africa Oil Week (AOW) will on Monday November 8, 2021 kick off in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The event will witness a high-level attendance from the energy sector. The largest and most prestigious oil and gas show for the African upstream which is scheduled to run from November 8 to November 11 will be taking place at Madinat Jumeirah Conference Centre, Dubai.
This is the first time the conference is taking place in the UAE. The 2022 event will then return to CTICC in Cape Town, South Africa for which the organizers have signed a 3-year deal.
Two thirds of African governments
About 66% of African governments and leaders have confirmed attendance. This represents two thirds of African governments.
Top companies in the energy sector, including TotalEnergies, Eni, Adnoc, Shell, Equinor and Chevron, are strategic sponsors for this year’s event.
Opportunities and major deals
The event will convene senior E&P stakeholders, key policy makers and international investors, providing opportunities for executives to secure major deals and lucrative partnerships which will define the future of the African upstream.
With more than a thousand visitors expected at the four-day conference, 38 sponsors and over 400 participating companies, AOW will provide daily networking opportunities.
A dedicated Ministerial & VIP programme will unite some of the most influential names across African Energy. In addition, bookable meeting spaces and the exhibition will offer one-to-one interaction opportunities.
Under AOW’s theme of ‘Succeeding in a Changed Market’, attendees can hear discussions on critical industry topics including the impact of the energy transition on African oil and gas, policy and regulatory updates from producing nations in a post-pandemic world, operating trends and future exploration commitments, and the role of digitalisation and technology in Africa’s future energy mix, among others.
Oil and gas are core components of the UAE’s national economy. About 30% of the country’s GDP is directly based on oil and gas output. This makes the UAE a fitting choice for AOW to be held in. It will enable companies in the UAE and the Middle East to explore strategic investment opportunities in Africa thus, strengthening the local, national and regional economy and trade ties.
According to Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure in the UAE, the middle East country has been at the forefront in facilitating many key events from around the world including the ongoing Expo 2020.
“Our efforts have helped us gain the confidence of events like AOW that are of strategic importance to the energy sector in the Mena region. It is an honour to be welcoming Africa’s top government representatives, business people and key decision-makers into the country,” he said.
The event, Al Mazrouei said, will not only boost bilateral trade ties between both countries, but it will also drive investment opportunities for the Middle East region at large.
AOW will offer four days of pioneering insights, from ministerial panels to strategic outlooks and sessions designed to find solutions for key industry challenges.
Paul Sinclair, Vice-President of Energy & Director of Government Relations at Africa Oil Week, said top government officials and senior executives will partake in the event that will stimulate dialogue and facilitate business opportunities.
“We aim to reaffirm the event’s role in bridging Africa and the Middle East’s energy sector. Additionally, ensuring the safety and wellbeing of our patrons is our top priority. Hence, we have ensured that all protocols will be followed during the event. We are now all geared up for a hugely successful show that will drive growth and change in the African energy sector,” he said.
To drive greater equity practices at workplaces of the future, particularly for women, across the energy sector, AOW and Lean In Energy (LIEN) will join forces to host AOW Accelerates Diversity & Inclusion.