Saudi Arabia, UAE pledge deeper partnerships with Guyana as Energy Conference 2026 opens

Middle Eastern energy giants Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are signalling strong interest in deepening ties with Guyana as the country’s annual Energy Conference and Supply Chain Expo 2026 officially opened today.

High-level representatives from both nations praised Guyana’s rapid economic transformation and responsible approach to oil and gas development, describing the country as a serious and strategic global partner.

Saudi Arabia’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, told delegates this was his fourth visit to Guyana, and each time, he said, he has witnessed a nation focused on using its natural resources to uplift its people.

“You have embarked on a path to take advantage of your natural resources that God has blessed you with in order to improve the standard of living of your people. And you’ve done it in a very rational and very systematic and forward-looking way,” he noted.

Drawing comparisons with Saudi Arabia’s own transformation following oil discovery in the 1930s, Al-Jubeir explained that development must prioritise infrastructure, education and diversification, lessons he believes align closely with Guyana’s current path.

He made it clear that Saudi Arabia sees Guyana as a long-term partner.

“We come here as friends and we come here as partners and we look forward to further developing, broadening and deepening our relationship with you in all areas,” he added.

Meanwhile, in a virtual address, United Arab Emirates Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, highlighted Guyana’s record-breaking economic growth, describing it as structural transformation rather than temporary expansion.

“Over the past three years, your economy has grown by an average of 30 percent per year, the fastest rate anywhere in the world. That is not incremental growth. That is structural transformation,” he expressed.

Al Jaber stressed that true prosperity depends on collaboration, not just natural resources, pointing to the UAE’s experience in building global energy partnerships across oil, gas and renewables.

“Resources alone do not create prosperity. Partnerships do. We stand ready to collaborate with Guyana as a true partner that you can count on,” he noted.

As global energy demand continues to rise, the strong signals from two of the world’s most influential oil-producing nations underscore Guyana’s growing importance on the international energy stage.

The Energy Conference in Guyana signalled not only another milestone in the country’s rapidly expanding oil and gas industry, but a deepening commitment to building a diversified and sustainable energy future. Held in Georgetown, the four-day forum brings together regional leaders, global investors, and local private sector stakeholders at a time when Guyana’s production capacity and international profile continue to rise.