Contextualising and Enabling Data – Creating Data Federations and Data Sharing Infrastructures
Panel 1 brought together leaders from energy, utilities, engineering and government to examine one of the sector’s most pressing challenges: turning vast, inconsistent and often siloed industrial data into something reliable enough to power digital twins and AI systems at scale. The conversation revealed how far the region has come in embracing these capabilities — and how much foundational work still lies ahead.
Panellists spoke candidly about the realities behind digital transformation. Despite major investments, many organisations still struggle with fragmented datasets, uneven metadata standards, legacy infrastructure and manual processes that restrict the value of AI. Several speakers noted that digital twins are often mistaken for visual replicas, when their true strength lies in connecting distributed datasets, modelling complex scenarios and improving operational foresight during high-demand periods such as peak summer loads.
Throughout the discussion, the panel emphasised disciplined value assessment over hype-driven adoption. Rather than deploying technology for its own sake, organisations need to understand where contextualised data can genuinely improve safety, reliability, customer experience and lifecycle decision-making. Data federation emerged as a practical route forward, reducing duplication while enabling secure access to engineering, operational and historical information across systems.
The session closed with a look at what will shape the next phase of progress: stronger governance, trusted data-sharing frameworks, modernised communications networks and closer alignment between suppliers, regulators and asset owners. For the speakers, the message was clear — the future of digital twins depends on building data foundations that are accurate, connected and governed in a way that allows people and AI systems to work intelligently, confidently and safely.
Speakers
- Adolfo Perez, Strategy & Business Development – Vice President, ADNOC Drilling
- Kushal Desai, Digitalisation & Innovation Manager, Pearl GTL Plant, Shell
- Wassim Ghadban, Global SVP, AI & Digital Energies, Kent
- Khaled Darwish, Acting Lead Engineer, Smart Grid Automation, TAQA
- Ali Abdulla Hassan Salman, Chief of Information Technology, Ministry of Oil & Environment Bharain
Moderator
