Abu Dhabi Launches AI Waterway Monitoring Centre
Smart platform boosts maritime safety, emergency response, and waterway management.
Abu Dhabi has launched a new Waterway Monitoring and Control Centre to improve maritime safety, speed up emergency response and manage public marine services across the emirate.
The AI-powered centre will monitor more than 45,000 square kilometres of waterways. It was inaugurated by Abu Dhabi Mobility, an affiliate of the Department of Municipalities and Transport, in cooperation with Abu Dhabi Maritime, part of AD Ports Group, and with support from the National Guard.
The launch was attended by Sheikh Hamdan bin Saeed bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan and Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of the Department of Municipalities and Transport.
Based on Saadiyat Island, with a satellite centre in Al Dhannah in the Al Dhafra Region, the new facility offers real-time monitoring of navigation channels, vessel movements, public marine transport services and open waterways through one integrated platform.
The centre oversees nearly 2,000 navigational aids, including 1,063 navigation buoys, 367 navigation beacons, 227 marine signs and 62 shallow-water warning signs. All of them are equipped with smart monitoring technology.
It also monitors occupancy across more than 1,500 public berths and tracks visiting vessels. This will help with future planning for marinas and maritime infrastructure in Abu Dhabi.
Artificial intelligence and predictive analytics are a key part of the system. They analyse vessel movements, marine traffic and environmental conditions to identify possible risks early and help authorities use resources more efficiently.
Captain Saif Al Mheiri, CEO of Abu Dhabi Maritime and Chief Sustainability and Risk Officer at AD Ports Group, said the centre sets “a new standard of smart surveillance and predictive management” by using real-time data and advanced analytics to improve navigation safety and environmental protection.
To support daily operations, Abu Dhabi Mobility has also introduced four new patrol boats. These boats will carry out inspections across the emirate’s waterways. The centre is fitted with 16 radar stations, 29 CCTV cameras, more than 400 cameras across public maritime facilities and 17 VHF communication devices to support coordination between vessels and shore teams.
The launch is part of Abu Dhabi’s wider smart mobility strategy. It also includes the Central Control Room for autonomous vehicles and dedicated licence plates for self-driving vehicles, as the emirate continues to expand its technology-driven transport network.
AI contributed to the creation of this article.