Dubai Trade to leverage AI for better efficiency

Mohamed AbuHamra

Mohamed AbuHamra, Chief Operating Officer, Digital Technology, DP World, GCC, has revealed that Dubai Trade, the unified digital window for facilitating cross-border trade in the Emirate of Dubai, is planning to introduce generative artificial intelligence (AI) into its digital products. The aim is to make the trade sector and supply chain networks simpler and smoother.

Speaking to Emirates News Agency (WAM), AbuHamra said that Dubai Trade has already launched some digital products that will contribute to making the journey of products smoother for the end user. He also pointed out the pioneering role played by Dubai Trade, the unified platform for trade and logistics services, in the recommendation of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) that all seaports should have a unified window by the beginning of 2024.

AbuHamra explained that logistics services involve some complex matters that can be simplified by taking advantage of new technologies.

"Clearing a specific commercial shipment may be difficult for the user, but buying a mobile phone through an e-commerce platform is easy and can be done in a few simple steps. So the goal is to make the two processes similar," he said.

He added that there is a technical project currently being worked on, explaining that once the shipment receipt statement arrives at the port, proactive steps will be taken to accelerate operations, leading to the final step of delivering the goods directly to warehouses, without the need to wait and carry out the shipment clearance process.

"Supply chains and the logistics sector in general, and the trade sector, are somewhat lagging behind in adopting digital technology compared to other sectors around the world, and this is what the Dubai Trade platform seeks to change," he said.

AbuHamra also pointed out that there are more than 700 digital services available through the Dubai Trade platform, which makes it the leader and the most advanced in this field.

He said, "We have succeeded in establishing our position as a digital provider of trade and logistics services, and a digital arm of DP World in the GCC region. Our goal this year is to focus on customers and facilitate and improve the digital services provided to them."

AbuHamra also referred to the cooperation with many partners in the trade and logistics sector, which contributed to providing an integrated and simplified journey for customers.

He said that Dubai is a major centre for trade and logistics in the region, and 2023 saw a significant growth in the emirate's economy, especially in the non-oil trade sector, which had a major impact on Jebel Ali Port, one of the largest ports in the world and the largest in the Middle East.

He pointed out that the services provided through the Dubai Trade platform, the ease of operations, and the smoothness of procedures undoubtedly played a major role in the results that were achieved.

AbuHamra emphasised the positive impact of the trade partnership agreements that the UAE has signed with many countries around the world in developing the operations of the Dubai Trade platform, especially during the past year 2023.

He pointed out that the Dubai Trade platform continues its journey in leading digital innovation in support of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33. So far, it has recorded the completion of more than 300 million transactions since the platform was founded in 2003, and has contributed to reducing the use of approximately 617 million printed documents. It also completed 32.6 million transactions last year, compared to 26 million transactions in 2022, an increase of 25 percent.