TLDR: AD Ports Group is implementing a large-scale AI initiative, deploying over 50 AI agents with hundreds more in the pipeline, utilizing Microsoft’s Azure AI Foundry and Copilot Studio. This strategic move aims to automate complex tasks, optimize vessel operations, and enhance efficiency across its vast global network, with a vision for AI agents to eventually outnumber its human workforce.
Abu Dhabi, UAE – October 20, 2025 – AD Ports Group, a leading facilitator of global trade, has embarked on an ambitious enterprise-wide artificial intelligence (AI) program, deploying over 50 AI agents with plans for hundreds more, leveraging Microsoft’s Azure AI Foundry and Copilot Studio. This transformative initiative is set to revolutionize trade operations by automating routine tasks, optimizing vessel movements, and providing actionable intelligence across its extensive network of 34 ports and terminals.
Operating a complex global ecosystem involving terminals, vessels, containers, and trucks, AD Ports Group sought innovative solutions to enhance efficiency and manage scale. The deployment of these AI agents is a direct response to this need, aiming to streamline data-heavy processes and free up employees for more strategic and innovative work.
Mohamed Jamal-Eddine, Group CIO at AD Ports Group, emphasized the integral role of AI within the organization, stating, “AI is a major part of everything we do—it’s not separate from our core operations.” The Group has a long-standing history of utilizing AI and machine learning for tasks such as yard management and container allocation. With the advent of next-generation AI, they are exploring entirely new operational paradigms.
To spearhead this initiative, AD Ports Group established a dedicated ‘AI Agents Workforce,’ comprising data scientists, software engineers, cybersecurity specialists, infrastructure engineers, and domain experts. Their mandate is clear: to develop purpose-designed AI agents that address operational pain points, automate repetitive functions, and consolidate fragmented knowledge.
Key applications of these AI agents include optimizing vessel speed to reduce fuel consumption and emissions, and predicting container utilization to boost overall efficiency. The Azure AI Foundry serves as the secure and governed environment for designing, testing, and monitoring these agents, offering robust tooling for the entire agent lifecycle, model governance controls, and operational telemetry. For rapid development and deployment, especially for tasks requiring less coding expertise, Copilot Studio is also being utilized.
AD Ports Group has also developed an internal ‘AI Agents Directory,’ an innovative platform where employees can request and ‘hire’ new agents. By defining target users, success metrics, and role descriptions, the system generates a product-requirement document and a ready-to-build blueprint. Jamal-Eddine noted, “Today, it can take us about an hour to develop and deploy a simple new agent.”
The company’s vision extends to a future where every employee is assisted by multiple AI agents. With over 7,000 employees currently, AD Ports Group anticipates that its AI agents will outnumber its human workforce within three years. This ambitious goal is supported by a target for 90% of all new code to be AI-generated by the end of the year, enabling unprecedented speed in agent development and deployment.
Azure AI Foundry, a unified platform-as-a-service, provides the necessary infrastructure and tools for building, deploying, and scaling enterprise-grade AI agents. It integrates seamlessly with various Microsoft services and offers access to over 11,000 models from diverse providers, ensuring flexibility and advanced capabilities for complex AI applications. The platform’s focus on security, compliance, and observability is crucial for managing agents in sensitive areas like maritime routing and contractual checks.
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This initiative underscores AD Ports Group’s commitment to digital innovation, sustainability, and growth, by strategically combining human expertise with cutting-edge AI technologies to maintain its position at the forefront of global trade.
