Tourism Breaking News
The Department of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi) hosted the inaugural Retrofit Summit, bringing together key stakeholders from the hospitality industry, financial institutions and government agencies, alongside industry experts. The Summit addressed the need for retrofitting existing hotels and venues in the emirate to enhance their energy efficiency. The event also served as a platform for industry leaders to exchange best practices, explore innovative retrofitting technologies, and discuss the growing role of sustainability in hotel operations.
HE Saleh Al Geziry, Director General of Tourism at DCT Abu Dhabi, said: “The Retrofit Summit is an important milestone in supporting the emirate’s journey towards a more energy efficient future, in line with the ambitions of the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy. As Abu Dhabi’s hospitality sector continues to evolve, this Summit accelerates the adoption of solutions that reduce energy consumption and lower carbon emissions. By fostering industry-wide collaboration and drawing from data-driven insights, we are paving the way for the transition to energy-efficient hotels and venues, while advancing our mission to protect and preserve Abu Dhabi for future generations.”
The hosting of the Retrofit Summit stemmed from an extensive Energy Audit Assessment project launched by DCT Abu Dhabi last year, which assessed energy consumption across all hotels and five venues in the emirate, offering tailored recommendations for energy efficiency improvements. Each establishment received a detailed report outlining actionable steps to enhance their sustainability, underscoring DCT Abu Dhabi’s ongoing efforts to support the green evolution of its hospitality sector.
Representatives from over 20 organisations and six exhibitors participated in the event, sharing success stories from initiatives that have already delivered notable sustainability gains in Abu Dhabi. The Summit featured speeches and panel discussions that highlighted the importance of energy efficiency in hotels and venues, with experts discussing how cutting-edge technologies like data analytics, AI, and energy service companies (ESCOs) are transforming energy management. Sessions also covered the role of green financing, sustainable development, and other innovative methodologies in accelerating the creation and retrofitting of energy-efficient establishments.
Coming at a time of increasing global focus on sustainability, the Retrofit Summit aligns with the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy’s Demand Side Management and Energy Rationalisation Strategy 2030 and reflects DCT Abu Dhabi’s commitment to supporting the goals of Abu Dhabi’s Environment Vision 2030 and UAE’s Green Agenda 2030.
