Aldar Properties has acquired an industrial and logistics portfolio in Abu Dhabi’s KEZAD zone from a subsidiary of AD Ports Group for Dhs650m ($177m), the company said on Tuesday.

The transaction covers 163,000 square metres of income-generating warehouse space within Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi (KEZAD), with current occupancy at 97 per cent, Aldar said in a statement.

The portfolio comprises three multi-let warehouses in the Al Ma’mourah cluster, serving around 80 tenants across sectors including logistics, food and beverage, manufacturing and technology.

Major tenants include DHL, Spinneys and Noatum Logistics.

Aldar’s second deal with AD Ports in KEZAD

The acquisition marks Aldar’s second deal with AD Ports in KEZAD, following its purchase of warehouse assets linked to Noon and Emtelle in November 2025, as it expands its presence in the emirate’s industrial real estate segment.

Aldar said the deal reflects its strategy to grow exposure to logistics and industrial assets, citing strong demand driven by the UAE’s position as a regional trade and manufacturing hub.

Following the transaction, Aldar’s industrial and logistics portfolio exceeds 700,000 square metres, with a development pipeline of more than 1.5 million square metres of leasable space.

AD Ports said the sale forms part of its asset monetisation strategy, allowing it to recycle capital into new infrastructure projects while strengthening its balance sheet.

KEZAD, located near Khalifa Port and connected to major highways and rail infrastructure, is one of the largest integrated industrial zones in the region and a key logistics hub for Abu Dhabi.

Salik Company (Salik), Dubai’s exclusive toll gate operator, has signed a strategic partnership with Valtrans Transportation Systems and Services (Valtrans) to enable digital payment for valet parking services across its network of locations in the UAE.

Under the agreement, Salik will be integrated as a seamless digital payment option across Valtrans-operated sites, allowing users to pay valet parking fees through their Salik e-Wallet at more than 100 locations nationwide. These include major retail, commercial and entertainment destinations such as Mall of the Emirates and Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).

The integration is supported by advanced digital capabilities aimed at enhancing the efficiency of valet operations and payment processes, particularly in high-traffic environments. The move further positions Salik as a key enabler of smart mobility, expanding its role beyond tolling into broader, data-driven mobility solutions.

Ibrahim Sultan Al Haddad, Chief Executive Officer of Salik, stated: “This strategic partnership marks a key milestone in advancing Salik’s smart mobility ecosystem by expanding the scope of seamless digital payment solutions across everyday mobility touchpoints. Through our strategic partnerships, we continue to leverage our advanced infrastructure to deliver innovative, customer-centric solutions that simplify journeys, enhance service integration, and reinforce Salik’s role as a trusted enabler of sustainable mobility in the UAE.”

Imad Alameddine, Group Chief Executive Officer of Valtrans, said: “This partnership provides our customers with an easier and more seamless way to pay for valet parking services across our network of locations in the UAE. By adopting Salik as a payment option, we aim to enhance transaction efficiency while maintaining a consistently high standard of service, in line with our commitment to operational excellence, innovation, and service quality.”

The partnership aligns with Salik’s strategy to expand its portfolio of value-added digital services, supporting a more connected and efficient mobility ecosystem through flexible and scalable payment solutions.

It also builds on Salik’s broader expansion into mobility services beyond tolling. The company previously introduced barrier-free parking payments in partnership with Emaar Malls Company, followed by a collaboration with Parkonic, which is now operational at more than 150 locations. Salik has also partnered with Dubai Airports to enable seamless parking payments via its e-Wallet at Dubai International Airport, covering Terminals 1, 2, 3 and the Cargo Terminal.

Valtrans, which has more than 20 years of operational experience, provides valet parking services across airports, hospitality, retail, healthcare and public-sector locations, managing high-volume operations with a focus on service continuity, control and reliability.

The UAE has unveiled a sweeping transformation of its public sector, announcing plans to integrate agentic artificial intelligence (AI) across 50 per cent of government sectors, services, and operations within the next two years.

The initiative, announced by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on X, is being launched under the directives of HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and aims to position the UAE as the first government globally to operate at this scale using autonomous AI systems.

In the announcement, Sheikh Mohammed outlined a fundamental shift in how AI is deployed in governance, moving beyond its traditional role as a support tool to one where it actively participates in decision-making and execution. “AI is no longer a tool. It analyses, decides, executes, and improves in real time. It will become our executive partner to enhance services, accelerate decisions, and raise efficiency,” he said.

The rollout will be governed by a defined two-year timeline, with performance across ministries and entities measured based on speed of adoption, quality of implementation, and the ability to redesign workflows using AI capabilities. This signals a structured, KPI-driven approach to digital transformation across the federal ecosystem.

Oversight of the programme has been assigned to Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, while execution will be driven by a dedicated taskforce chaired by Mohammad Al Gergawi.

A central pillar of the strategy is workforce transformation. According to the announcement, all federal employees will undergo training to develop proficiency in AI, with the goal of building one of the world’s most capable AI-enabled government workforces. This aligns with the UAE’s broader focus on human capital development as a foundation for long-term digital competitiveness.

