Inside IBM & UAE’s AI Environmental Solution

Public-private partnerships are a vital component of statecraft, particularly in the execution of infrastructural projects and initiatives that involve advanced technologies.

An agreement between IBM and the United Arab Emirates government is one such example of this collaboration.

IBM has agreed to work with the UAE’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MoCCAE) to create an AI system to help advance the nation's environmental goals.

The partnership was officially signed at GITEX Global 2025 in Dubai in attendance was Dr Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, the UAE’s Minister of Climate Change and Environment.

Amal Abdulrahim, the UAE’s Assistant Undersecretary for Support Services and Chief AI and Innovation Officer at MoCCAE, signed on behalf of the ministry with Shukri Eid, the General Manager for the Gulf Levant and Pakistan at IBM, signing for IBM.

Automating environmental compliance

The collaboration will focus on producing AI-driven prototypes and case studies across several environmental management areas within the UAE.

One of the first projects is the creation of an intelligent system for CITES certificate verification.

This system will use AI to automate the data entry and validation of CITES and Phytosanitary certificates.

CITES, or the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, is an international agreement that aims to ensure wildlife is not endangered when traded across borders.

By speeding up the processes involved in CITES compliance, the UAE Government could ensure it acts in line with global conservation standards and protects its native species at a much quicker rate.

This system is designed to improve compliance and data quality while also lessening the administrative load under the UAE’s Zero Government Bureaucracy Programme.

“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.

AI in resource management and ESG

Another element of the partnership will concentrate on the country’s fisheries. This will involve using monitoring mechanisms through mobile applications and cameras at landing sites and local fish markets.

The initiative aims to track fish stocks with accuracy and prevent overexploitation, which could provide real-time data on the sustainability of the UAE’s fishing industry.

The project will also see IBM develop an AI-driven quarantine system.

This system will allow the UAE to inspect agricultural and veterinary consignments in detail, potentially speeding up import approval procedures and helping officials detect biological risks in the wildlife trade.

The agreement also covers a study to examine the requirements for setting up a digital platform for ESG reporting.

This platform could enable transparent and real-time national reporting to support the UAE’s climate policies and bolster government accountability.

Building capacity for digital transformation

A key part of IBM’s role in the UAE will be helping to teach skills and build capacity for MoCCAE employees.

The training programmes will focus on advanced technology and digital techniques to support the ministry’s wider digital transformation strategy.

These initiatives are aligned with broader UAE government programmes, including the ‘UAE Centennial 2071’ and ‘We the UAE 2031’ visions.

The planned relationship remains subject to the parties reaching definitive agreements.

The collaboration is one of several technology partnerships to emerge from GITEX Global 2025, where AI applications for environmental management were a prominent feature.

This work extends IBM’s existing presence in the Gulf region, where the company has been expanding its hybrid cloud and AI capabilities.

The partnerships focus on creating replicable models suggests a potential for application beyond the UAE’s borders, though specific investment figures and timelines were not disclosed.

“These scalable solutions will not only meet the UAE’s objectives but can also serve as a model for the region and the world,” explains Shukri.