Presidents, royalty and industry leaders to attend inaugural World Future Energy Summit

The summit, hosted by Masdar, Abu Dhabi's multi-billion dollar, multi-dimensional response to the need for clean energy solutions, will be held under the patronage of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. More than 4,000 attendees are expected.

Iceland President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, Djibouti President Ismail Omer Guelleh, President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom of the Maldives, and HRH Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, will speak during the opening session.

HRH The Prince of Wales will address delegates via hologram and US Secretary of Energy Samuel Bodman will deliver a speech on the theme 'World Future Energy Policy and Strategy'. Lord Browne of Riverstone Holdings, formerly of Shell, and William McDonough, Time magazine's 'Hero for the Planet 2007' are also confirmed to speak.

Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, CEO of Masdar, who will welcome delegates on Day One and introduce the ambitious aims of the Masdar Initiative, said:

"Abu Dhabi has built up considerable expertise in the energy industry over the years, and this puts us in the perfect position to host a world-class event on renewable energy. Masdar has grown out of Abu Dhabi's energy leadership and is taking bold steps to address the world's changing energy demands now."

He said: "The World Future Energy Summit, hosted by Masdar, will be a stimulating and highly interactive forum involving the best minds, and it will make a clear statement that Abu Dhabi is playing an active role in the evolving future energy sector."

The list of keynote speakers also includes UAE Minister of Energy H.E. Mohammed bin Dhaen Al Hamli; UAE Minister of Environment and Water H.E. Mohammed Saeed Al Kindi; and Klaus Topfer, former Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme.

Delegates will hear from celebrity architect Lord Norman Foster, Founder and Chairman of Foster + Partners; Greenpeace International Director Dr. Gerd Liepold; and 65 top executives from the world's leading oil, renewable energy and future energy companies.

Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Centre will host more than 220 exhibitors from 22 countries. China, Germany, Holland, Italy, Japan, Austria, and the United Kingdom will set up national pavilions.

Billed as the 'Davos for future energy', the World Future Energy Summit will be one of the world's largest gatherings of the future energy community and the first event of its type in the Middle East. The exhibition will cover 12,000 square metres.

The summit will focus on critical climate change and alternative energy topics, including finance and investment, carbon management, solar and wind power, clean transport and biofuels, environmentally responsible construction, and education.

Richard Hease, Chairman of the summit organisers Turret Middle East, said: "The World Future Energy Summit has captured the imagination of the renewables world, which for an inaugural event is truly amazing. This has been demonstrated by the flood of exhibitors, sponsors and VIP speakers."