Organised by Informa Markets, MEE 2025 will take place from 7-9 April. (Image source: Middle East Energy)

The 49th edition of Middle East Energy (MEE), a key platform shaping the energy sector in the Middle East and Africa, is set to expand its industry insights by more than doubling its conference tracks, increasing from three to six for 2025.

Organised by Informa Markets, MEE 2025 will take place from 7-9 April at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), bringing together over 150 energy leaders and experts from across the region and beyond to explore innovative solutions and transformative sector advancements.

Newly introduced tracks include the Global Innovation Forum, Africa Business Leaders Forum, IEEE Technical Seminar sessions, and The Battery Show Conference. These will run alongside the well-established MEE Leadership Summit, and the Intersolar and ees Middle East Conference.

"Middle East Energy has always been a catalyst for progress, and our 2025 edition will raise the bar with an unmatched depth of insights and knowledge-sharing opportunities," said Mark Ring, group director, energy events at Informa Markets. "With six dedicated conference tracks and the addition of pivotal new forums, we are offering a comprehensive agenda that will empower stakeholders to navigate the rapidly evolving energy landscape."

Expanding forums to drive economic growth

The newly launched Global Innovation Forum will connect investors, corporate mentors, and energy innovators, providing a platform for emerging technologies, investor networking, and scale-up showcases. The forum will bring together private equity firms, venture capitalists, angel investors, family offices, corporations, and startups focused on energy solutions. Discussions will highlight the critical investments needed to support innovation and accelerate the growth of emerging energy ventures.

Catalina Valentino, group CEO of London-based ELIXR, which is developing ecosystem technologies to tackle urban challenges such as data and energy, will address the forum. She commented, "Our technology is designed to unlock real-time insights which are used to enhance energy performance and urban resilience, ensuring smarter, more sustainable cities for the future like how we are unlocking £1bn of development value in Bolton through data-driven regeneration."

The Africa Business Leaders Forum will bring together regional and global stakeholders to explore investment strategies, financial innovations, and collaborative energy projects between Africa and the Middle East. Discussions will focus on mobilising capital and accelerating energy development across the continent.

The IEEE Technical Sessions will provide a high-level knowledge-sharing environment for industry professionals and academics to discuss power grids, energy storage, and cybersecurity. “We are excited to bring together thought leaders from around the world to facilitate a dynamic exchange between academia and industry, where cutting-edge research meets real-world applications, driving impactful progress in the power and energy sector," said Dr. Yasmin Halawani, chair of IEEE CASS/SSCS/PELS - UAE Section and assistant professor at the College of Engineering and IT, University of Dubai. "Through conferences, workshops, and training sessions, IEEE fosters cross-disciplinary collaboration across different fields and supports the professional development of individuals in both academia and industry. It provides a platform for keeping both communities updated on the latest trends and technologies."

Spotlight on MENA’s EV and battery market

With the launch of The Battery Show & Conference, MEE 2025 will focus on one of the fastest-growing energy sectors—electric mobility and battery storage. The conference will explore emerging technologies, supply chain developments, and investment opportunities in the EV and battery industries.

"Electrification and battery technologies are reshaping the automotive and energy sectors globally. The Battery Show Middle East will provide an unparalleled opportunity for experts and businesses to stay ahead of the curve," said Ken Hoffman, senior advisor to McKinsey—Battery Raw Materials.

Middle East Energy will feature an extensive lineup of speakers, including policymakers, corporate executives, and technical innovators. The agenda will include keynote panels, in-depth technical sessions, and interactive discussions addressing the most pressing energy challenges.

Held under the patronage of the UAE’s Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, Middle East Energy 2025 will host more than 1,600 exhibitors from over 90 countries, 17 international pavilions, and is expected to attract over 40,000 energy professionals.

This genset sets a new benchmark in reliability. (Image source: Moteurs Baudouin)

Middle East Energy 2025, taking place from 7-9 April this year, is set to be a defining event for Moteurs Baudouin showcasing its most advanced and powerful lineup to date.

In a world premiere, Moteurs Baudouin will introduce the highest-rated genset available for critical backup power, unprecedented power rating exceeding 6 MVA.

For the first time, this groundbreaking solution will be displayed in real size, giving attendees the opportunity to witness firsthand the most formidable power backup system on the market.

Designed for mission-critical applications such as data centers, this genset sets a new benchmark in reliability, ensuring continuous power supply where it matters most.

“This year’s Middle East Energy event is particularly exciting for us,” says Fabrizio Mozzi, CEO of Moteurs Baudouin.

“We are proud to introduce the sheer scale of our capabilities with the largest genset available for critical backup power. We look forward to engaging with industry professionals and demonstrating our commitment to innovation.”

Alongside this major reveal, Baudouin will also showcase its complete Stage V range.

This advanced lineup has been developed to meet the demanding needs of commercial, rental, and industrial applications, offering superior efficiency, reduced emissions, and unmatched performance.

As always, these engines and gensets come packaged with Moteurs Baudouin hallmark qualities: reliability, durability, and best-in-class lead times, ensuring that customers receive industry-leading solutions with speed and efficiency.

