Silvia Rigato

I am pleased to share our latest thought paper "Solar photovoltaics manufacturing attraction in the Middle East" which explores how the region is emerging as a key global hub for solar PV manufacturing. As #GCC countries scale up their renewable energy ambitions, this paper highlights the intersection of climate goals, industrial strategy, and investment momentum – positioning the Middle East not just as a solar energy consumer, but also as a major producer of solar technologies. Özen Demircan Hisham Saadat Gaurav Arora Rajat Tomar Deloitte #DeloitteMiddleEast #Sustainability #EnergyTransition #Innovation #Manufacturing #RenewableEnergy #SolarEnergy #Technology

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What Middle East is facing, India must look into it earnestly to gain huge savings through integration and optimization of availabile and planned energy resources and Infra. Inter-regional learning.

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In the past few years, I’ve made it a personal commitment to attend ADIPEC in Abu Dhabi — not only to meet our great clients and colleagues in MENA, but to breathe the global energy atmosphere and understand, first-hand, the evolving trends shaping climate scenarios and energy systems. The event itself is truly outstanding — and this year, we were proud to sponsor the AI Zone. Two themes, in my view, stood out strongly: 1. The AI race is inseparable from energy. AI’s rapid expansion is now seen as an existential priority — technologically and geopolitically — for multiple nations, starting with the US. This dynamic is fueling new confidence in gas production and power demand overall. But it also highlights deep challenges: years of underinvestment in grid expansion, slow and bureaucratic permitting, unrealistic expectations for nuclear, and persistent supply-chain bottlenecks for manufacturing (from wind turbines to batteries). Very few countries are tackling these constraints head-on — and that poses a significant risk, not only for the AI race itself, but for global energy access. 2. Energy security has become national security. Here, the implications diverge sharply between hydrocarbon exporters and importers. For importers, decarbonisation is now a national security imperative: cutting energy demand through efficiency, accelerating electrification, and building local renewable capacity all reduce exposure to imported fossil fuels. But these must be paired with robust industrial strategies — for technology manufacturing and mineral sourcing — to ensure long-term resilience. The implications are huge — for governments, tech players, energy companies, and industrial leaders alike. Risks and opportunities. And of course for climate action. More reflections to come in the next days, especially as we move toward COP30.

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In a recent conversation with Gulf Business following #Davos, we discussed the reality of leading through disruption in 2026. While leadership confidence is high, the divide is widening between those experimenting with AI and those extracting real business value.   Transitioning from "Proof of Concept" to "Proof of Value" requires organizations to pivot toward Agentic AI technology that goes beyond informing decisions to actually executing workflows. This requires a robust digital core, but the bottleneck is rarely the technology itself. It is the challenge of fundamentally redesigning job roles and bridging the readiness gap within the workforce.   In the Middle East, the leaders pulling ahead are those who prioritize a "Human in the Lead" approach. The path forward is no longer about intent; it is about making execution real and ensuring our people are prepared to lead as our operating models evolve. https://lnkd.in/dP_UKs3W

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The next phase of Middle East’s energy transition will be defined by scale. Achieving it requires overcoming global supply bottlenecks, managing delivery risk and creating financing models that work across entire value chains. Our latest insights, informed by PwC’s Executive Roundtable in June, highlights how collaboration between governments, developers and financiers can build secure and commercially viable energy ecosystems. Explore the full report here: https://pwc.to/47o9q1D PwC Middle East https://lnkd.in/dv2nki8M

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🌍 Over 300 leaders came together in Abu Dhabi to explore resilience, decarbonisation, and the Middle East’s role in shaping the future of energy.  From keynote panels to client workshops, the Global EU&R Conference reinforced the region’s position as a driver of innovation and sustainable growth.  PwC Middle East #PwCProud #EnergyResilience

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The capital project landscape in MENA is evolving rapidly, driven by ambitious infrastructure investments, sustainability mandates, and digital transformation initiatives. However, despite raising investment volumes, project managers continue to face significant challenges in delivery. The latest #EYMENA thought leadership delves into these gaps and explores strategies to help organizations optimize value and maximize potential in their capital projects: https://bit.ly/47zTM3a #ShapeTheFutureWithConfidence #ProjectManagement #CapitalProjects

