Exxon and Chevron Cancel Executive Trips to ADIPEC Conference in UAE Over Security Concerns

Executives from ExxonMobil and Chevron have canceled plans to attend ADIPEC, the major annual oil industry conference held in Abu Dhabi, UAE, scheduled for the following week, according to two sources cited by Reuters. The cancellations were made on security grounds, reflecting heightened concerns about travel to the Gulf region.

The pullback fits a broader pattern of US and Western energy company executives reassessing travel to Middle East energy gatherings amid ongoing regional instability tied to the Iran conflict. BP had previously been unable to attend an energy conference in Riyadh following an airport attack, and the CEOs of other major oil companies including TotalEnergies and Shell had also faced scrutiny over planned Gulf appearances.

ADIPEC is one of the energy industry's most prominent annual gatherings, hosted by Abu Dhabi and drawing top executives from global oil majors, national oil companies, and energy investors. The absence of senior leadership from two of the largest US oil companies is a notable sign of how security calculations are reshaping participation in the region's flagship energy events.