Middle East Energy remains a key milestone for Baudouin each year, solidifying its position as a leader in the power sector. The 2025 edition promises to be the most impressive showcase yet, offering unparalleled insights into the future of energy solutions.

To mark this significant occasion, a company launch event is scheduled for the 7th of april at 11:30 AM.

Attendees are invited to witness the latest advancements in power generation and experience firsthand the technology that will shape the industry’s future.

Volvo Penta's BESS is designed for industrial applications. (Image source: Volvo Penta)

Volvo Penta is set to make a significant impact at Middle East Energy (MEE) 2025, where it will showcase its innovative battery energy storage subsystem (BESS) and renewable fuel-compatible combustion engines.

Volvo Penta’s scalable battery energy storage subsystem (BESS) is designed for industrial applications, supporting peak shaving, rapid charging, and discharging.

Its energy-dense design and favourable C-rate make it a transportable solution, complementing gensets as industries transition to electrification.

In hybrid setups, the BESS optimises fuel use and charging cycles, improving uptime and reducing emissions. By integrating with hybrid and fully electric systems, it ensures continuous operations while supporting sustainability goals.

Volvo Penta’s strategy focuses on supplying the BESS subsystem while collaborating with OEMs and system integrators to deliver complete, customised solutions.

This partnership-driven approach accelerates time to market and ensures solutions that meet the specific needs of projects and customers.

Renewable fuel-compatible engines for a greener future

As part of its commitment to sustainable power, Volvo Penta is advancing its combustion engine platform to support alternative and renewable fuels, including natural gas, hydrogen, and hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO).

All current Volvo Penta engines are certified to operate on HVO, and the company is progressing toward hydrogen-compatible engines.

Field tests are underway for the Stage V D8 dual-fuel engine, which runs on diesel and hydrogen.

This engine is expected to enter the genset market in Europe later in 2025. Stationary applications, with their flexibility in regulatory compliance, offer significant potential for further efficiency improvements and emissions reductions.

Kristian Vekas, product manager at Volvo Penta Industrial, emphasised the importance of collaboration, saying, “Power generation is vital across different industries, and adopting renewable fuel-compatible genset engines can reduce emissions while ensuring reliability. Collaborating with customers, we aim to develop scalable, practical solutions that ease the transition to lower-carbon energy.”

Intersec 2026 will take place from 12 – 14 January. (Image source: Messe Frankfurt)

A record number of exhibitors representing 61 countries have participated in the 26th edition of Intersec, the largest business event in the world that maps the future of security, safety, and fire protection.

The largest edition of the event took up 61,000 sq m of space at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC), a 20% increase from the previous year.

Under the auspices of His Highness Sheikh Mansoor Bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the event, which ended last month, drew 47,300 visitors from 142 countries and featured state-of-the-art technologies and vital solutions in five major areas: Homeland Security & Policing, Cyber Security, Safety & Health, Fire & Rescue, and Commercial & Perimeter Security. The show's theme was "Mapping the Future of Security, Safety, and Fire Protection."

Among the new features, this year was the successful opening of the two-day Intersec Policing Conference, which brought together more than fifty knowledgeable speakers. Discussions covered a wide range of subjects, including the future of road safety, proactive and productive policing, strategic automation in policing, drone operations, and quantum-led crime. Senior law enforcement officials from the Abu Dhabi Police, INTERPOL, the Metropolitan Police, and the UAE Financial Intelligence Unit were among them.

The top Chief Information Security Officers (CISO) in the area were also invited to the CISO Business Briefing, which was successfully launched while examining the main information security trends, threats, and opportunities. The opening keynote speaker was H.E. Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of Cybersecurity, UAE Government.

The annual awards

The exhibition's ground-breaking collaboration with Ignyte, which resulted in the opening of the Intersec Startup Arena, was another first. It gave startups a chance to present their innovative ideas and solutions to a group of government officials, business executives, and elite investors, opening doors for them to secure investment, mentorship, and strategic alliances.

ASIS International, Firestop Contractors International Association (FCIA), Gallagher, Sharjah Civil Defence, NAFFCO, Abu Dhabi Civil Defence, Nordon, Saudi Sicli, and UXE Security Solutions were among the companies that signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) during the three-day event held by Intersec 2025.

Several industry leaders were honoured at the 4th annual Intersec Awards, which honour people, groups, and organisations for establishing new benchmarks for excellence in vital sectors.

Winners on the evening included Dubai Civil Defense, NAFFCO, Dubai Municipality, Ministry of Interior, Emirates Safety Laboratory LLC, and the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA).

Wajahat Hussain, show manager, Messe Frankfurt Middle East, said, “The team and I are thrilled to have welcomed an unprecedented gathering of industry professionals from around the world. Intersec has once again proven to be the premier platform where global leaders, innovators, and experts converge to exchange knowledge, forge partnerships, and explore cutting-edge advancements that are shaping the future of safety, security, and fire protection.

“Surpassing previous exhibitor records is a testament to Intersec’s growing influence and its pivotal role in driving forward-thinking solutions for a safer, more secure world. This milestone underscores our commitment to fostering collaboration, showcasing pioneering technologies, and setting new benchmarks for excellence in this critically important industry.”

Intersec 2026 will take place from 12 – 14 January 2026 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.