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We're proud to have acted as a trusted advisor to The Principal Buyer in relation to its signing of seven new Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) for utility-scale renewable solar and wind energy projects in #SaudiArabia. With a combined capacity of 15GW, this is the largest deal signed globally for renewable energy projects in a single phase. PwC acted as exclusive lead financial and commercial advisor, helping drive a streamlined and successful outcome. https://lnkd.in/dUMviR5M #PwCDeals #PwCproud #SaudiVision2030

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Excited to share highlights from the EY GCC Pulse Survey 2025, which captures how India’s Global Capability Centers are rewiring their mandate for an AI-first future. A few shifts that stood out to me: 1. From efficiency to enterprise value - GCCs are no longer just cost and scale engines, they’re becoming value orchestrators, taking increased ownership of end-to-end global processes and influencing strategic decisions for the enterprise. 2. AI at enterprise scale, not just pilots - 83% of GCCs are already investing in GenAI, and 58% are investing in Agentic AI (with another 29% planning to do so in the next year), signaling a clear move from experimentation to embedded, AI-led operating models. 3. Data and digital skills at the core - Business intelligence, data strategy and AI/ML capabilities are now foundational, as GCCs shift from “reporting the past” to powering real-time, insight-led decision making. 4. Talent, not just tools, will decide winners - Hybrid is now the norm for 95% of GCCs, attrition has dropped and the Employee Value Proposition is increasingly anchored in innovation culture, career development and cross-functional opportunities, not just compensation. 5. Risk, tax and cyber getting sharper focus - Transfer pricing, complex multi-jurisdictional compliance and data privacy remain top concerns, even as GCCs step up cybersecurity maturity, third-party monitoring and zero-trust thinking. The big question ahead: how far and how fast can India’s GCCs go in shaping an AI-driven, innovation-led future for their global enterprises? If you’d like a copy of the report or to discuss what these findings mean for your GCC strategy, happy to connect. https://lnkd.in/g2dUTnwn #eygcc Manish Madan Arpit Dharma Aniket Deshpande Maheswaran R Vikas Bajaj Sumit Gupta Kamalanand Nithianandan Vijay Shankar

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Global Capability Centers (#GCCs) are entering a new chapter—evolving beyond traditional delivery to become strategic hubs of innovation and transformation. For service providers, this shift presents a significant opportunity to deliver value across the entire GCC lifecycle—from greenfield setups and talent ramp-ups to carve-outs and digital reinventions. In our latest report, “Chasing the Global Capability Center (GCC) Opportunity: The Next Big Providers Play,” we explore how the market is expanding and how leading providers are capturing value in this fast-maturing space. Read on: https://okt.to/m2tkJi Get in touch: Hrishi Raj Agarwalla Ravneet Kaur Yashika Roy #GCCs #GlobalCapabilityCenters #DigitalTransformation #SharedServices #EverestGroup #ServiceProviders #GrowthStrategy

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Turning policy ambition into viable infrastructure projects starts with getting tariffs right. For years, utility pricing across the Middle East relied on ad hoc negotiations, creating uncertainty for investors and volatility for operators. Today, regulators are moving toward structured, rules-based tariff frameworks that bring predictability, transparency, and bankability. Our new report, Designing pricing frameworks that enable investment, explores how models such as cost-of-service, CPI-X, and RAB can balance affordability for consumers with financial viability for operators, while unlocking capital for electricity, water, gas, and emerging sectors. The takeaway is clear: well-designed tariff frameworks are not just a regulatory tool, they are an enabler of delivery. Read the full report: Designing pricing frameworks that enable investment | Roland Berger #RolandBerger #Tariffs #Energy

