The King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC) announced its participation as a national partner in the 25th World Petroleum Congress (WPC Energy Congress), which Riyadh will host for the first time in its history from October 11 to 15, 2026, under the theme "Pathways to a Future of Energy for All." The congress will bring together government leaders, industry executives, policymakers, researchers, and innovators to discuss the forces reshaping global energy systems, from security and investment to technology and sustainability.
KAPSARC's contribution is distributed across the executive, technical, integrative, and special programs at the congress, alongside additional sessions and activities, reflecting the breadth of the Center's expertise in research and policymaking. The Center's President, Fahad Alajlan, and Dr. Ghada Al-Arifi, Dean of the KAPSARC School of Public Policy, are participating among the speakers in the executive program.
Throughout the congress, KAPSARC experts will offer research and policy insights on energy supply and demand, energy access, natural gas, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices, the circular carbon economy, artificial intelligence, mobility, and emission reduction pathways in refining and petrochemicals. In the special program, the Center is leading a "Knowledge Sprint" session titled "Generative AI for Evidence-Based Oil Markets," addressing the use of artificial intelligence in analyzing oil markets and policy research through AI-supported data flows, econometric analysis, scenario analysis, and responsible practices in this field.
As part of the "World Café" program, KAPSARC is organizing a session on carbon dioxide removal technologies that brings together experts, policymakers, and practitioners to explore the prospects for scaling up engineering solutions for decarbonization, including direct air capture, bioenergy with carbon capture and storage, and biochar, along with the economic and regulatory considerations, carbon markets, and regional factors influencing their deployment. KAPSARC experts are also contributing to the integrative program with discussions on "Accelerating the Circular Carbon Economy through Collective Action" and "AI Partnerships for Energy Innovation."
KAPSARC's dedicated pavilion provides an additional platform for knowledge exchange and networking throughout the congress days. It is organized around five thematic tracks: oil, transport, clean energy, artificial intelligence, and cooperation, offering visitors a comprehensive picture of selected research areas and emerging issues shaping energy systems, along with opportunities to interact with policymakers, industry leaders, researchers, and participants. The pavilion also includes the KAPSARC School of Public Policy and the Saudi Energy Leaders Association, further promoting policy education, leadership building, and knowledge exchange.