Riyadh, 04 February 2026 – The International Energy Agency (IEA), the International Energy Forum (IEF), and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) today convened the world’s most influential policymakers in the global energy transformation at the 16th IEA-IEF-OPEC Symposium on Energy Outlooks.
Held under the patronage of His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Energy of Saudi Arabia, and hosted by the IEF, the Symposium also marked the release of the IEF Outlooks Comparison Report to inform session discussions The document compares the key scenarios and underlying methodologies of the IEA and OPEC’s most recent outlooks, which offer vital analysis of the energy transformation, designed to increase predictability and help investors make informed decisions.
The annual flagship event convenes senior decision-makers, analysts, and industry leaders for producer–consumer discussions on energy security, focused on delivering secure, affordable, and sustainable energy for all. The symposium provides an inclusive platform for open dialogue, enabling the exchange of perspectives among a broad range of stakeholders.
Peer review and methodological exchange enhance the consistency of historical baseline data and improve transparency in modelling approaches. This supports a better understanding of projected energy supply and demand across short-, medium-, and long-term horizons, and enables stakeholders to assess outlooks against evolving market conditions, technological developments, and rapidly evolving policy frameworks.
Hosted by the IEF at the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC), the meeting was convened under the leadership of IEF Secretary General Eng. Jassim Alshirawi, IEA Executive Director Dr. Fatih Birol, and OPEC Secretary General H.E. Haitham Al Ghais. The Director General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) participated as a guest organization.
Jassim Alshirawi, IEF Secretary General, said: “With geoeconomic shifts, market volatility, and a widening ‘uncertainty gap’ between different energy scenarios, dialogue on outlooks that influence policy and markets, is mission critical for energy security, market stability, and just and resilient transitions. The IEF is focused on convening global governments and energy industry leaders to help deliver energy security through dialogue. Peer review of the wide range of energy scenarios enables policymakers to provide a clearer and more predictable context for IEF energy market stakeholders to invest, trade, and thrive.”
Fatih Birol, Executive Director of IEA, said: “These uncertain times – not just for energy markets but also for geopolitics and economies – call for more exchange. More exchange of ideas, of perspectives and of outlooks. That’s what makes this joint event, hosted by the IEF, so important for an in-depth exchange on the opportunities and challenges for building more secure, affordable and sustainable energy systems.”
Haitham Al Ghais, Secretary General of OPEC, commented: “This Symposium supports the critical task of comparing our outlook reports with those of the IEA, as well as other agencies. Understanding the differences in our diverse scenarios is crucial, especially in these times when new market realities are emerging almost daily. Meeting the massive requirements confronting the oil industry requires one thing first and foremost: market stability. The Declaration of Cooperation (DoC) – which celebrates 10 successful years in 2026 – has been a great, stabilizing force for the oil market over the past decade.”
The IEA-IEF-OPEC Symposium on Energy Outlooks is part of a wider joint program of work agreed upon by the three organizations and endorsed by energy ministers at the 12th International Energy Forum, held in Cancún, Mexico in March 2010, as part of the Cancún Declaration.