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I’m proud to share Deloitte’s sixth annual EME Scale-Ups Confidence Survey, which captures the outlook of scale-up leaders across Europe and the Middle East. Despite economic headwinds, these businesses remain resilient. Many plan to grow teams, raise new funding, and expand internationally, with the U.S. as the top target market. Customer acquisition tops the list of challenges. While few scale-ups have a defined exit strategy, those that do overwhelmingly favor M&A over IPO. As scale-ups continue to fuel job creation and economic growth, our findings highlight the need for sustained support from investors and policymakers to help them thrive in a complex landscape. Explore the findings: https://lnkd.in/gdNuPP5d

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Confidence among CEOs in the UAE remains among the strongest globally. Business leaders are entering the next phase of growth backed by capital strength, clear national direction and long-term strategic focus. Key insights from the report: • 91% of CEOs in the UAE are confident in domestic economic growth • Nearly 80% are confident about revenue growth over the next three years • The UAE ranks among the top 10 global destinations for international investment . 85% of CEOs say their organisational culture enables AI adoption • 75% report having a clear AI roadmap in place Explore how confidence is shaping CEO priorities in the UAE in our 29th Global CEO Survey: UAE findings. https://pwc.to/4q2H8zk #CEOSurvey #PwCMiddleEast

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We’re #PwCProud to have advised The Principal Buyer on signing seven new PPAs for utility-scale solar and wind projects in Saudi Arabia — the largest single-phase renewable energy deal globally at 15GW capacity. PwC Middle East acted as exclusive lead financial and commercial advisor. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dCXM95td #PwCProud https://lnkd.in/dujKtgPU

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Now live: The state of AI in GCC countries: In pursuit of scale and value   New research by McKinsey and the GCC Board Directors Institute (GCC BDI) reveals that while AI usage among GCC organizations has reached 84%, this growth has yet to translate into corresponding levels of maturity or value creation.   Getting AI right will depend on a business-led strategy backed by the right technology, talent, and a change management program that encourages adoption at scale.   Once organizations have these foundations in place, the value creation will follow.   Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/eEBHeqSu   #Technology #AI #AgenticAI

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The quantum era isn’t coming; it’s already here and rewriting the rules of business. The latest BCG report, “The Quantum Leap: Navigating the Future of Computing,” reveals that early quantum adopters are already capturing disproportionate value across energy, logistics, and cybersecurity. With GCC industries investing heavily in advanced technologies, the time to act is now. Those who move early will define new standards, attract top talent, and secure a dominant position in tomorrow’s digital economy. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/e7PKKXEb #BCGInTheMiddleEast #QuantumComputing #DigitalTransformation

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Over the past decade, the GCC region has accelerated its transition towards sustainable energy, spearheading ambitious projects in solar, wind, and nuclear technologies, driven by initiatives like Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 and the UAE's Energy Strategy 2050. This strategic pivot, necessary as the world transitions from hydrocarbons, is creating numerous employment opportunities in installation, maintenance, and R&D, which will support economic diversification and a skilled green workforce. Although the region faces complex challenges—including economic reliance on oil and gas, freshwater scarcity, and extreme climate risks—the GCC countries are firmly committed to reaching net-zero targets by 2060, successfully balancing traditional energy investments with novel renewable initiatives to create a sustainable economic and environmental landscape. https://lnkd.in/gvJiCZAK #gcc #renewableenergy #projects #marmore

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Transformation doesn’t happen in silos. It happens when strategy, data and execution come together. In the GCC, #xMOs (execution enabler offices) are stepping into a new role: not just tracking reform but orchestrating it. Our latest EY MENA report explores how xMOs are evolving into strategic control hubs, powered by AI, automation and data-driven planning. By integrating AI-native platforms like #ServiceNow, we’re enabling governments to unify strategy, data and execution in real time. From overcoming fragmented data to unlocking trusted data – it’s exciting to see governments across the region embracing this shift. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/dDb_QR5b #AIAdoption #Transformation #EYMENA #ShapeTheFutureWithConfidence Emad Mustafa, Mohamed Sayyed, Faisal Abu Abed, Mehdi Benni, Kahina Anseur, Olivia Hambert

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