ABB has opened a $2 million training facility in Dubai designed to develop AI and digital expertise among 2,000 engineers annually across the Middle East. The 2,500-square-meter Customer Experience Center, located in the Al Quoz Industrial Area, combines hands-on workshops with digital technology training to address a critical skills shortage in the energy sector. This initiative aims to strengthen energy resilience and modernize power infrastructure across utilities, data centers, and commercial buildings.

The facility responds to an urgent regional need. The UAE’s electricity demand is projected to grow 4% annually through 2035, driven by urbanization, industrial growth, and transport electrification. Meeting this demand requires engineers trained in data-driven asset management, remote monitoring, and AI-enabled predictive maintenance—capabilities the center will provide through intensive, practical training programs.

Key Takeaways

  • ABB’s new training facility will prepare approximately 2,000 engineers and technicians annually from Middle East countries for modern energy infrastructure roles.
  • The center focuses on medium- and low-voltage technologies, digital asset management, and AI-powered predictive maintenance solutions.
  • The initiative addresses a workforce challenge: experienced technicians are retiring while demand for digital expertise accelerates across the energy sector.

Bridging the Generational Skills Gap

The electrification sector faces a structural problem. As experienced technicians retire, companies struggle to find qualified replacements with expertise in modern, AI-powered systems. “As technicians leave, businesses must equip the next generation with expertise in data-driven asset management, remote monitoring and predictive maintenance,” said Marco Tellarini, Senior Vice President of Europe, Middle East & Africa at ABB Electrification Service. “Our new UAE facility bridges this gap by combining practical training with exposure to digital and AI technologies.”

The center’s architecture supports this mission through three core learning environments: a state-of-the-art workshop for hands-on practice, a lecture theater for theoretical instruction, and collaborative spaces for team-based projects. Training curricula focus on upgrading and maintaining medium- and low-voltage electrical systems, implementing digital asset management platforms, and deploying AI-powered monitoring tools.

Enabling Energy Infrastructure Modernization

Upgrading legacy power systems to digital technologies improves efficiency, reduces emissions, and enhances system reliability. The new center enables this transition by providing technical knowledge that local engineers and operators can apply immediately to customer facilities. As a result, ABB’s customers, distributors, and installation partners can maintain competitive advantage while rapidly deploying modernized infrastructure.

This supports the broader energy transition across the Middle East. Nations pursuing net-zero commitments require skilled professionals to optimize power systems while reducing operational costs. The training center positions local talent to lead this shift during a critical period of infrastructure renewal.

ABB’s Growing Regional Footprint

ABB has maintained a significant presence in the UAE since 1976, operating four commercial offices, manufacturing facilities, and innovation centers with over 600 employees. Across the six GCC countries (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain), ABB employs approximately 1,200 professionals.

The new training center reflects the company’s long-term commitment to regional industrial modernization. By developing local expertise in AI and digital energy solutions, ABB supports both customer sustainability goals and the Middle East’s broader energy transition objectives.