Abu Dhabi-based AD Ports Group has launched IHQ, a sophisticated AI-driven intelligence headquarters designed to manage and orchestrate thousands of digital workers across its global operations. The launch, which took place at the Group’s Digital District at Zayed Port, marks a significant step in the industrial application of AI, moving beyond pilot programs into live, large-scale deployment.
Quick Facts
- New AI intelligence headquarters now live.
- Manages thousands of ‘digital workers’.
- Aligns with UAE’s National AI Strategy 2031.
From Pilot to Production
While many international port operators are still in the experimental phase with AI, AD Ports Group has pushed its automated agents into production. The new IHQ command centre already oversees digital workers performing critical tasks like optimising fuel consumption, scheduling staff, and balancing container loads in real-time.
The move closely mirrors the UAE government’s wider ambition to integrate agentic AI across 50 percent of its sectors and services within two years. With this launch, attended by H.E. Dr Mohamed Al Kuwaiti, Head of the UAE Government’s Cybersecurity Council, AD Ports Group is positioning itself as a key case study for industrial AI deployment in the region.
Inside the AI-Powered Operation
The IHQ platform is the culmination of a 20-year digital investment strategy by the Group. It currently manages 20 global workstreams that have been made either AI-augmented or fully AI-native. These streams cover the company’s extensive portfolio, including its ports, economic cities and free zones, maritime and shipping, logistics, and digital clusters.
Initial demonstrations showcased the system’s immediate impact on core functions. These included real-time port and berth optimisation, streamlined vessel arrival orchestration, accelerated software development cycles, and automated talent acquisition processes.
A Blueprint for Human-AI Teams
The foundation for this rollout was detailed in the Group’s strategic document, “Building Human-AI Teams: AD Ports Group’s Blueprint for Tomorrow’s Workforce.” The blueprint outlines how autonomous digital agents are assigned repetitive, data-intensive work in operations, finance, and HR, allowing human staff to focus on more creative and strategic responsibilities.
The strategy is already delivering measurable results with several AI tools running in production:
- The Vessel Speed Optimiser: Cuts fuel use by approximately 3% while maintaining a 98% on-time arrival rate.
- The Container Balancer: Increases container utilisation to 90%.
- The Intelligent Workforce Scheduler: Reduces HR processing times by over 90%.
The Group emphasizes that its strategy is centered on human augmentation rather than replacement. In parallel with the AI deployment, new upskilling programs have been introduced to ensure its workforce can adapt and thrive in a hybrid human-AI operational model.
About AD Ports Group
AD Ports Group is a major Abu Dhabi-based holding company and a key facilitator of logistics, industry, and trade. Owned by ADQ, it operates across five primary business clusters: Digital, Economic Cities & Free Zones, Logistics, Maritime & Shipping, and Ports.
Source: AD Ports Group
