Abu dhabi: AD Ports Group today announced a partnership agreement signed between its digital arm, Maqta Technologies, and the UAE business of BigBear.ai.
According to Emirates News Agency, the partnership was announced during the World Customs Organisation Technology Conference, held in Abu Dhabi, where the two companies committed to exploring the co-development and delivery of advanced digital solutions for customs and border operations to government authorities and port operators worldwide.
Together, Maqta Technologies and BigBear.ai will engage in joint research, design, development, testing, and deployment of digital platforms that support customs management, border operations, and cross-border trade. The collaboration also aims to pursue international commercial opportunities with customs authorities, government agencies, port operators, and global trade stakeholders beyond their respective home markets.
Through the partnership, Maqta Technologies aims to leverage its established portfolio of port community systems, national single window platforms, digital customs clearance systems, and trade facilitation technologies. This initiative is set to enable more efficient regulatory processes, greater transparency, and improved performance across global logistics value chains.
Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group CEO of AD Ports Group, stated that the partnership represents a significant step in advancing AI-driven digital trade and customs solutions. By integrating Maqta Technologies’ expertise in trade facilitation, port community systems, and customs ecosystems with BigBear.ai’s advanced AI capabilities, the collaboration seeks to deliver next-generation platforms that enhance efficiency, transparency, and risk management across global trade and logistics networks.
BigBear.ai contributes extensive expertise in AI-driven customs capabilities, including automated image analysis for customs inspections, integrated risk management and decision-support platforms, and multi-modal border management solutions. Kevin McAleenan, CEO of BigBear.ai, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, emphasizing the potential for AI to support operators and enhance global trade flows. He highlighted the combination of BigBear.ai’s domain expertise in AI and customs with AD Ports Group’s leadership in ports management and logistics as a strategic advantage for advancing security and efficiency in global trade.
By integrating artificial intelligence with established digital trade infrastructure, the partnership aims to support customs authorities and trade ecosystems in improving operational efficiency, strengthening border security, reducing processing times, and enabling smarter, more sustainable trade flows. The collaboration aligns with the broader objectives of advancing digital transformation across global trade and logistics networks.