IBM and UAE MoCCAE Forge AI Partnership to Speed Environmental Management
Why it matters for management: faster compliance, cleaner data, and clearer accountability across high-stakes environmental workflows.
The UAE's Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MoCCAE) and IBM have agreed to co-develop AI prototypes that target environmental compliance, fisheries oversight, biosecurity, and ESG reporting. The partnership was formalised at GITEX Global 2025 in Dubai on 18 October in the presence of Dr Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, with Amal Abdulrahim representing MoCCAE and Shukri Eid signing for IBM.
The relationship focuses on practical, repeatable models that MoCCAE can scale across agencies. Final terms are subject to definitive agreements, but the scope is clear and execution-focused.
Automating CITES and Phytosanitary Verification
A core initiative is an intelligent system to verify CITES certificates and related phytosanitary requirements. The system will automate data entry and validation to reduce manual processing and improve accuracy.
This gives the UAE a faster route to act in line with global conservation standards while cutting administrative work under the national Zero Government Bureaucracy Programme. For context, CITES regulates trade so it doesn't threaten the survival of wild animal and plant species.
"Our goal is not just to adopt technology but to use AI as a strategic tool to proactively address environmental challenges, enhance food and water security, and achieve our Net Zero 2050 targets," says Amal Abdulrahim, Assistant Undersecretary for Support Services and Chief AI and Innovation Officer at MoCCAE.
AI for Fisheries Monitoring
The collaboration extends to fisheries via mobile apps and cameras at landing sites and local markets. The objective: real-time tracking of fish stocks to limit overexploitation and keep the industry sustainable.
Leaders should expect operational dashboards that surface anomalies, concessions usage, and compliance patterns. If implemented well, this cuts inspection lag and improves decision speed.
AI-Driven Quarantine and Biosecurity
IBM will support an AI-enabled quarantine system to inspect agricultural and veterinary consignments. The intent is to accelerate import approvals while spotting biological risks tied to wildlife trade.
Think faster triage at the border, higher detection rates, and clearer audit trails. That's the mix regulators want: speed plus assurance.
Digital ESG Reporting Study
The partners will also study requirements for a national digital ESG reporting platform. The end state is transparent, real-time reporting to support current and future climate policies and strengthen accountability.
These projects line up with the UAE's long-term visions-"UAE Centennial 2071" and "We the UAE 2031"-and build on IBM's growing regional footprint in hybrid cloud and AI services.
People and Capability Building
A key plank is talent. IBM will run training programs for MoCCAE staff on advanced technology and digital techniques to accelerate internal adoption.
For leaders, this is the signal: the tech matters, but process change and upskilling decide the outcome. Invest in data standards, MLOps practices, and service workflows early.
What Leaders Should Watch
Shukri Eid called out scalability: "These scalable solutions will meet the UAE's objectives and can also serve as an innovative model for the region and the world." Timelines and investment figures weren't disclosed, so governance and milestones will be the tell.
- Time-to-approval for permits and certificates
- Data quality metrics (error rates, completeness)
- Inspection throughput and detection rates
- Processing cost per case
- Sustainability indicators for fisheries (stock status, catch compliance)
- ESG reporting latency and coverage
If You're Planning a Similar Rollout
- Start with one high-friction workflow (e.g., certificate verification) and define gold-standard data fields.
- Use a narrow pilot with clear success metrics and a single owner for decisions.
- Stand up a lightweight governance forum to approve model updates and handle edge cases.
- Build for auditability: full event logs, versioned models, and explainability where decisions affect trade or public safety.
- Train frontline teams early; let them shape the UI and feedback loops.
To learn more about MoCCAE's mandate and initiatives, visit the official MoCCAE website.
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