ABU DHABI —

The World Future Energy Summit (WFES) has made significant changes for its 2019 edition, combining all aspects of sustainability under one global brand. The annual event, hosted by Masdar, and an integral part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, will see its summit, forums and six co-located exhibitions integrated under the powerful WFES brand, with business and innovation in sustainability as the common theme.

Now in its 12th year, the WFES is a global platform for the transfer of ideas, technology and investment across borders and between the public and private sectors worldwide. The 2018 event attracted 33,000 attendees and saw the announcement of more than $15 billion worth of projects and business deals.

WFES 2019 will take place on Jan. 14-17 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre and under the new format will have five main pillars: The Future Summit, WFES Expo, WFES Forums, WFES Initiatives, and WFES Hosted Events.

WFES Expo will feature more than 850 exhibiting companies from 40 countries, within the specialist sectors of WFES Energy, WFES Water, WFES Solar, WFES EcoWASTE, WFES Green Buildings and WFES Mobility. WFES will retain its high-level global summit, and will introduce WFES Forums, which will be focused discussions covering topics impacting the industry, from disruptive technologies and artificial intelligence to future cities.

WFES Initiatives will host the Youth 4 Sustainability Hub, aimed at educating and empowering the next generation of leaders (15-25-year-old) through two major initiatives: Future Skills 2030, in addition to the second edition of the highly successful CLIX (Climate Innovation Exchange), a marketplace that connects entrepreneurs, start-ups and investors from around the world. CLIX inaugural edition facilitated more than $17.5 million in investment pledges over three days. Lastly, WFES Hosted Events will focus on high-level partner-hosted events such as The Rain Enhancement Awards and the International Solar Association gathering. Naji Haddad, Event Director, Reed Exhibitions, organizers of WFES, said: “For more than a decade, WFES has brought together the global business community, providing a central platform to share knowledge, conduct business, and better understand the changing landscape of the industry. By consistently being able to attract the major industry players, demonstrates the global strength of the WFES brand, not only in energy but also water conservation and waste management.” — SG