Public-private partnerships are a component of statecraft particularly in areas involving infrastructure and technology.
An agreement between IBM and the United Arab Emirates government is one such example.
IBM will work with the UAE's Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MoCCAE) to develop an artificial intelligence system intended to advance the nation's environmental goals.
The partnership was formalised at the GITEX Global 2025 event in Dubai on 18 October. In attendance was Dr Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak the UAE's Minister of Climate Change and Environment.
Representing MoCCAE for the signing was Amal Abdulrahim the UAE's Assistant Undersecretary for Support Services and Chief AI and Innovation Officer at MoCCAE.
Shukri Eid the General Manager for the Gulf Levant and Pakistan at IBM signed on behalf of IBM.
Automating environmental compliance with AI
The collaboration will centre on the creation of AI-driven prototypes for environmental management in the UAE.
A primary initiative is the development of an intelligent system for CITES certificate verification.
This system will use AI to automate data entry and validation for certificates related to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and phytosanitary requirements.
CITES is an international agreement designed to ensure that trade does not threaten the survival of wild animals and plants.
Automating these processes could allow the UAE Government to act in accordance with global conservation standards at a faster rate.
According to MoCCAE this system is designed to enhance compliance and data quality while reducing administrative tasks 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 fisheries and biosecurity
The partnership will also apply technology to the nation's fisheries. This part of the project involves monitoring mechanisms through mobile applications and cameras at fish landing sites and local markets.
The initiative aims to track fish stocks and prevent overexploitation by providing real-time data on the sustainability of the UAE’s fishing industry.
Another component of the agreement will see IBM develop an AI-driven quarantine system. This is intended to allow the UAE to inspect agricultural and veterinary consignments.
Such a system could speed up import approval procedures and help officials to detect biological risks present in the trade of wildlife.
Developing a digital ESG reporting framework
The project also includes a study to examine the requirements for a digital platform for ESG reporting.
This platform would be designed to enable transparent and real-time national reporting which could support the UAE's current and future climate policies and bolster government accountability.
A key element of IBM's involvement will be building capacity for MoCCAE employees.
IBM will provide training programmes focused on advanced technology and digital techniques to support MoCCAE's digital transformation strategy.
These initiatives align with broader UAE government programmes including the 'UAE Centennial 2071' and 'We the UAE 2031' visions. The planned relationship is subject to the parties reaching definitive agreements.
This collaboration is one of several technology partnerships to emerge from GITEX Global 2025.
IBM's participation extends its existing presence in the Gulf region where IBM has been expanding its hybrid cloud and AI services.
The partnership's emphasis on creating replicable models suggests potential applications beyond the UAE though specific timelines and investment figures were not disclosed. "
These scalable solutions will not only meet the UAE's objectives but can also serve as an innovative model for the region and the world." explains Shukri.
Source: https://technologymagazine.com/news/why-ibm-the-uae-are-partnering-on-environmental-ai-models
