In the next five years, the GCC is expected to invest close to USD 73 B to boost generation capacity by 36GW and improve power transmission and distribution infrastructure, with a portion of this sum anticipated to be funneled into smart grid solutions according to an industry report. Prudent GCC governments have opened their doors to global leaders in the field of smart grid and meter technologies and are collaborating with leading consultancies to further strengthen their Smart Grid strategies. This in turn has led many international specialists and players who are at the forefront of path breaking solutions making bases in the Middle East with exciting projects and business proposals in the offing.

Fleming Gulf's 4th Annual Smart Grids And Smart Meters Summit to be held on 16 & 17 September 2014, in Abu Dhabi will see speakers compromising of regulatory bodies, network implementation specialists and strategists pave the future road map of smart grids and smart meters developments in the GCC. A focus on the government regulations, cyber security frameworks, advanced ICT for growth, case studies and big data analysis unique to the Middle East Smart Grids sector will feature across both days of the summit alongside international and regional vendors showcasing the latest technologies and trends that are driving the smart grid and smart meter market forward.

According to Deep Banerjee, the summit producer; “The 4th edition of the summit will strategically be a platform for industry experts to bring together the brightest and most influential industry leaders all over the world under one roof. The Smart Grids And Smart Meters Summit is becoming one of utility industry's most important annual event in the region and aims to redefine the importance of this technology in the UAE market.”