Doha: 17th of February 2026

Against a backdrop of intensifying geopolitical tensions, policy intervention, and technological disruption, senior energy executives, policymakers, and international experts convened in Doha for the Al-Attiyah Foundation’s first CEO Roundtable of 2026 to examine the forces shaping the year ahead.

Held under the Chatham House Rule, the roundtable titled “Global Energy Dynamics: Forces Shaping the Industry”, provided a candid and strategic forum for discussion at a moment when the global energy system is undergoing one of its most profound transformations. Participants explored how a once relatively linear and predictable system has evolved into a complex, non-linear ecosystem shaped by geopolitics, capital markets, technology, climate policy, and societal expectations. 

Moderated by Axel Threlfall, Editor-at-Large for Reuters, the roundtable featured expert contributions from Ovais Sarmad, former Deputy Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC); Dr Valerie Marcel, Research Fellow at Chatham House; Alan Donnelly, Executive Chairman of Sovereign Strategy; and John Drexhage, Advisor, Climate Change and Sustainable Resource Development. 

Discussions brought together diverse perspectives from policy, finance, research, and industry leadership to assess how energy companies and governments are navigating a period of structural volatility rather than cyclical disruption. 

Participants noted that energy security has re-emerged as a primary driver of policy and investment decisions, with reliability, affordability, and strategic autonomy increasingly shaping national priorities alongside emissions targets. The discussions highlighted how the energy transition is unfolding at different speeds across regions, reflecting variations in income levels, institutional capacity, resource endowments, and infrastructure readiness. 

Against this backdrop, the roundtable also explored how CEOs are responding to fragmented markets, shifting capital allocation patterns, and evolving expectations around technology deployment. Attention was given to the role of artificial intelligence, carbon capture and storage, and long-duration energy storage, as well as the growing influence of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) on decision making. Participants also examined the strategic position of the Middle East, noting the region’s dual role as a cornerstone of global oil and gas supply and an emerging leader in diversification, downstream integration, and low-carbon energy pathways. 

Speaking after the roundtable, His Excellency Dr. Mohammed Saleh Al Sada, Member of the Board of Trustees of Al Attiyah Foundation, said:
“It was a pleasure to welcome our members, partners, and distinguished speakers to the first CEO Roundtable of 2026. This discussion provided an important opportunity for leaders to reflect on how best to balance resilience, competitiveness, and transition objectives in 2026 and beyond.”

The CEO Roundtable Series remains a cornerstone of the Al-Attiyah Foundation’s mission to facilitate high-level dialogue and deliver informed, independent insights on the future of global energy and sustainable development.
For more information on the Al-Attiyah Foundation’s events, research, and publications, visit www.abhafoundation.org