UAE, IBM Partner to Use AI for Climate and Sustainability Goals

The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MoCCAE) has signed a partnership agreement with IBM, a global leader in cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI). The partnership aims to use AI technologies to support the UAE’s sustainability goals, improve efficiency, and strengthen digital transformation.

The agreement was signed during GITEX Global 2025 in Dubai, in the presence of Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment. Representing the ministry was Eng. Amal Abdulrahim, Assistant Undersecretary for Support Services and Chief AI and Innovation Officer, while IBM was represented by Shukri Eid, General Manager for the Gulf, Levant, and Pakistan.

Abdulrahim said the partnership marks an important step in using advanced technologies to protect the environment and tackle climate challenges. “Our goal is to use AI not only to innovate but also to build smarter solutions for food and water security and to achieve our Net Zero 2050 targets,” she said.

Eid added that this cooperation shows a shared vision between IBM and the UAE to create sustainable and efficient solutions that can serve as a model for the region and the world.

Under the agreement, both sides will develop AI-based prototypes and projects to enhance sustainability, improve productivity, and streamline operations. One of the key projects will be creating an intelligent system for verifying CITES and Phytosanitary certificates using AI. This will automate data entry and validation, improve compliance, and increase customer satisfaction as part of the UAE’s Zero Government Bureaucracy Programme.

Another project will focus on using mobile apps and cameras to monitor fish stocks at local landing sites and fish markets. This will help prevent overfishing and ensure sustainable marine resources.

The agreement also includes using AI in quarantine systems for agricultural and veterinary imports to detect biological risks early and speed up approval procedures, protecting national biosecurity.

MoCCAE and IBM will study the development of an advanced digital platform for Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting to improve transparency and support national climate goals.

The cooperation will also include training programmes to help ministry employees enhance their technical skills and effectively use AI in their daily operations.