The move underscores the UAE’s ambition to accelerate public sector efficiency, responsiveness, and service delivery through emerging technologies. By embedding agentic AI into core government functions, the country is seeking to redefine operational models and establish a new global benchmark for AI-led governance.

Sheikh Mohammed added that despite the rapid technological shift, the UAE’s guiding principle remains unchanged: prioritising people. The end goal, he noted, is a government that is faster, more responsive, and more impactful for citizens, residents, and businesses alike.

Khazna Data Centers said its DXB8 facility in Dubai has become the first data centre globally to receive a zero-waste certification, following an independent audit by SCS Global Services.

The company said the certification, issued under the SCS-110 Zero Waste standard, confirms that the site diverted 99.55 per cent of its operational waste from landfill over 12 months, excluding IT equipment waste from data halls.

Khazna said the result reflects measures including recycling, reuse programmes with suppliers, resale of materials and composting, alongside other waste recovery processes aligned with international waste management practices.

The audit assessed waste streams generated across the facility and evaluated operational systems, governance and processes aimed at reducing landfill dependency.

Read: Khazna Data Centers’ Tinboat Arslanouk on what’s powering its global expansion

“This certification reflects consistent operational discipline and strong supply chain collaboration,” said Elisabetta Baronio, ESG director at Khazna, in a statement.

Data centres, particularly those supporting artificial intelligence workloads, are typically resource-intensive and generate significant operational waste, making high diversion rates difficult to achieve at scale.

The milestone forms part of Khazna’s broader sustainability strategy, which includes integrating environmental considerations into the design and operation of its infrastructure, as demand for AI-ready data centres continues to rise.

Khazna, one of the region’s largest data centre operators, is expanding capacity to support growing digital and AI infrastructure needs across the Middle East and beyond.

AD Ports Group has announced a multi-year strategic partnership with New York University Abu Dhabi to develop and pilot a high-fidelity intelligence engine aimed at transforming port operations.

The initiative will focus on building an advanced decision-support system powered by stochastic models and spatial intelligence, designed to enhance efficiency, reduce uncertainty, and improve environmental outcomes across port networks.

According to a WAM report, the engine will integrate vessel arrival predictions, berth allocation optimisation, and environmental impact analysis into a single, high-precision platform. The system is expected to act as a sophisticated layer of support for human operators, enabling more informed and timely decision-making.

Reducing uncertainty, boosting capacity

The high-fidelity intelligence engine is intended to address one of the most persistent challenges in maritime logistics: port call uncertainty. By improving predictability and coordination, the system aims to enhance operational fluidity and unlock additional capacity without the need for physical infrastructure expansion.

Industry experts note that aligning vessel arrival times with berth availability could significantly reduce idle time. This, in turn, would help cut fuel consumption and lower emissions, contributing to greener and more sustainable port operations.

Mohamed Jamal Eddine, group chief digital and information officer at AD Ports Group, underscored the importance of innovation in the company’s strategy.

“As we continue to reimagine logistics ecosystems to advance the frontiers of global trade, pioneering research and strategic partnerships remain key pillars of our digitally-led approach,” he said.

“By integrating our deep expertise in port operations and trade facilitation with advanced predictive arrival intelligence and resilient operational modelling, we are accelerating the pace towards a future of autonomous decision-support.”

He added, “Through strategic partnerships such as this with NYU Abu Dhabi, we are ensuring that our move to predictive precision is both robust and ethically sound, giving our global partners the certainty they need to navigate an increasingly complex trade landscape.”

Academic expertise meets real-world application

The collaboration is also expected to advance decarbonisation transparency at the terminal level by converting operational variability into reliable, data-driven insights. The intelligence engine will function as an integrated digital layer, combining operational and environmental decision-making capabilities.

Plans are underway to pilot the system across selected terminals and trade lanes, with the goal of scaling successful outcomes across AD Ports Group’s global network.

Arlie Peters, Provost at NYU Abu Dhabi, highlighted the real-world impact of the initiative.

“At NYU Abu Dhabi, we focus on research that addresses real-world challenges,” Peters said. “Our collaboration with AD Ports Group brings together academic expertise and practical insight to strengthen the efficiency, resilience, and sustainability of modern logistics.”

He added that the partnership aligns with broader national ambitions. “By connecting research with application, we aim to support the UAE’s continued role as a global hub for logistics.”

The project is led by Professor Ali Diabat from Civil and Urban Engineering, focusing on data-driven approaches to improve long-term performance in port and logistics operations.

The partnership combines AD Ports Group’s operational reach with NYU Abu Dhabi’s analytical expertise, creating a platform for high-impact innovation. The university will contribute advanced research capabilities, while AD Ports Group will provide secure access to operational data and facilitate real-world pilot deployments.

These controlled trials are expected to play a critical role in transforming the intelligence engine into a practical, field-tested solution capable of reshaping global port operations.