ABOUT THE EVENT
The 7th IEF–EU Energy and Climate Day Forum will take place on 18 November 2026 at the International Energy Forum Headquarters in Riyadh, bringing together senior representatives from the European Union, Saudi Arabia, the GCC and the wider MENA region for a high-level dialogue on energy security, industrial competitiveness and climate delivery.
The Forum is co-hosted by the International Energy Forum (IEF) and the European Union, in partnership with the EU–GCC Cooperation on Green Transition Project. Building on six previous editions of the IEF–EU Energy and Climate Day, the Forum will continue to serve as a trusted platform for structured producer–consumer dialogue, strategic policy exchange and practical cooperation.
This year’s edition comes at a pivotal moment. Energy security, market stability and affordability are increasingly linked with industrial competitiveness, supply-chain resilience and climate ambition. At the same time, the EU, Saudi Arabia, the GCC and wider MENA partners are advancing new opportunities in clean industrial transformation, carbon-efficient trade, hydrogen, sustainable fuels, CCUS, critical raw materials, infrastructure and climate finance.
Under the theme “Energy Security, Industrial Competitiveness and Climate Delivery”, the Forum will examine how EU–Saudi, EU–GCC and wider EU–MENA cooperation can move from policy dialogue towards concrete projects, investment partnerships and bankable clean-energy value chains.
WHY THIS FORUM MATTERS NOW
Energy and climate cooperation is entering a new phase. The global energy landscape remains shaped by geopolitical uncertainty, market volatility, supply-chain pressures and rising demand for secure, affordable and sustainable energy systems.
For the European Union, the energy transition is increasingly connected to competitiveness, industrial resilience, clean technology leadership, regulatory cooperation and sustainable investment. EU policy developments such as the Clean Industrial Deal, CBAM, the Industrial Carbon Management Strategy, the Critical Raw Materials Act and hydrogen-related initiatives are creating new opportunities for structured cooperation with Saudi Arabia, the GCC and wider MENA partners.
For Saudi Arabia and the GCC, the transition is closely linked to energy security, economic diversification, technology deployment and long-term industrial transformation. Regional initiatives and investments in renewables, hydrogen, CCUS, energy efficiency, sustainable fuels, critical minerals and the Circular Carbon Economy are shaping pragmatic pathways for lower-emissions growth.
The Forum will also draw on the recently released IEF report, Empowering Sustainable Futures – MENA NDCs Climate Action, produced in cooperation with the Middle East Green Initiative and the Circular Carbon Economy Regional Collaboration. The report highlights the MENA region’s growing role in clean energy deployment, carbon management, climate resilience, finance mobilisation and implementation-oriented cooperation.
The central focus of the 7th edition is clear: moving from dialogue to delivery.
STRATEGIC FOCUS
The Forum will focus on the intersection of energy security, industrial competitiveness and climate delivery.
Discussions will explore how the EU, Saudi Arabia, the GCC and wider MENA partners can work together to:
- strengthen energy security, market stability and affordability in a volatile geopolitical landscape;
- connect climate ambition with industrial competitiveness and sustainable growth;
- advance carbon-efficient investment and trade for resilient industries;
- support reliable markets through cohesive policies, standards and regulatory exchange;
- scale clean-energy and carbon-management value chains;
- identify cooperation opportunities in hydrogen, sustainable fuels, CCUS, critical raw materials, grids, infrastructure and finance;
- mobilise investment for bankable, implementation-oriented projects;
- reinforce the IEF–EU Energy and Climate Day as a flagship platform for practical energy and climate cooperation.
FORUM THEMES
The 7th edition will be structured around three interconnected themes:
WHY SHOULD YOU ATTEND?
This high-level Forum offers participants the opportunity to:
- engage directly with senior policymakers, institutional representatives, industry leaders and energy experts from the EU, Saudi Arabia, the GCC and wider MENA region;
- exchange perspectives on energy security, market stability, affordability and climate delivery;
- explore how industrial competitiveness and decarbonisation can be advanced together;
- better understand evolving EU and GCC policy frameworks related to carbon-efficient trade, carbon markets, CBAM, CCUS and the Circular Carbon Economy;
- identify opportunities for cooperation in hydrogen, sustainable fuels, critical raw materials, infrastructure, finance and clean technology value chains;
- contribute to a practical discussion on moving from dialogue to delivery through bankable projects and implementation-oriented partnerships;
- strengthen professional networks across government, industry, finance, research and international cooperation communities.
REGISTER YOUR INTEREST
Participation in the 7th IEF–EU Energy and Climate Day Forum is free of charge and by invitation only.
Register your interest to receive event updates, programme announcements and speaker confirmations.
The Forum will provide a focused platform for high-level dialogue, practical cooperation and partnership-building between EU, Saudi, GCC and wider MENA stakeholders.
Register your interest today to be part of this strategic exchange on energy security, industrial competitiveness and climate delivery — and to stay informed as the programme and speaker line-up are confirmed.